No-brainer ways to save on an Australian ski trip

As ski season peaks in July-August, it’s an appropriate time to share my No.1 piece of advice for ski and snowboard travel. That is, if you’re walking up to the lift ticket window in the morning to buy a lift pass for the same day, something has gone seriously wrong with your planning.

It’s as crazy as rocking up to the airport without a flight ticket. Expect to cough up double what you could have paid if you planned and booked in advance.

If you’re lining up to by a lift pass for the same day, something has gone wrong with your planning.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Here’s how it looks: you’ll fork out more than $250 for a single day of skiing at the major Australian resorts if you buy on the day. Drop that under $230 if you book your single-day ticket more than a week out. Then consider skiing multiple days for better value – the per-day price drops to $170-$190 if you buy a five-day lift pass. Avoid weekends – you’ll not only find the resorts far less crowded, but you’ll also find the cheapest passes Monday-Friday.

Shoulder season in September offers longer days of sunshine and usually more than enough snow coverage, at discounted rates. A five-day pass to Perisher from September 9-13 is $743 (correct at the time of writing), compared to $957 in mid-August. Five days across the same period at Hotham or Falls Creek is $673, at Thredbo is $565, and at Mt Buller is $504.

A five-day pass to Mt Buller during shoulder seasons is the cheapest resort option, at $504.

Accommodation is always cheaper in September, too. Look for the “Kids stay free” deals on Mt Buller’s website accommodation search, to get two kids under 15 for free when staying with two sharing adults. The Station at Perisher has a “Pay 4, Stay 5” offer when booking Sunday to Friday in motel rooms.

Dig around online for ski lodges that open their doors to the public. Those include Corroboree Lodge and Eiger Chalet in Perisher, Attunga or Candlelight in Thredbo, Ajax Ski Club in Mt Buller and Gravbrot in Hotham. You can become an annual member at Boonoona Ski Lodge in Perisher simply by buying a $70 “gold” membership at City Tattersalls Club in Sydney.

Corroboree Lodge in Perisher offers rooms through the resort website.

Smaller resorts can be great value for first-timers or those simply avoiding crowds. Charlotte Pass offers a “daytripper” pass with a full day lift ticket, return oversnow transport to the Ski Tube at Perisher, and hot lunch, for just $164 for adults. This drops to $82 on Thursdays. On “2 buck Tuesdays” you can get a second lift pass for just $2 when buying one full-priced ticket.

Selwyn Snow Resort in Kiandra is a smaller and flatter resort in NSW but a fantastic option for beginners, with lift tickets just $119 a day. Adult learn-to-ski packages at Thredbo start from $99 for a two-hour group lesson and include a lift pass to Friday Flat – the beginner space at the bottom of the mountain.

Finally, if you’re hooked on the sport and know you’ll be back next year (hello, fellow white powder addicts) consider buying next year’s season pass at the end of this season. An Epic Australia Pass offers unlimited skiing at Perisher, Hotham and Falls Creek starting at about $900 if bought in October the year before – it pays for itself in a week and you can usually commit to purchase later with just $49 upfront (be warned this is a commitment to buy, not a deposit you can back out of later).