Hit the ski slopes, spot a platypus, and smell the lavender fields.
It’s not called “Platypus Country” for nothing! The wooded banks of the Bombala River— which runs through the heart of its namesake town—are renowned as one of the best places in Australia to spot the elusive creatures in the wild. Outdoor adventurers have lots more to do in this small southeastern NSW town, which sits between the ski resorts of the Snowy Mountains and the coast, just a 2-hour drive from Canberra. The vast South East Forest National Park sits right on Bombala’s doorstep, where you explore miles of bushwalking, horseback riding, and 4WD trails alongside several free campgrounds with sites for tents, camper trailers, and caravans. You can also check in to the town’s caravan park, which has powered sites, a camp kitchen, and a dump point, or seek out a rural Hipcamp, perhaps amid the region’s many lavender fields and sheep stations.