Guide To Skiing In Australia

When To Go

Australia has ski resorts in three states in the south; New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. The skiing and snowboarding season runs from June to September/October, and Australian ski resorts are great places to visit for skiing no matter your ability or skill level.

Where To Go

The Kosciusko National park is south of Sydney and here you will find the resorts of Perisher, Thredbo, and Charlotte Pass. Perisher is the largest of seven mountains in the village and is the largest ski resort in Australia. With more than 50 lifts and 1500 hectares of skiable terrain, it has something to offer everyone, whether you are a beginner or advanced skier.

In Perisher, you can ski amongst trails of gum trees and explore the area. You have access to four resorts with one pass - Perisher, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes (great for beginners), and Guthega. Most of the fine dining restaurants are located at Perisher Valley, but you can get a snack or a hot drink on the slopes. Here, you can try cross-country skiing whatever your ability, as there are over 100km of cross-country trails suitable for all levels.

Nearby in Thredbo there is a 5.9 km run, a village with bars and restaurants, and 11 ski-in-ski-out restaurants. Charlotte Pass is the highest resort, and plenty of snow in winter means that it is accessible from Perisher Blue by snowcat only. It has its own freestyle terrain park and more experienced skiers can go in search of the hidden runs in the back-country.

In Victoria, Skiers will find more advanced terrain at Mount Hotham, which doesn’t mean it isn’t family friendly - both Hotham and Falls Creek are great for families. Mount Hotham has the greatest proportion of advanced trails in Australia, such One Tree Hill, and Heavenly Valley with its steep gullies, and the area is known for its powdery snow and steep valley runs. A 10km cross-country trail runs from Mount Hotham to Dinner Plain. Falls Creek is a great place to go and see, as it is renowned for being very pretty. Skiers can experience cross-country skiing on more than 65km of world-class trails and you might want to go exploring and take a day trip to nearby Mount Buffalo.

Mount Buller near Melbourne has a great social scene, especially among Melbourne weekenders, but it is also ideal for families. With more than 260 hectares to ski and a good mix of beginner and intermediate slopes, it also has something for the experienced skier with some more advanced terrain and 9km of cross-country skiing.

Mount Baw Baw is even closer to Melbourne, and has 30 hectares for skiing and is very family friendly, and Mount Stirling is great for cross country skiing.

Cradle Mountain in Tasmania is for the experienced skier. The rugged and exposed ski slopes are only accessible on foot as there are no ski lifts or facilities so you will be doing plenty of hard walking.

Located on the northeast side of the island, Ben Lomond is the premier ski resort in Tasmania, and Mount Mawson is in southern Tasmania. The slopes add up to a total of 10km and both resorts offer skiing for beginners and more advanced levels.

Dont's When Skiing In Australia

Don’t forget, you must carry chains in the car to enter the National Parks, and you will need to pay an entry fee.
Don't forget about Ski Insurance when renting your equipment.

Do's When Skiing In Australia

Do find out about the dog sled races that take place in August in the charming village of Dinner Plain.
Do stay at Jindabyne between Thredbo and Perisher to give yourself the choice of skiing at either resort and to save money.
Do park your car at Bullocks Flat and ride the Ski Tube (an Alpine train) to Perisher and Blue Cow.
Do make use of the free shuttle buses you will find in most of the Alpine villages to get around.