Most people drive to Cooma. It is on the Monaro Highway about just under 5 hours drive from [wiki=1fc91e86962825bb745de53d1657b3e4]Sydney[/wiki], and just over an hours drive from [wiki=85b1713e4b1a271d545a8db229fe262f]Canberra[/wiki]. The Monaro highway is a two lane road for most of its length, in good condition. If you are coming from Sydney you don't need to go through Canberra, but you can skirt around it. Cooma is signposted off the Federal Highway.
There are direct bus services to [wiki=85b1713e4b1a271d545a8db229fe262f]Canberra[/wiki] and [wiki=587387b9cef02ddbd32fc4c0dfe67cf8]Bairnsdale[/wiki] stopping at all the towns along the Monaro, including [wiki=b28d6ba3d7abaf28fe93a815c841ee51]Bombala[/wiki]. There are connections to [wiki=1fc91e86962825bb745de53d1657b3e4]Sydney[/wiki] and [wiki=7c885b9c7c703a77befcabeea54944d5]Melbourne[/wiki] at either end. These services are run by the NSW Countrylink [url=http://www.countrylink.info]]and the Victorian Vline [url=http://www.vline.com.au[/url]] The services south run three times a week, and the services north run daily.
There are connections to the New South Wales [[South Coast (New South Wales)|South Coast[/url]] towns such as [wiki=e6f34805a95614299553e9b70d3dff01]Bega[/wiki], [wiki=725cd089347646e68162d095bebff68f]Merimbula[/wiki], and [wiki=5ff6f4739911461d957273481b69a0db]Eden[/wiki] with a daily Countrylink service.
During the snow season (June to October inclusive), several bus companies travel between Canberra and Jindabyne passing through Cooma, sometimes up to 4 or 5 times daily.
Timetables and fares can be found on each bus companies' website, but are only listed within the snow months.
* Greyhound - [http://greyhound.com.au/]
* Murrays - [http://www.murrays.com.au/]
* Transborder Alpine Express - [http://www.transborder.com.au/]
Cooma has a nice sealed airstrip and terminal at the Snowy Mountain Airport, just south of town, but there are no scheduled commercial services. Closest airport with regular service is at [wiki=85b1713e4b1a271d545a8db229fe262f]Canberra[/wiki] which is just over an hour's drive, and you can fly from there to all Australian capitals. There are bus connections to Cooma.
There are large Coles & Woolworths supermarkets, and if you are heading south, Cooma is a great place to get supplies. There is also a choice of 24-hour service stations.
Renting equipment in Cooma is cheaper than at the snow, and it can be of better quality. It is also a cheaper place to rent snow chains if you are going into the national park during winter. There is also a full range of ski equipment and clothing for sale from multiple shops. Some are open 24-hours during Winter.
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There are a few cafes and places in town that cater to traffic to and from the snow. McDonalds features prominently in town, as does KFC and a few pizza places. Cooma is really the last serious place to eat on the road from the [wiki=b27864d02a189b93add6b415cb4ef427]Snowy Mountains[/wiki] heading north until you get to the outskirts of [wiki=85b1713e4b1a271d545a8db229fe262f]Canberra[/wiki]. If you are heading towards the snow, expect to pay much more and wait much longer for your pizza in [wiki=943733be3ceaab78634521984b10ef74]Jindabyne[/wiki] than you would here.
* The Food Factory next to the visitor information centre situated next to the large park in the middle of town, is a cafe that makes huge and tasty burgers with 20 to 30 different varieties, and around $10, served quickly to cater to their market. Blackboards all over the restaurant with the menu. Pizzas too.
* East End Cafe. Bright orange, next to the second hand bookshop.