Winter is on its way and so too the snow, but where you go to enjoy it depends on what you’re after: access to the slopes, a family-friendly place or a happening nightlife. Louise Goldsbury uncovers the highlights of six snowfields in Victoria and NSW.
Victoria
Mt Buller |
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Only three hours’ drive from Melbourne, Mt Buller has the biggest range of on-mountain accommodation in Victoria. Buller Ski Lifts and most of Mt Buller’s accommodation houses even offer a money-back guarantee on all pre-paid accommodation, lift tickets and lessons if there is insufficient snow cover.
The guestrooms at Buller’s Mercure Grand Chalet overlook the snow and you can literally watch people ski past. The hotel has its own equipment hire shop so you can get fitted out in ski gear onsite. There’s no need to pile the kids into the car or wait for a shuttle bus – just walk out to the slopes, chairlift and ski school.
Buller also extends its children’s pricing to high school students, so parents with teenagers save quite a bit (up to 50%) on lift tickets. Tertiary students receive a 20% discount and half-price lift tickets on Tuesdays.
A day pass to Mt Buller includes access to Mt Stirling and the non-ski facilities, such as the snowtubing and tobogganing parks. Guided snowshoeing tours are another fun way to explore the summit.
Among its other claims to fame, Mt Buller has the highest cinema in Australia, the eclectic National Alpine Museum, and more than 30 bars and restaurants. Black Cockatoo Restaurant is a popular place for fine dining, while ABOM Bistro is known for its pizza. Young people, in particular, love Buller for its nightlife.
The winter calendar also includes some great special events, such as Kids’ Week from July 2–8 and The 12 Days of Christmas – a Mt Buller Christmas extravaganza that runs from July 23–August 3.
To keep things simple, there are several self-drive holiday packages to Mt Buller, which include car rental, chain hire, resort entry, lift passes, lessons and accommodation. These all-in-one packages are an easy, cheaper way to get from the airport to the slopes with the least hassle.
For more details call 1800 039 049 or visit Mt Buller.
Falls is a longer drive from Melbourne (4.5 hours) but this keeps away the day-trippers. It often receives the highest snowfall in Victoria but, if nature disappoints, Falls Creek has the largest snowmaking capacity in the State.
This family-friendly resort is a hit with parents, thanks to its children’s facilities, entertainment and focus on safety. The village is car-free, so it’s possible to ski to the lifts from your front door, and you don’t have to worry about your kids on the icy streets.
Despite its name, Falls is less prone to accidents. The slopes are noticeably less steep than other regions, with most runs ideal for beginners to intermediate level. For boarders, its terrain park is top rated in Australia.
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The Falls Creek Snowsports School has instructors who love working with kids, and there are supervised sessions at the Falls Creek Snowclub 4 Kids at the top of the Express Quad Chairlift. A half-day program costs $92 (three–five year olds) and a full-day (six–14 year olds) is $118. You can sit next door in the warmth of Cloud 9 and have lunch while you watch your children outside. The large windows offer a perfect view of the action.
After the lifts close, the Village Bowl hosts a range of free entertainment, such as snocce (on-snow bocce) and snow-sculpting competitions. For adults, there are numerous bars and restaurants, and night skiing. |
There are lots of freebies for children. Falls Creek Ski Lifts offers free skiing and boarding for kids aged five and younger when accompanied by an adult, and they also get free travel on the oversnow vehicles. Children 14 and younger receive free helmet rental when renting skis or boards at Falls Creek Sports. Children under four years of age can stay free at Julian’s Lodge and Apartments or Falls Creek Hotel, while Alpha, Ripparoo, Viking and Schuss Ski Lodge have free accommodation for kids under two.
In early winter, Falls Creek’s White Space packages cost up to 50% less than peak season. For details call 1800 453 525 or visit Falls Creek.
As its name suggests, Mt Hotham sits on top of a mountain, unlike NSW resorts, which are in valleys. So you get an amazing view from your room and a downhill walk to the slopes.
Adrenaline is the name of the game here, with most runs aimed at the intermediate and advanced skier, attracting a younger crowd. Beginners and kids are also catered for, with a range of lessons and the Kids Snowzone (including free helmet hire for under-14s).
