Tumut Valley Holiday Park

Birdwatchers take their binoculars to the Tumut Wetlands (10 minutes’ drive), where they might spot nesting kingfishers in the lagoons, galahs and finches in the trees, plus birds of prey. There are more winged encounters (think parrots and cockatoos) to be had in the Wereboldera State Conservation Area. If you’re keen to learn more about the 19th-century Gold Rush in Australia, head to the Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins (25 minutes), a heritage industrial site where it’s possible to see the remains of an ore-crushing machine; or to Batlow (half an hour), where the Reedy Flat Creek is said to have yielded bucketfuls of gold. Among the Yarrangobilly Caves (one hour and 10 minutes) are the Jillabenan Cave, with its delicate stalactites, and the South Glory Cave, known for its vast limestone chambers. Bring a jacket (it gets chilly in the subterranean caverns), but bring a swimsuit, too, for after your underground exploration, you might want to take a dip in the thermal pool.