MazdACT Presents 'The Snowy Mountains Cruise' [Season 5, 2026] The annual Snowy Mountains Cruise returns! A single day, 511 km, 6 hour loop from Canberra across the roof of Australia and return. On Saturday 14 November, guests will meet at the Hall Showground carpark (end of Gladstone Street) for an 8.00 AM pre-cruise meet and briefing by Coordinator Justin Bush. At 8.30 AM the cruise will depart for the Hume Freeway at Yass and south to Gundagai for a photo-stop atop Mt Parnassus Lookout. It's then onwards to Tumut for a pub lunch at The Oriental Hotel. A refuel opportunity is offered with several outlets including Ampol, Shell and Mobil. The cruise will then ascend to Talbingo Dam for a vehicle display and summer swim in the icy waters of the recreation pool. Don't forget your swimmers! Afterwards, its a tight climb up to Kosciusko National Park and the roof of Australia with a gorgeous overland cruise. Brumbies are often seen here, so caution is urged. A brief photo-stop overlooking the highway will be taken at the Eucumbene River Chain Bay. Winding down through dense bushland and snow huts, the highway will deliver the cruise into Cooma in the early evening. Members will then gather at the Four Mile Service Station outside Cooma for a final farewell before guests make their own way home to Canberra for the event conclusion. This event is open to fellow Canberra car clubs and enthusiasts keen for a day out with great people, food, scenery and vehicles. SAFETY ADVICE Caution is urged in Kosciusko National Park due to wild Brumbies and no roadside fencing. A complete stop occurred last year and this may occur again with little notice. Additionally, construction vehicles and new roads involved with the Snowy 2.0 Project are now also present. BREAKDOWN 08.00 AM - Guests gather at Hall Showground, end of Gladstone Street, for a pre-cruise meet and briefing. 08.30 AM - Cruise departs Hall via Barton Highway to Yass, joins Hume Freeway south to Gundagai and Mt Parnassus Lookout (90 mins, 143 kms) 10.00 AM - Arrive to Gundagai and Mt Parnassus Lookout. Half hour stop and vehicle arrangement for group photo-stop. 10.30 AM - Cruise departs Gundagai via Gocup Road to Tumut and Oriental Hotel for lunch break (25 mins, 34 kms) 11.00 AM - Arrive to Tumut and the Oriental Hotel. Vehicles to be parked nose out on street in front of hotel precinct. Menu is modern cuisine (steak, burgers, fish, salads, etc) and drinks (full bar) REFUEL REQUIRED AT THIS STOP - LAST FUEL UNTIL COOMA. 12.30 PM - Cruise departs Tumut for Talbingo and Tumut 3 Power Station via Snowy Mountains Hwy, start of climb skirting the edge of Blowering Reservoir (40 mins, 47 kms) 01.10 PM - Arrive to Talbingo and Tumut 3 Power Station for dam photo-stop and swim option in Talbingo Dam. 02.00 PM - Cruise departs Talbingo, re-joins Snowy Mountains Hwy and commences climb to Kosciusko National Park and roof of Australia. 03.00 PM - Arrive to Eucumbene River Chain Bay, vehicles to fully pull off highway onto bay for photo-stop at head of cruise looking back across vehicles and highway across the Snowy Plains. (57 mins, 72 kms) 03.20 PM - Cruise departs chain bay for Cooma, downhill run through Kosciusko National Park to Adaminaby and on to The Alpine Hotel at Cooma (60 mins, 76 kms) 4.30 PM - Cruise arrives to The Four Mile service station south of Cooma and conclusion of The Snowy Mountains Cruise for 2026. Return to Canberra via Monaro Hwy and event conclusion (90 mins, 118 kms) 06.00 PM - Guests reach Canberra.