SUMMER SKIES
Summer Skies - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Summer Skies | |||||
| By: Alice Coomans, Issue 32 – Spring 2007 | |||||
| (The Snowy Mountains – NSW, Australia) | |||||
| ESCAPE THE CROWDS AND EXPERIENCE SUMMER IN THE NSW SNOWY MOUNTAINS | |||||
| A blanket of stars hangs overhead, and near the horizon Mc Naughts comet is slowly sinking out of sight. Surrounded by nothing but the rolling grass-covered alpine slopes of the Snowy Mountains it is dark, very dark: I wouldn’t have got this last fleeting glance at the fading comet had there been any city lights nearby. After a day of trekking through the Snowy Mountains with Kosciuszko Alpine Guided Walks, visiting some of Australia’s highest and most beautiful lakes, this is the perfect finish to the evening. Kosciuszko Alpine Guided Walks is run by Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort, and offer a variety of one- and two-day walks through the Kosciusko National Park in New South Wales. Most of the equipment and all of the food you will need for your alpine adventure is provided as part of the package, along with a knowledgeable local guide. (And after a long day walking, as part of an overnight trek, I can attest to just how good it feels arriving back at camp to see tents up, sleeping bags unrolled, and hot drinks at the ready). For the overnight trek, dinner is also provided and is a hearty event – I had chicken pesto pasta – followed by a stream of hot drinks. A word to the wise: heed the recommendation that you will need thermals at night up in the mountains, even in January. Summer is a beautiful time to visit, with carpets of wildflowers at your feet, but there is still a definite chill in the air. While the walking programs are described as catered – not luxury (don’t choose to camp overnight if the thought of eco-friendly portable toilets is too much for you) – Lake Crackenback Resort’s new chalet development is definitely in the league of luxury. Starting and ending your alpine adventure ensconced in one of these is my recommendation. The chalets – which are across the lake from the resort and offer a more exclusive experience – are privately owned and individually designed, but a strict building code ensures each chalet has been fitted out with the utmost attention to detail. My favourite is number 16. This three-bedroom chalet comes complete with warm timber floors, sleek interiors, SMEG kitchen appliances, flat screen TVs, a sweeping verandah with views back across the lake, and is only a short amble across to the Lake Crackenback Restaurant and Bar. Chalet number 7 is also a good choice if you are traveling with a group of friends – it comes complete with pool table and spa. Although the chalets are located outside the main area of the resort, all the normal resort facilities are available, including room service, which is perfect after trekking through the mountains. You can settle back, slip into the bath to relieve those aching muscles, and wait for dinner to be delivered to your door. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| Lake Crackenback Resort www.novotellakecrackenback.com.au Outdoor Adventures: Mt Kosciusko Helicopter Tours: Fly high for an eagle-eye view of the Snowies, www.thredbo.com.au | |||||
| Horse Riding: Visit the high country on horseback, www.thredbo.com.au | |||||
| Fishing: Trout fishing enthusiasts should head for the Thredbo River, www.thredbo.com | |||||
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