Australian ski season: when to go and where to stay

Australian ski season runs from early June to early October, and the best weeks are usually July and August. This guide compares four of the best known resorts, Thredbo, Perisher, Falls Creek and Mt Buller, so you can pick one for what is left of this winter.

The facts below come from the resorts' own pages and one encyclopedia entry, as they stood in mid 2008. Snow changes by the day, so check the resort snow report before you book.

Sources for this section: Thredbo, Winter 2008 resort statistics; Thredbo, Winter 2008 resort statistics.

When the season runs

Resorts open in early to mid June. This year Thredbo set its season at 7 June to 6 October 2008. Opening day is a plan, not a promise. Lifts only run where there is enough snow, and machines help early in the season.

Falls Creek says its resort stays open for an average of 128 days each winter and gets an average of 4 metres of snow a year. That gives you a sense of how long a season really is. A good year can run past the planned dates. A poor year can start late.

For deep, cold snow, many skiers pick the middle of the season, from early July to late August. Early June and late September are cheaper and quieter, but the cover can be thin. School holiday weeks are the busiest, so check your state's dates before you book.

Sources for this section: Thredbo, Winter 2008 resort statistics; Falls Creek, Facts and figures.

The four resorts compared

Thredbo and Perisher are in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, inside Kosciuszko National Park. Falls Creek and Mt Buller are in the Victorian Alps. Here is what each resort publishes about itself.

Thredbo rates 67% of its terrain as intermediate, with 16% for beginners and 17% for advanced skiers. Its longest run, 5.9 km from Karels T-bar to Friday Flat, is a draw for people who like long cruising runs.

Perisher is the biggest of the four, and it is often called Australia's largest ski resort. It grew from several smaller ski areas, Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. Its operating company was formed in 1995 when two owners merged. The result is a wide choice of terrain.

Falls Creek has 60% intermediate terrain, 17% beginner and 23% advanced. Its longest beginner run is 2.2 km, and its longest advanced run is 3 km. It sits beside the Bogong High Plains, which suits cross country skiing.

Sources for this section: Thredbo, Winter 2008 resort statistics; Falls Creek, Facts and figures; Wikipedia, Perisher Blue, May 2008 version; Mt Buller, home page, July 2008.

How reliable is the snow

Australian snow is natural and changeable. A cold front can drop several centimetres in a day. A warm, wet spell can strip it back just as fast.

• Higher is safer. Thredbo's summit is 2,037 metres. Falls Creek lists its snowline in winter at about 1,100 metres.
• Snowmaking helps most on main runs and beginner areas, so check how much of a resort is covered.
• Read the daily snow report and the resort's cameras the day before you drive.
• Ask about guarantees. Mt Buller lists a snow guarantee and Falls Creek lists a snowsports guarantee on their sites. The rules differ, so read the terms.

Sources for this section: Thredbo, Winter 2008 resort statistics; Falls Creek, Facts and figures; Mt Buller, home page, July 2008.

Where to stay

Staying close to the lifts saves time every morning. Staying further away can save money.

• Thredbo: the booking page lets you search apartments, hotels and lodges in the village, Woodridge, Crackenback, the Thredbo Valley and Jindabyne.
• Perisher: you choose among four villages. Each has its own mix of lodges, so match the village to the lifts you plan to use most.
• Falls Creek: the village sits at 1,600 metres, and the resort lists a how to book page and a snowsports guarantee. Self catered lodges suit groups.
• Mt Buller: the site has an accommodation guide, a village map and holiday packages.

Book early for July school holidays. Families often do best with a lodge that has its own kitchen, since eating out on the mountain adds up.

Sources for this section: Thredbo, home page, July 2008; Perisher Blue, winter home page; Falls Creek, Facts and figures; Mt Buller, home page, July 2008.

Costs and getting there

Lift tickets are only part of the bill. Thredbo's site says every vehicle entering Kosciuszko National Park needs an entry permit. The 24 hour rate for winter 2008 is $27 a car. For a week or more, an annual pass at $190 is better value, and it covers all NSW national parks for a year.

You can buy the pass at the entrance station 13 km before Thredbo, in Jindabyne, in Khancoban or at the Thredbo newsagency. Thredbo says the Alpine Way between Thredbo and Jindabyne is sealed and usually clear, but you may need to carry chains. Mt Buller lists resort entry fees and 4WD and AWD permits on its site, so check them before you go.

Perisher sells a Perisher Card for regular visitors, with ski or snowboard days from $79 each. If you plan more than a couple of trips this season, ask whether a card or season pass costs less.

Sources for this section: Thredbo, Getting to Thredbo; Mt Buller, home page, July 2008; Perisher Blue, winter home page.

A simple plan for this season

1. Pick your dates, ideally outside school holiday peaks.
2. Choose a resort by terrain: long runs at Thredbo, size at Perisher, cross country at Falls Creek, or a drive from Melbourne to Mt Buller.
3. Check the snow report and forecast a few days out.
4. Book lodging, then add park entry, chains and lessons to your budget.

Prices, passes and rules change, so confirm each one with the resort before you pay.

Sources

1. Thredbo, Winter 2008 resort statistics: web.archive.org
2. Thredbo, Getting to Thredbo: web.archive.org
3. Thredbo, home page, July 2008: web.archive.org
4. Falls Creek, Facts and figures: web.archive.org
5. Perisher Blue, winter home page: web.archive.org
6. Wikipedia, Perisher Blue (May 2008 version): web.archive.org
7. Mt Buller, home page, July 2008: web.archive.org