Jindabyne, Australia

A scenic settlement beside the man-made lake of the same name, JINDABYNE, 63km west of Cooma, is the jumping-off point for most of Kosciuszko National Park's ski resorts. From here Kosciuszko Road heads north then west, passing Smiggin Holes on the way and finishing up at Charlotte Pass.The town itself sits just outside the national park and was created in the 1960s after the Snowy Mountains Scheme dammed the Snowy River and drowned the original settlement. There's good fishing on the lake and in summer you can also swim and sail – equipment is available to rent in town.