Elm Cottage sits at the centre of some of the Snowy Mountains' best day trips — historic villages, alpine towns, waterfalls and dams, most within an hour or so of the cottages.
Some of the region's best spots are a short detour, others a proper day trip — but all of them are within easy reach of Tumut. Here's where to point the car.
Australia's cool-climate apple country, up in the hills above Tumut. Orchards surround the town, and depending on the season you can try your hand at picking apples and stone fruit straight off the tree.
A heritage-listed gold rush village — the name means "along the way" — that was once a tent city during the rush. Just outside town, the heritage-listed Adelong Falls has a viewing platform over the old battery complex and mining equipment, plus three marked trails through the ruins along Adelong Creek.
The highest town in Australia, built as a Snowy Hydro construction town and still run by the scheme today. Sitting above the snowline for much of the year, it's a genuine must-see for anyone passing through.
A near-ghost town with an outsized history: the birthplace of skiing in Australia, and once a booming gold mining settlement during the 1860s rush. What's left today is a handful of historic buildings and a strong sense of how fast a boomtown can empty out.
Inside Kosciuszko National Park, about 77km from Tumut, and among the most beautiful cave systems in Australia. Take a guided tour underground or explore self-guided, then warm up in the thermal pool, which holds a constant 27°C year-round.
A former Snowy Hydro construction town on the foreshore of Jounama Pond, and the birthplace of celebrated Australian author Miles Franklin. Quiet and scenic, and a good base for exploring Talbingo Dam right on its doorstep.
Similar in size to Blowering Dam but considerably deeper, Talbingo Dam is part of the Snowy Hydro scheme and a peaceful spot for boating, fishing or just taking in the water.
More than six times the size of Sydney Harbour, Blowering Dam is built for open water — waterskiing, wakeboarding and boating with plenty of room to spread out. It's also where Ken Warby set the world water speed record.
One of the region's true hidden treasures: steep gorges, waterfalls, tinted mineral springs, caves and streams that disappear underground and re-emerge downstream. Worth the trip out for anyone who likes their scenery a little wilder.
A cascading waterfall tucked between Laurel Hill and the township of Talbingo, with views over the valley below — a quieter, less-visited alternative to the region's better-known falls.
A cascade waterfall on the Paddy's River, about 15km south of Tumbarumba — a good excuse for a scenic drive with a waterfall at the end of it.
A former experimental timber plantation turned parkland, home to more than 35 varieties of conifers and hardwoods. An easy, shaded walk if you want a change from riverbank scenery.