Discover the mighty Snowy Scheme like never before. Learn how Snowy Hydro is underpinning our renewable future at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma. Located in the beautiful Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, the Discovery Centre is a great addition to any excursion or school trip. Choose from a range of educational experiences or tailor to your specific learning needs in consultation with our experienced Education team. Our engaging Next Generation Education Academy is designed to align with the Australian Curriculum and provides a unique learning experience for your students of all ages.
The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma showcases the history and construction of the mighty Snowy Scheme. Explore the interactive exhibition of displays, models and a state-of-the-art immersive theatre! Learn how Snowy Hydro operates today and is underpinning our renewable future.
Education
Snowy Hydro is passionate about fostering the next generation of innovators. Our Next Generation Education Academy provides students with learning opportunities that align with the Australian curriculum and are designed to be tailored to your student’s specific learning needs.
Our engaging education program will ignite students’ imagination and expand their knowledge across a range of curriculum including STEM, geography, history, environment and social science subjects. Whether students visit our Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre and the Snowy Mountains region or visit the Next Generation Education Hub online, students will be able to experience the Scheme like never before.
Our Next Generation Education Academy and learning experiences include:
For more information on our school education programs, visit here.
Complete an education booking request form here
Discovery Centre
Explore the past, present and future of the mighty Snowy Scheme at one of the Snowy Mountains’ must-see attractions! Discover the Scheme’s rich history, learn about renewables and keep updated with the new Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro mega expansion project.
A large-scale model of the Snowy Scheme sits at the entrance of the exhibition providing visitors with an interactive introduction to the Scheme. The centre includes an extensive photographic collection, two theatres including a state-of-the-art immersive theatre, models, hands-on exhibits, learning hubs and interactive displays showcasing the engineering feats and daily life of the many people who worked on the Scheme.
Informative live screens are displayed showing the Scheme working in real time! See what power stations are generating or pumping renewable energy and where water is moving throughout the Scheme. The National Electricity Market (NEM) screens show the prices and demand of electricity across the country in real-time five minute increments.
What you can see and do
Learn all about the history of the Scheme and how the business operates today by watching a short film in our new immersive theatre. Explore the Snowy Mountains and the mighty Snowy Scheme with a virtual flight in our state-of-the art immersive theatre, with its 14m-wide screen and floor projections.
Find out about our pumped-hydro expansion mega project, Snowy 2.0. See the latest progress of the project and check out the 3m model tunnel boring machine with moving cutterhead.
The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre Cafe is open daily. Enjoy a homemade pie, sausage roll or pastry, or choose from a variety of fresh sandwiches, delicious cakes and other sweet treats. We serve great barista-made coffee, organic teas, ‘infamous’ milkshakes and a range of iced and cold drinks.
Sit out on our lawns or enjoy our outside tables where the kids have plenty of space to stretch their legs! The outside area includes two turbine runners from the Scheme, including the largest from our Tumut 3 Power Station weighing an incredible 47.7 tonnes!
Our Discovery Centre shop has something for everyone with a range of books, clothing, local produce and souvenirs. Our range of STEM and science-based products is suitable for children of all ages.
Location and Business Hours
The Discovery Centre is located in Cooma, and is easily accessible. It is located just over an hour drive south of Canberra and less than an hour's drive from Jindabyne. There’s plenty of free car parking, plus additional caravan and trailer parking. There is also a Chargefox Electric Vehicle charging station on site. Disabled parking and wheelchair access is also available.
When planning a visit, please don't hesitate to call us on 1800 623 776 to check opening times or to enquire about our education programs.
Where: Cooma, Monaro Highway, 2kms north of Cooma CBD
Open: 7 days: 8am–4.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am–2pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
Closed: Christmas Day & Anzac Day
Cost: Entry is free of charge