The Road Less Travelled – The Barry Way

Who else loves travelling along “the road less travelled?”

Heading on the Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney might be seen as an epic trip for some, but it can be quite monotonous. It’s a journey that takes you across the border and travels around 870 km, depending on the start and finish locations.

the barry way victoria

Let’s create some time for ourselves and find another way.

If you drag a map out, you’ll see roads all over the place connecting locations and creating opportunities for an adventure. For this one, we went in search of the Barry Way.

Admittedly, we’ve travelled through here several times, but it’s always great to see it again.

travelling the barry way in a 4wd

The road system starts in the south of East Gippsland region of Victoria, with Gelantipy Road and the Snowy River Road connecting Buchan through the New South Wales and Victorian border all the way to Jindabyne via the Barry Way. The distance from Buchan to Jindabyne is around 170 km, and you should allow about 3 hours, including some time for exploring and photo opportunities.

There are many tracks off the main road creating awesome opportunities for the 4WDer looking to spend extra time exploring the region, so do some research and find yourself an adventure if you have more time.

off road hill climb the barry way

The road offers a great chance to see the Snowy River, the Snowy River Valley, and the beautiful mountains of the Australian Alps. This is remote but easily achievable for a standard 4X4 vehicle.

the barry way hill mountain range

Suggan Buggan is definitely a highlight, with the Suggan Buggan Old School House creating many photo opportunities. Originally restored in 1974, it was undergoing further renovations while we were there and thanks to the efforts, it's in amazing condition.

susan buggan old school

susan buggan old school house

The road winds along the edges of mountains and hills, making its way towards the border, which creates some stunning scenery. It’s a slow-going and narrow track, which is usually well maintained.

the barry way hill climb

Great access to the river can be found along the way for those who might like to have a closer look.

river along the barry way in victoria

The areas south of the border have good access for a close view of the Snowy River, but once you arrive on the New South Wales side, you will find some restricted access. So if you are looking to set up a campsite next to the Snowy, consider the areas in Victoria.

Let’s talk a little about the road’s history.

The effort to connect the states started on the Victorian side, with roads and bridges being built as early as 1925. It was a slow process utilising unemployed manual labour and was delayed by the war during the construction of the bridge at Suggan Buggan.

The Barry Way was named after Leo Barry, the President of the Snowy River Council, who pushed for the road’s creation in the 1950s. In 1960, funding was provided to contract its construction, which was completed in around 26 weeks. It was not much more than a Jeep track. The Victorian side was completed through to the border first, and the New South Wales side completed its section just after.

The road system has undergone many improvements over time, with some short sections upgraded with bitumen to prevent erosion.

hilly range and river through the barry way

We see this regularly when two roads meet at a border; one state’s road system will be in much better condition than the other. In this case, the Victorian side was well graded and maintained, while the New South Wales side really requires a lot of work, with many potholes slowing your progress dramatically.

Highlights on the New South Wales side of the border are two amazing lookouts. Jacks Lookout offers a stunning view north of the Snowy River, and Wallace Craigie Lookout shows the stunning valley and provides information about the area, including the many wildfires which have devastated the region.