Visiting Tooma Inn For Lunch & Geocaching In The Snowy Valleys

We visit the historic Tooma Inn, enjoy a hearty pub lunch and explore more geocaching adventures. Our guide to Tooma Inn includes delicious meals, the Southern Cloud Memorial and stunning scenery.

“Why should you visit the Tooma Inn? Because it’s more than just a pub – it’s a slice of Australian history offering hearty meals, warm country hospitality and a perfect base to explore the stunning Snowy Valleys and nearby hidden gems like the Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout.”

Visiting Tooma Inn: A Classic Country Pub Lunch And Exploring The Snowy Valleys

If you’re looking for a true country pub experience in the Snowy Valleys, the Tooma Inn is a must visit. Our recent lunch stop at this historic pub turned into a day packed with great food, geocaching adventures, and a brush with aviation history at the Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout.

Tooma Inn

Discovering Tooma Inn

You probably don’t know this but I work from home a couple a days a week and Amanda works from home full time. A couple of days ago I was booking a truck to deliver some stock to Tooma and Amanda heard me making the booking. She asked me the obvious question: “Where the f*** is Tooma?”. I told her it was down in the high country near the VIC border so Amanda’s next question was wanting to know if they had a pub. We looked it up and hey – they do so what we were doing the following Sunday was immediately decided!

Situated in the tiny village of Tooma, the Tooma Inn stands as a testament to the region’s rich history. Built in 1879 from locally fired bricks, the inn has survived floods, droughts, fires, and even bushrangers. With less than two dozen locals, Tooma is one of the most peaceful places you’ll find in New South Wales. Friendly staff and locals make every visitor feel welcome, treating newcomers as friends they haven’t met yet. The pub is open Wednesday to Sunday serving hearty meals and cold drinks – perfect after a day on the road or the trails. Free camping is available right behind for those travelling with a caravan or tent, making it an ideal stop for campers and caravanners alike.

Getting To The Tooma Inn

Tooma Inn is located at 9 Possum Point Road, Tooma, in the heart of the Snowy Valleys. Here’s how to get there from several well-known locations:

The drive from Tumbarumba to Tooma is especially beautiful with the valley opening up to reveal rolling green pastures and distant mountain ranges.

Tooma Inn Opening Hours & Details

Address: 9 Possum Point Road, Tooma NSW
Phone: 0417 728 315
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Tooma-Inn-100063789120866/
Open: Wednesday To Sunday

Lunch At The Tooma Inn

We arrived at the Tooma Inn ready for a classic country lunch. Dave ordered the Guinness stew, which was rich, hearty and full of flavour – perfect for a cool day in the mountains. Amanda chose the meatballs with pepper steak gravy and they were equally fantastic: tender, savoury and served with generous sides. The menu caters to hungry travellers and the portions won’t leave you wanting. The friendly service and welcoming atmosphere made us feel right at home.

Lunch At The Tooma inn

Geocaching Adventures: Tumbarumba And Paddy’s River Falls

Travelling to Tooma we made a few stops for geocaching – a popular outdoor treasure hunt using GPS coordinates. At Paddy’s River Falls, just 15 kilometres south of Tumbarumba, we found several geocaches while taking in the impressive waterfall and scenic lookouts. The falls are easily accessed via a well maintained road and offer a refreshing swimming stop, especially in warmer months.

In Tumbarumba, geocaching led us to a number of interesting sites, including historic Wolter’s Cottages. These heritage listed buildings from the 1870s mark the start of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail and feature a small historical display. The area is rich in local history and the cottages are a great spot to stretch your legs and learn more about the region.

View Of Wolter’s Cottages

Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout

One of the most memorable geocaches we found was at the Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout, just five kilometres from Tooma on Tooma Road. This lookout offers sweeping views of the Maragle and Tooma Valleys, with the Snowy Mountains as a dramatic backdrop. The site features an undercover picnic area and interpretive storyboards that tell the story of the Southern Cloud disaster. I’ve always known the story of the Southern Cloud tragedy but had never been to the memorial before. It would be even better if some day I was able to walk out to the site. Will have to do some research to find out if it’s possible.

The Southern Cloud Crash Site

The Southern Cloud Crash

On 21 March 1931, the Avro 618 Ten aircraft known as the Southern Cloud disappeared during a flight from Sydney to Melbourne. Severe weather forced the plane off course, and it crashed in the Snowy Mountains, killing all eight people on board. Despite an extensive search, the wreckage was not found until 1958, when a worker on the Snowy Mountains Scheme stumbled upon it. The tragedy was Australia’s first major airline disaster and led to significant changes in aviation safety, including the introduction of two-way radios on passenger planes and the establishment of ground radio stations (Wikipedia, Monument Australia).

The Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout commemorates the lives lost and the impact the crash had on Australian aviation. It’s a moving place to reflect on history while enjoying some of the best views in the region.

View From Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout

What Did We Find While Geocaching In The Snowy Valleys?

We found 9 of them with no DNFs! It was a really awesome day of geocaching in a particularly beautiful part of the country.

1. Found Paddys River Flats | GCA8A07
   What a beautiful spot TFTC
2. Found Established when? | GC4ZNW2
   Great find and awesome meal at the Pub. TFTC
3. Found Southern Comfort, Southern Cloud or Southern Storm | GC40TVM
   Another great piece of history thanks TFTC. Log was very wet so replaced the paper
4. Found More Lorenz (Warning this cache is in a cemetery) | GC4528B
   Love these hides in the Cemeteries. TFTC. PS. Cache container lid was missing and paper very damp. Replaced container paper and clip seal bag.
5. Found Punter lost! | GC41K97
   Nice easy find. I’m sure the sheep thought we were there to feed them as they came running from all directions. TFTC
6. Found A most unusual Lorenz | GC41K9M
   What a fantastic piece of history thank you for bringing us to a place we would not have known was there.
7. Found Mica’s Leap | GC9QVYJ
   Great piece of history thanks for bring us here TFTC
8. Found In Memory of Herb | GC2VENJ
   Great little park and hide TFTC
9. Found Cnr Gadara Rd | GC45RPK
   On our way to Tooma for the day and found this quick find TFTC

Found A Geocache At Wolter’s Cottages In Tumbarumba

Why Tooma Inn Is A Must Visit For Caravanners And Campers

• Historic charm: The Tooma Inn is a living piece of local history, offering a true country pub experience.
• Great food: Generous, hearty meals perfect for hungry travellers.
• Free camping: Park your caravan or pitch a tent behind the Inn for a peaceful night in the valley.
• Adventure nearby: Geocaching, waterfalls and historic sites are all within easy reach.
• Stunning scenery: The Snowy Valleys region is renowned for its dramatic landscapes and friendly communities.

Final Thoughts

Our visit to the Tooma Inn was more than just a lunch stop – it was a journey through history, nature, and country hospitality. Whether you’re chasing geocaches at Paddy’s River Falls, exploring Tumbarumba’s heritage, or paying your respects at the Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout, Tooma is the perfect base for adventure in the Snowy Valleys.

Sources

• Tooma Inn – Snowy Valleys Tourism
• Tooma Directory – Snowy Valleys Travel Information
• Tumbarumba & Tooma – High Country Online
• Paddy’s River Falls – Visit NSW
• Wolter’s Cottages – Tumbarumba Motel
• Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout – Snowy Valleys
• 1931 Avro Ten Southern Cloud Disappearance – Wikipedia
• Southern Cloud Memorial Lookout – Monument Australia