While Australia’s snowy mountains may not be your first choice for a ski resort, they can offer some excellent skiing on occasion. You won’t find massive vertical or bottomless snow here, but you will find well-groomed pistes, spectacular views, and an easygoing Australian welcome, making this an appealing summer ski destination.
New South Wales is home to the country’s largest resort (Perisher) and the most significant vertical drop (Thredbo), as well as a fantastic base for exploring in the shape of Jindabyne. The other resorts are closer to Melbourne and on the Victoria side of the border. These resorts are smaller, but Falls Creek, Mount Buller, and Mount Hotham have excellent terrain parks, offers great skiing through the snow-sure pistes.
What do the ski resorts have to offer?
Snowfall has been abundant in recent years, but in fallow years, you’ll be limited to slopes covered by snow machines. A lot of money has been spent on new guns in recent years. Cross country skiing is a popular off-slope activity, particularly at Falls Creek, which has a well-developed network of groomed forest routes. The après ski scene is as vibrant as you’d expect, especially on weekends, but food and drink are pricey, so plan to pay a little more than you’d anticipate. A good read is skiing in Australia.
PROS
For beginners and intermediates, this is an excellent terrain. Beautiful beauty and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ski past snow gums. There is plenty of sunshine, as well as excellent spring skiing and riding. Resorts that are fun to visit, with an excellent après-ski and weekend party scene
CONS
Snow reliability is a significant challenge, especially early in the season. There is a small vertical drop and a lot of short runs. From either Melbourne or Sydney, it’s a long drive. The season is relatively brief, lasting from June until September.
Ben Lomond ski resort
Ben Lomond is a tiny intermediate/beginner area located in Tasmania’s Ben Lomond National Park, some 260 km from Hobart. The premier ski resort in Tasmania is Ben Lomond. The season lasts from early July until the end of September. Guests are transported between 1460m and 1572m using seven elevators. The single field features 6 km of beginner and intermediate courses and 1 km of black runs. Because of the low altitude, the snow cover might be unpredictable, so keep an eye out for boulders poking through the snow.
The resort offers a limited number of lodging options, including private lodges. From Launceston Airport, take the C401 Road to the Ben Lomond Snow Fields. The Midlands Heritage Highway takes approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes from Launceston and 3.5 hours from Hobart.
Falls Creek ski resort
Falls Creek is a modern Alpine-style family resort located near Mt Hotham, five hours from Melbourne. It is Victoria’s largest ski area and is ideally suited to intermediate skiers. Falls Creek has 11 lifts and 92 km of pistes. Beginner slopes account for 17% of the terrain. These slopes are split into two sections, with Wombat’s Ramble being the better option on cloudy days. Sun Valley has the most intermediate runs, with blues accounting for 60% of all runs in the area.
Advanced skiers have limited on-piste options. However, the trickiest lines may be found near the top of the International and Summit chairs. Advanced skiers should visit Mt McKay for some off-piste fun. Falls Creek community offers a variety of lodging alternatives, ranging from low-cost motels to high-end hotels. Melbourne is a five-hour journey from the resort.
Mount Baw Baw ski resort
A tiny but fun intermediate area nestled in beautiful countryside, with various off-snow activities to keep the whole family entertained. The piste terrain of Mount Baw Baw is 10 km long. Beginners and intermediates will like the region. Blues account for 70% of all runs. Beginner skiing is best on the Summit run, accessed from the Summit T-bar, and the runs around the resort’s base.
Intermediates can ski anywhere on the mountain, although the Maltese or Hut Run Platter lifts provide the most challenging terrain. Tobogganing and dog sledge rides are available off the snow. The resort has self-contained apartments, cabins, traditional lodges, and backpacker-style lodging. Melbourne is a 2.5-hour (150-km) trip away.