Ski-in/ski-out accommodation is available in the Hotham Heights houses, while Davenport Village has ski-out accommodation.
For more information call 1800 354 555 or visit Mt Hotham.
Perisher Blue is Australia’s largest alpine resort, with 1245 hectares of ski-friendly terrain for all levels.
The resort is above the snow line, so it has the best chance for natural snowfall. If not, it has the best snowmaking machines in the country. One pass links the four resorts – Perisher, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega – so you can ski all day on a variety of runs and use any of the 50 lifts.
| Snowhounds can enjoy 100km of cross-country trails, three terrain parks and pipe. Lessons cater for all ages, a creche is available, and under-5s are entitled to free skiing and boarding. Tube Town is particularly popular and requires no skill!
The apres-ski entertainment is especially geared towards those in their 20s and 30s, with several late-night pubs and nightclubs. All ages will enjoy the night skiing, boarding and – new for 2007 – tubing under the floodlights. For more information call 1300 655 822 or visit Perisher Blue. |
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This year Thredbo celebrates its 50th birthday. It may be smaller than Perisher but Thredbo (1000 hectares) has Australia’s longest run – 5.9km from Karel’s T-bar to Friday Flat. It also boasts Australia’s highest restaurant and golf course, and has a European village feel that attracts a cool crowd.
Most slopes are intermediate and advanced, but Friday Flat is a purpose-built beginners area, where you are guaranteed to learn how to snowride. Thredbo Snow Sports promises to improve your skiing or boarding, or the cost of the lessons will be refunded (conditions apply).
Club Freeride is a new group lesson for teenage skiers and boarders (15–18 years), while the snowboard program is split between four–six year olds and seven–14 year olds.
Thredbo’s terrain park is also bigger and better this year, with a boarder cross course, banks, rails and jumps. Night-riding runs are free of charge throughout July and August.
For more information call 1300 020 589 or visit Thredbo.
The highest and most isolated of the NSW resorts, Charlotte Pass has no cars or buses and can only be accessed over snow in winter.
Connections are available from Perisher Skitube Terminal by Snow Coach (25 minutes). This tends to deter a lot of people, so there are no queues and plenty of fresh snow.
Charlotte has a ski school, five lifts and 10km of slopes, from beginner to advanced. It is also home to Kosciusko Chalet, Australia’s highest licensed hotel, with a cocktail bar and cafe. ‘Meet the instructor’ is held on Mondays in the Charlotte Adams bar (named after the first woman to conquer Mt. Kosciuszko), with live music, parties and wine tastings.
For more details call 1800 026 369 or visit Charlotte Pass.
All information correct at time of print.
Driving Tips |
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Victoria
From Sydney, you can fly to Mt Hotham Airport (80 minutes), 20km from the resort, or fly to Albury (one hour) and hire a car or catch the shuttle to Falls Creek (1.5 hours).
Or fly to Melbourne and drive or take a bus to Mt Buller, a scenic three-hour drive, or Mt Hotham and Falls Creek (4.5 hours).
You can receive a 3% discount on Virgin Blue flights when you book by phone. Call 1300 737 800.
For details on NRMA Member-only discounts you can receive when you rent a car with Thrifty Car Rentals, turn to page 11.
NSW
Perisher Blue and Thredbo are about six hours’ drive from Sydney via Canberra and Cooma. From Jindabyne, Perisher is 33km by sealed road, and Thredbo is about one kilometre further along.
Entry to the Kosciuszko National Park is $27 per car, per day from the start of the June long weekend to the end of the October long weekend. Coach transfers are available from Sydney airport on Friday and Sunday mornings, while the Snobus Snowscene Express runs from north NSW and mid-coast NSW. Call 1300 766 911.
Alternatively, fly to Snowy Mountains Airport, Cooma (50 minutes). Snowy Mountains Express Shuttles travels to Jindabyne, Perisher Blue and Thredbo and connects with every incoming flight. Bookings essential. Call 1800 679 754.
To map out your route and get turn-by-turn directions, or to book accommodation (some offering Member discounts), use NRMA’s Travel Planner. Visit NRMA Tracel Planner.
4WD
