From The City To The Snowy Mountains: One Family's Move

Images by Breanna A Photography

At The Lake, East Jindabyne, families can make the dream of mountain living a reality. Offering affordable land with more space, more freedom and a lifestyle shaped by lakeside beauty, outdoor adventure and the warmth of a close-knit community.

Thinking about a city-to-country lifestyle swap? Meet the Musacchio family, who made the move from Sydney to Jindabyne and discovered not only wide-open spaces, but also a simpler, healthier way of life in a welcoming regional NSW community.

From Sydney Streets to Mountains Views

For Monique and Andrea Musacchio, along with their ten-year-old daughter Mati, life on Sydney’s Northern Beaches was comfortable but busy. Commutes were long, schedules were crowded and while weekends at the beach were enjoyable, the family craved space and a slower pace.

Then came the pandemic. What started as a holiday to the Snowy Mountains stretched into an unplanned stay, which soon became a decision to relocate permanently. They stumbled across their dream property not far from Jindabyne. A place where they could keep animals and enjoy a lifestyle shaped by seasons rather than traffic.

According to Monique, “Life became simpler. Not necessarily easier, but more wholesome. We had the opportunity to re-focus our lives.”

A Country Lifestyle for Kids

For Mati, moving to the Snowy Mountains has opened up a whole new world. Her playground is the outdoors. Days are spent hiking, riding motorbikes on bush trails and spending long summer afternoons on the lake, paddleboarding and swimming with friends. Horse riding has also become a big part of Mati’s life since moving to the Snowy Mountains. She is training in dressage, cross-country and show jumping, spending time in the saddle building confidence, skill and a strong connection with her horse. Much like her ski training in winter, horse riding is a pursuit that combines discipline with freedom, perfectly suited to a childhood shaped by open space and time outdoors.

“We wanted Mati to grow up with freedom and resilience,” says Monique. “Here, she’s active, outdoors and connected to nature.”

Garden to Plate

Since moving, Monique and Andrea have developed a strong desire to source and grow their own food, driven by a closer connection to the land and a cleaner, more intentional way of living. In summer they’re able to harvest more vegetables and herbs from their own garden. They also collect daily eggs from their chickens and meat from neighbouring farms or sometimes from their own livestock.

This more connected way of living is what makes a family move to the Snowy Mountains so appealing: it’s real, sustainable and grounded in nature.

“We live more outdoors than we ever did in Sydney, and across four very different seasons,” says Monique. “We grow our own veggies, we know where our food comes from, and we’re surrounded by people who care about the land.”

Community That Feels Like Family

Starting fresh in a regional town can feel daunting, but Monique and Andrea quickly discovered Jindabyne’s strong community spirit. Their first connections came through Mati’s school, followed by friendships formed through neighbours and local networks.

Work and Balance in Regional NSW

Relocating to the Snowy Mountains hasn’t meant leaving careers behind. Monique runs her own interior design company, Nyumba Mawa Design, working with clients both locally and in Sydney. Andrea works for Snowy Hydro, with the flexibility to split time between the office and different work sites - a balance that complements the family’s active, outdoors-focused lifestyle.

The old pressures of city life, juggling work, long commutes and family time have eased.

Why Families Are Moving to the Snowy Mountains

For the Mussachio family, moving from Sydney to the Snowy Mountains wasn’t about escaping the city; it was about creating a lifestyle that felt authentic. Their experience shows that relocating to regional NSW is more than a change of address, it’s an opportunity to live more simply, sustainably and fully.

The Mussachio Family Favourites

Next time you’re visiting the Snowy Mountains, try some of the family’s favourite spots:

• Coffee & pastries – ESS

• Fresh smoothies after school – The Market

• Organic produce to top up the veggie patch – MoonTree, Cooma

• Best bacon & egg baguette – Trader Joe’s

• Pizza night – La Famiglia

• Casual takeaway – Mountain Munchies

• Weekend pub meal – Dalgety Brewery

• Coffee & sweet treats – Brunelli

• High-country homewares – Design & Detail, plus Nyumba Mawa Design online

• Pilates – Centred Health Studio

• Kitchen, bathroom & home cabinetry – Into Joinery