Yarrangobilly River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yarrangobilly |
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 Location of the Yarrangobilly River mouth in New South Wales
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| Other name(s) | Heads of Yarrangobilly River |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Australian Alps (IBRA), Snowy Mountains |
| LGA | Snowy Valleys Council |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Fiery Range near Kennedy Ridge 1,490 m (4,890 ft) 35°39′S 148°30′E / 35.650°S 148.500°E |
| River mouth | Talbingo Reservoir Tobo Hole 35°46′S 148°21′E / 35.767°S 148.350°E |
| Length | 50 km (31 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Murrumbidgee catchment, Murray–Darling basin |
| National park | Kosciuszko NP |
The Yarrangobilly River is a river in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It flows all year round and is part of the larger Murray–Darling basin river system. This river is found within the beautiful Kosciuszko National Park.
Journey of the Yarrangobilly River
The Yarrangobilly River begins high up in the Fiery Range, near Kennedy Ridge. This is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Peppercorn Hill, inside Kosciuszko National Park. The river flows mostly towards the southwest.
It eventually empties into the Talbingo Reservoir at a place called Tobo Hall. This reservoir was created when the Tumut River was blocked by the Talbingo Dam. The river drops 935 metres (3,068 ft) over its 50 kilometres (31 mi) journey from its source to the reservoir. The Snowy Mountains Highway crosses the river at a spot known as Yarrangobilly.
Fun Things to Do at Yarrangobilly
One of the best ways to visit the river is through the Yarrangobilly Caves area. Near the river, there's a special thermal pool. This pool is 20 metres (66 ft) long and up to 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) deep. It's fed by a warm spring, which keeps the water at a cozy 27 °C (81 °F) all the time.
You can explore the area on walking tracks like the River Walk and Castle Walk. The Castle Walk leads to the Yarrangobilly Caves. There's also the Glory Farm track, which takes you to what's left of Henry Harris' old farm. Other fun activities here include fishing, canoeing, and rafting.
Animals of the Yarrangobilly River
The Yarrangobilly River was once home to the endangered Booroolong Frog. Sadly, it's thought that these frogs might have disappeared from the river. This is likely due to a serious frog disease called Chytridiomycosis.
You can also find rainbow trout in the river. These fish were not originally from here. They were introduced into local waters from the Gaden Trout Hatchery near Jindabyne by a group called the Monaro Acclimatisation Society.
