TAKE another look at this photo and I am sure you will agree it is a wonderful looking setting, one where you might want to consider visiting yourself one day.
The picture of a kayaker on Khancoban Pondage just cruising along reflects the relaxed nature of the town. Our cover is also from the same location. That is the feeling you get when you visit what can only be described as a mother nature retreat and a town that really flies under the radar.

You the reader can help change this and experience Khancoban yourself with a journey to the western side of the Snowy Mountains on the Alpine Way.
At times like now you can only feel for businesses in this small town. In recent months they have been virtually isolated by road closures and bushfires. The fires threatened all around, but the town ended up being safe.

When new owners Debbie and Tony bought the Khancoban Lakeside Caravan Park business last year little they know what was in store for them. This idyllic setting by the lake is the perfect location to explore Khancoban, but Tony said it has been tough.
“A complete right off” was how he described January.
“We were evacuated on the 3rd of January and let back in on the 11th January as residences. And we had no tourist activity until just before the Australia Day.”
With the Alpine Way closed until February 18, the town had virtually no visitation at all. The popular driving route is key for Khancoban, even if it is just for stop overs for food on a journey to either Thredbo or passing traffic west to Corryong.
Tony said “Big time” when asked was it a relief the road was opened.
“A very big relief as we are now getting a bit of through traffic, otherwise we are pretty much a dead end and people just don’t come out. We missed all the motor bikes, it has been tough.”

The caravan park like all other businesses are now hoping autumn is a good season. They have some events in coming months but also just hope people will visit them. Tony said the Towong race meeting with the historical grandstand is one attraction they have accommodation for.

“The Man from Snowy River Festival, we get an overflow of that from Corryong. Look that’s more accommodation and the others in town like the hotel don’t make as much out of it.”
Bookings at the caravan park are good for Easter but “we still have the cabins that book out closer to the time,” Tony pointed out.
“December and January is our big caravan trade, and we lost all of our January’s caravan trade.”

He said people are starting to come back. “It’s amazing how people are just are coming out for the weekend, they are not bringing any food and they are eating in town, which is nice.”
“We just need to keep it kicking over for the rest of the year because it will take a bit of time to recover from the old January.
“Look, we still have a caravan park so we are lucky in that way, but yeah it has hurt for the first year, we weren’t planning that for our first year of trade, that’s for sure.”
See our map on page 26 to plan this autumn or visit the caravan park website at www.klcp.com.au where you can see their great amenities other parks would be more than proud to own.

The town has the roadhouse for fuel and food on the Alpine Way, in town a café, chemist and post office that sells gifts plus the National Parks Office. The Khancoban Alpine Inn also has accommodation, nice cold beer and the kitchen serves up great lunches and dinner.