Snow Skiing in Australia

Australia is blessed with some truly great snowfields. The recent Vancouver Winter Olympics showed that Australia can hold its own on the snow, and if you enjoyed watching it on the TV you'll love getting out there and experiencing the wonder of winter first hand.

Skiing is more accessible and affordable than you might think, with over 10 great resorts to choose from, many located within easy driving distance from major capital cities.

Whether you've never laid eyes on snow before, or you're a seasoned pro, there is plenty of great skiing to suit all in Australia.

Located in south eastern region of the country, there are snowfields in only 2 states, New South Wales and Victoria.

New South Wales

NSW has 4 major snow skiing areas; Thredbo, Perisher, Selwyn Snowfields and Charlotte’s Pass.

Thredbo is a charming alpine village and probably Australia’s best known ski resort. With plenty of accommodation, over 50 runs and 14 chair lifts, Thredbo is great for all levels of skiers.

Perisher is made up of 4 inter-connecting Ski Resorts and is the largest ski and snowboard area in the Southern Hemisphere. Within the 1250 hectare area, there are a staggering 47 ski lifts with the terrain being well suited to intermediate skiers. The 4 resorts are Smiggin Holes, Guthega, Mount Blue Cow and Perisher Valley.

Charlotte Pass is the ideal location for those wanting to get away from it all. Because of its high elevation, it is only accessible by over snow transport. This makes it isolated during the winter months and generally keeps away the crowds, making it a remote magical wonderland. The resort is small with limited accommodation and only 5 ski lifts, however, there is great skiing for beginners to advanced and those who enjoy cross country skiing.

Close to Adaminaby, Selwyn Snowfields is perfect for families and for beginners, with approximately 88% of the runs catering for those just starting. There are a number of packages suitable for those who have never skied before and there is a special ski school for littlies aged from 18 months to 6 years of age.

For those wanting a taste of all the NSW Snowfields, Jindabyne is only 30 minutes away and offers a great range of accommodation.

Victoria

Victoria has 3 major snow skiing area's, these are Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller.

Falls Creek, situated in the north-east of the state, is Victoria’s largest Alpine resort. Renowned for its fantastic downhill and cross-country skiing, it is a great family friendly resort. With 90 runs serviced by 19 lifts, skiers are spoilt for choice.

Mt Buller is incredibly popular with lots of accommodation and a great variety of skiing for all levels. Cross country is also popular here with high speed chair lifts connecting Mt Buller with Mt Stirling. The area covers more than 300 hectares and there are over 80km of marked trails.

Mt Hotham incorporates Mt Hotham Ski Resort and Mt Hotham Village. Located high in the Alps, the area has the highest natural snowfalls in Victoria. It caters for all levels of skiers and is home to one of Australia’s steepest and most difficult runs, the Mary Slide among other black diamond thrill runs. There are 13 lifts and approximately 245 hectares of skiable area. There is also a great range of accommodation available.

There are plenty of accommodation options available for all alpine areas of Victoria.

Hero Image "Thredbo, Australia" - By Lee Hopkins