Destinations: SNOW ACTIVITIES

Skiing in Australia was founded in the 1950s by family groups and migrants working on the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme who came from countries where snow fell each winter. They recognised the potential for skiing in the Australian Alps, built the first resort accommodation, and soon set in motion the industry that thrives in Australia's High Country today. The warm, welcoming culture of the private club lodges of the early days still permeates the local snow culture but they are increasingly under threat from modern apartment developments.

Right: skiing at Thredbo

The Ski season opens in early June and closes in late September. New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are the only states to experience sufficient snow each winter to support regular snow skiing activities. Though they are quite small by world standards, Australia's alpine region mountains are are easy to access and the terrain is gentle. Only in Australia can you watch an echidna from a chairlift, see emus on the way to the mountain and snowboard or ski past a wombat walking on the slopes. Snowgums are unique to Australian snowfields and apart from being beautiful to look at, they are delightful to ski between. Try it somewhere simple such as Merritts at Thredbo or Mount Buller's Cattleman's Trail and if you're lucky you might see a fossicking wombat.

Accommodation

Cold and spartan ski lodges are a thing of the past, however, with high-end accommodation in the snow whether hotels or apartments available at all major resorts. If the budget allows, try a room at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel or a suite at Mount Buller's Pension Grimus. Staying in Australia's alpine towns is more affordable than staying in the snow and if you prefer not to drive up the mountain road each day, most towns have daily shuttle services. In NSW, check out Jindabyne and in Victoria some of the bigger towns include Bright (good for skiing at Mount Buffalo, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek), Mount Beauty (Falls Creek), Mansfield (Mount Buller), Omeo and Harrietville (Mount Hotham). Day spas where you can get a decent pampering and massage are a part of every big Australian resort now but one of our favourites is the Japanese-style Onsen Retreat and Spa at Dinner Plain.

All In A Day

The coastal town of Merimbula is 180kilometres from Jindabyne, making it possible to snowboard and surf on the same day. You'll need to make an early start, have a good wetsuit and a few energy drinks to keep you going. The storms that bring snow to the mountains in NSW usually bring good surf, too. Go for a skateboard at the Jindabyne skate park to round out the trifecta.
A day trip to the snow is feasible in Victoria. Head to Mount Donna Buang to throw snowballs, Lake Mountain for cross-country skiing and snow play and Mount Baw Baw and Mount Buller for skiing.

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Australia's Ski Resorts

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Victoria Mt. Stirling (Vic) Located an easy three hour drive from Melbourne and a 30 minute drive from the neighbouring Mt. Buller, Mt. Stirling is a destination for all seasons. With more than 68km of maintained trails winding through sheltered woodlands of Alpine Ash and Snow Gums, scenic Mt. Stirling is well worth exploring. Mt. Stirling Mt. St Gwinear (Vic) A friendly, family atmosphere and easy access make Mount St Gwinear the ideal location for cross-country skiing, sightseeing and snow play activities during winter. Situated in the Baw Baw National Park, Mount St Gwinear is a pleasant one-hour Dinner Plain (Vic) Imagine a fairytale village high in the Victorian Alps, nestled amongst the snow gums and featuring a unique architecture of stone and timber buildings - and you would be thinking of the alpine village of Dinner Plain. With mild summer days for hiking, biking, fishing and relaxing and in winter the range of snow sports both within Dinner Plain or 10 minutes away at Mount Hotham. Falls Creek (Vic) Falls Creek enjoys some of the best snow cover of all the Victorian Ski Resorts, combined with the ambience of a beautiful pedestrian only Alpine Village. It has 450 hectares of ski terrain for the downhill and snowboarding enthusiast and a fully integrated lift network as well as cat skiing in Mt. McKay. Hotham (Vic) Mt. Hotham is Australia's only ski village above the tree line, perched high above the ski runs that progress down to the valley. A good mix of terrain for all levels and tree runs, steeps and deeps for the more daring. Mount Hotham is the only ski resort in Australia that has it very own airport for all guests to utilise. Lake Mountain (Vic) The closest ski resort to Melbourne. A family-friendly resort. Perfect to 'experience' snow. One of the most-extensive cross-country trail networks in the world. Mt. Baw Baw (Vic) Mt. Baw Baw is the closest ski resort to Melbourne. The resorts integrated network of 6 lifts, services over 30 hectares of skiing terrain and provides some spectacular scenery. The inviting environment is enhanced by the large number of club lodges spread through the gum trees, resulting in a friendly family feel to the whole resort. Mt. Buffalo (Vic) Mount Buffalo National Park is about 320 km north-east of Melbourne via the Hume Freeway and Great Alpine Road. There are 11 km of cross-country skiing terrain offering a network of groomed and marked trails catering for skiers of all ages and abilities, cross-country skiing lessons are available. There are three main groomed trails around Cresta Valley, the 1km, 4km and Horn Rd. The 6km loop is also a popular ungroomed trail. There is a further 20 km of remote, unmarked trails, and almost unlimited off-track back country ski touring. Mt. Buller (Vic) Located only 225 km from Melbourne, Mt. Buller is a popular destination for day and weekend skiers. It has a wide variety of terrain and a vibrant, cosmopolitan village with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, a cinema, university and ski-in ski-out accommodation choices. Mt. Donna Buang (Vic) No skiing or boarding here - it is a snow play only destination, but very close to Melbourne. Doesn't get a lot of snow but a good place to take kids to see it for the first time after a lower elevation snowfall.
New South Wales Selwyn Snowfields (NSW) Fantastic beginners and low intermediates family oriented mountain. Offers skiing and boarding more protected from the elements than other resorts and is a great introductory resort. Charlotte Pass (NSW) Charlotte Pass Village is located in the heart of the Snowy Mountains, eight kilometres past Perisher Valley towards Mount Kosciusko, and is the highest village in Australia. As the resort is entirely snowbound in winter, access is only by oversnow transport. The Village is one large ski bowl. You can ski right from the front door to the lifts. Thredbo (NSW) Thredbo has Australia's greatest vertical, at 670 metres, and all the facilities of a major resort. It boasts Australia's highest lift, but also the mainland's lowest base, at just 1365 metres, below the natural snowline. Thredbo has a great village with many options for dining and partying. Perisher (NSW) Perisher has the most lifts and covers the largest area of any Australian resort. It is an amalgamation of four separate but interconnected ski areas: Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. Skiers and boarders can ski and board from one end to the other, assuming adequate snow cover.
Tasmania Ben Lomond (Tas) Ben Lomond National Park is located in the northeast of Tasmania and is Tasmania's premier ski resort. The ski village facilities are on the Ben Lomond plateau. The Village is set at the foot of the ski slopes and the ski runs are not as steep or fast as some of those in other resort, however the lack of crowds, the stunning scenery and the diverse wildlife make this a memorable alpine experience. Cross-country skiing and snowboarding are very popular. Mt. Mawson (Tas) Mount Mawson is located within the Mount Field National Park about 1 1/2 hours drive from Hobart in southern Tasmania. The ski areas are at an altitude of about 1250m and the area usually gets fairly consistent snow falls during winter resulting in sufficient cover for downhill skiing from mid July to mid September. Mount Mawson is a small club field operated by the Southern Tasmanian Ski Association (STSA).