Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre and Cafe

The Snowy Discovery Centre in Cooma presents a wealth of memorabilia and information on the mighty Snowy Scheme. Here, you can explore the past, present, and future through a variety of experiences at Cooma’s must-see attraction.

Built from 1949 to 1974, the Snowy Scheme is an integral part of Australian engineering folklore, and the mighty "Snowy" is still loved today, with thousands visiting annually to learn more about its rich history.

One highlight is the immersive theatre experience where you can take a virtual flyover of the Snowy Mountains. The inspiring short screening gives you an instant snapshot of this masterpiece. The narrated video thrusts you deep into the scheme and its vast complex of tunnels and dams spread across the entire mountain range. The fly over is a great way to start your exploration, firstly seeing it here on the big screen and then explore for the rest of your holidays on your drive through the region.

During your visit, see how Snowy Hydro operates today, with live, real-time screens showing electricity being generated, and watch exactly what is pumping, where water is flowing, and how much energy each power station is generating. Take a walk through the Discovery Centre to see a great collection of iconic photos from the scheme's construction, old artefacts, and even try to make electricity yourself on the exercise bike.

The Discovery Centre is just the launchpad for your Snowy Scheme exploration. Once you have seen the theatre display and gained a better sense of the scheme's enormity, you can hit the road with your newfound knowledge and explore it in detail across the full width of Kosciuszko National Park.

The Snowy Scheme touches every town in the region in some way, from the people who worked on the scheme and the legacy towns of Talbingo, Cabramurra and Khancoban to the wonderful dams and waterways, many of which you can swim. Make a true day of it to any location, with the drive alone showing off the magnificent high-country scenery. An extended picnic lunch is a just reward.

There is also a wealth of information on the current Snowy 2.0 project, which is being built now at Lobs Hole in the Kosciuszko National Park. See the model tunnel boring machine and the video on how it all works. To learn more about the scheme, the Discovery Centre has a wealth of literature and books in their shop.

Snowy Hydro has launched a new digital pop-up book showcasing the Snowy 2.0 renewable energy project for a younger generation.
Bringing the engineering and purpose of Snowy 2.0 to life in a lively, interactive way, the pop-up book is designed to engage and inform young people.

To experience the Snowy 2.0 digital pop-up book visit here.

Discovery Cafe

Feeling hungry, you can browse the memorabilia and then dine in at the relaxing cafe that serves coffee, snacks and lunch. Choose from homemade pies and sausage rolls, fresh sandwiches and great barista-made coffee. Outdoor dining on the lawns is ideal for the kids, and the cafe is air-conditioned.