3 Best Ski Resorts In Australia

An Alpine Wonderland Awaits

Australia may not be known worldwide for the snow, but during the winter months, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania have some of the most magical ski resorts in the Southern Hemisphere. You may be thinking New Zealand’s Queenstown and Cardrona are the places to go!  But, that is not always the case. 

Here we will explore your options for a much-needed winter vacation and all the ins and outs of the best 3 ski resorts that Australia has to offer!

2. Perisher Valley

Perisher Valley is also in New South Wales and close to Thredbo, but they offer many different things that Thredbo does not. It may not have the longest ski run in the country, nor the tallest mountain, but they do have other excellent amenities including 47 chairlifts that make them a unique choice. Perisher boasts over one hectare of skiable terrain across four resorts areas – Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. This makes Perisher the largest resort in the southern hemisphere.

Skitube Alpine Railway

One big standout at Perisher is the Skitube. Now, as many first-time tourists to Perisher Valley often think the Skitube is a kind of rubber doughnut thing that the kids use to sled down the slopes. Not so!

The Skitube Alpine Railway is a swiss designed, Australian standard gauge electric rack railway in the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. This innovative train ride provides passengers with access to the snowfields at Perisher Valley and Blue Cow Mountain. Located at Bullocks Flat on the Alpine Way, the Skitube travels through the Ramshead range, into the National Park then onto Perisher Valley.

During the Skitube 8.5km route, passengers are taken through Australia’s longest transport tunnel which is 6.3km long, and travel to the depths of 550m underground. The Skitube terminal at Bullocks Flat is outside Kosciuszko National Park and 20kms from Jindabyne. Passengers can park for free, day and overnight at Bullocks Flat.

Once arriving at Perisher, travel between Perisher and Blue Cow is also free with any valid lift ticket. A Skitube pass will give you access to Kosciuszko National Park and there are savings to be made by purchasing a combined ‘Skitube Train and Lift’ ticket.

You can of course drive all the way to the bottom snowfield, but the addition of the Skitube ticket to your lift pass is less expensive than entry. If you are travelling with a family, it may not be the cheapest option to add a Skitube ticket to all your lift passes. But if you travel past this bottom carpark be prepared to get down and dirty in the snow to put chains on your tyres because it can get very icy at this junction.

Skitube Connecting You to Other Ski Resorts

The Skitube will also grant you easy access to the three levels, so to speak, of the Perisher Valley ski resorts. Continuing from Perisher Valley, Blue Cow is perfect for beginners and is one of the first stops on the train after you leave the lower carpark. With gentle slopes, it allows for progression from beginner to a more confident skier. There are two remaining stops on the train before it turns around, both suitable for more advanced skiers at Smiggin Holes and Guthega. All of these areas have accommodation available on snow, as well as excellent restaurants and bars just one slope away!

The Perisher Skitube also gives access to areas such as the less well-known Charlottes Pass, which lies between the Thredbo and Perisher ski resorts. There are many great ski spots around the area for the avid skiers and you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity. Each location gives its own unique atmosphere and views that are incomparable to anywhere else in the world. Who knew such amazing ski areas could be found in the midst of Australia!

Perisher Valley Epic Ski Pass

The Epic Australia Pass purchased from Perisher Valley grants you access all season for those avid skiers and snowboarders out there. It is much more than just a ski pass to this one location. Similar to the Mountain Collective Pass at Thredbo, The Epic Pass Club allows you discounted access to many amazing ski resorts around the world. For all the global travellers, this is a great offer and certainly one that should be utilised if you love snow sports. These include Hakuba Valley and Rusutsu in Japan, Breckenridge in the US and more.

3. Mt Hotham Alpine Resort

Finally, the last stop on the exploration of a few of the best ski resorts in the country is nearby in Victoria. We divert to the more southern stretch of the country, which is also home to some amazing ski resorts. Hotham is included on the Epic Pass that you can get from Perisher, giving you unlimited skiing for your stay! Talk about a bargain. We all know that ski passes can be expensive, but if you plan on attending more than one during the year then this is an excellent deal.

Mount Hotham Husky Sled Dog Tours

Again, as with all the ski resorts discussed in this article, there are plenty of activities to cater to family and friends alike. Kids club is available for the little ones and this is only one of the activities that will keep them entertained during your trip! Not to mention Husky sled dog rides and tours that will take you bounding through backcountry trails with an experienced guide. This is a unique selling point for the Hotham ski field.

In the Hotham Alpine Resort you will find 13 operational lifts that will take you to the top of runs that stretch for up to two and a half kilometres! That is a lot of skiing. State of the art snow making facilities means that even a bad day is a good day for you at Mt Hotham Alpine Resort. You can take sunset helicopter rides over the stunning mountain ranges that are part of the extraordinary resort.

At the end of the day you can put your feet up and relax, with sauna, spa and massage treatments to book in. There is also a range of restaurants and bars to suit any craving, for you or your kids. There are over twenty choices for you in this regard.

There are several ways to get to Hotham, and this is entirely down to you and your budget. Flights can be booked to take you directly to the Hotham Airport from both Sydney and Melbourne. 

You can also hire a car from the airport if you want to make it a road trip to remember! This would be around eight hours from Sydney or four and a half hours from Melbourne. If you do plan on driving to the ski resort you must have tyre chains. If you do not own or do not wish to purchase any, they are available to hire during your stay from the local ski hire shops.

Winter Thrills in Australia

From soaring mountains to glorious beaches, fertile farmland and multi-cultural cities, Australia is a continent of extremes. With six states and three territories, Australia is the perfect destination for snow and beach activities and nature lovers.

So, if you and your family are looking for some amazing and unique ski locations for a snow orientated holiday, why go anywhere else? The ski resorts in Australia are breathtaking and perfect for all abilities and ages. If you have not yet already tried skiing ‘down under‘ then I would definitely recommend it.

It may not be the top ski country in the world, but wherever you go, one thing you can be sure of is spectacular mountain scenery. Australian ski resorts offer some amazing deals, so it is certainly worth the trip. Whatever your taste in skiing, winter activities, accommodation, there’s a place for you in the Australian Alps and you will wish you’d come sooner.

Not Sure Where to Stay?

You first need to decide which resort you plan to visit. Once you have decided that, then you get explore all the accommodation options.

There are many different stays from luxury apartments to budget family and backpacking hostels. You can choose either on-snow or accommodation in one of the nearby townships like Jindabyne. Inspired? Pin this to your Pinterest Board.