New attractions at Australia’s top snowfields in 2014

MILLIONS of dollars have been spent on the latest equipment and attractions as 2014 shapes up as a bumper snow season.

Teen sessions at Thredbo. Photo by Steve Cuff

AUSTRALIAN ski resorts are bringing out the big guns this winter with all sorts of new attractions to entice visitors to their slopes.

Starting at Perisher, a new $4 million chairlift at Guthega is set to open up new terrain and trails for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, with wondrous views of Mt Kosciuszko and the Main Range.

The Freedom Quad Chairlift will increase Guthega’s lifting capacity by 46 per cent, carrying 2400 people an hour. That means more time to enjoy the slopes, with skiers and snowboarders carried 200m in just five minutes.

If Mother Nature doesn’t come to the party, Perisher has added five new snow-making machines. The TechnoAlpin TF10 fan guns are some of the biggest available, giving Perisher every chance to keep its guests happy and on the slopes during the season.

Over the past eight years Perisher has invested more than $22 million in snow-making upgrades.

As for trails, the Road Run at Blue Cow has been widened making it easier for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders to navigate with better access to the base of the Terminal Chairlift.

Family frolics at Falls Creek.

This year also sees improvements to rails and boxes at Perisher’s five terrain parks, two ridercross courses and two half-pipes catering for all levels.

To keep energy levels high, Ski Wok arrives at Perisher this year offering Asian delicacies made fresh daily at the upper level of the Perisher Skitube Terminal. On the menu will be banh mi pork rolls on baguette with pickled vegetables, rice paper rolls, short and long soup and sushi and spring rolls.

To make things easier for those keen to book, a new online accommodation finder gives options across a wide variety of hotels and lodges to suit a variety of budgets across Perisher, Guthega, Jindabyne, Smiggins and the Alpine Way.

Over at Thredbo, when it comes to play time, it won’t get much better than rolling around in the new snow play area. Visitors will have a designated area to toboggan, ride a snow tube, build a snowman or have snow fights – everything your imagination will allow in this winter wonderland. Rest assured new snow guns will be installed in the area to offer as much of the play powder as possible.

Thredbo’s intermediate terrain park moves to a new home this season located on the lower half of Australia’s longest run, the Supertrail. Tracking from middle slopes along the Milk Run, it finishes close to the base of Thredbo. The new-look park provides a longer, more diverse terrain for jumps ranging from 4m to 6m. A new purpose-built permanent mogul course is also new this year to Thredbo for those who like to mix it up on the slopes.

It is also good news for families at Thredbo with the children’s age limit lifted from 14 to 17 this year. That means teens 17 and under will be charged at children’s prices for lift passes. And if you ski between June 8 and June 21, or September 2 and October 7, children 17 and under ski for free when accompanied by a paying parent and when packaged with Kids Stay Free in participating lodges.

Snow making machines hard at work at Perisher.

Bundles are also available this year to help you save across lifts, lessons and rental gear. And no need to worry about skiing in style, with Thredbo Sports Equipment Rental investing $300,000 in new clothing, ski and snowboarding stock this year.

In another drawcard for teens, a new program for 13 to 17-year-olds called Teen Sessions will allow groups to cruise the mountain and discover Thredbo with Snow Sports members.

And for the adults, the Max 3 advanced lessons for level seven and level eight skiers means an almost-private lesson at a lower price.

Still in New South Wales, at Charlotte Pass, there are some fun additions to the ski season. Children four and under ski free this year and Snow Cone Monday means children will get a free snow cone outside the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel every Monday afternoon.

Down to Victoria, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek are stepping it up for the littlies with the new Burton Riglet Park.

Teen sessions at Thredbo. Picture: Steve Cuff

There isn’t a much cuter sight than seeing the little ones all geared up and ready for action.

The specially designed area of flat terrain for children aged three to six will allow them to experience the thrill of snowboarding as they are towed around the park and try out small bumps, ramps and rollers teaching them the basics of balancing on a snowboard.

Over at Mount Buller, six new snow-making guns have been purchased, completing the automation of the snow-making infrastructure on the northern side of Bourke St. They will produce eight times more snow than the guns they replaced. A new midway loading station has also been installed on the Tirol T-bar, helping improve access for skiers and snowboarders from the North Side precinct down to the village.

Off the slopes, visitors can download the Mount Buller Walks app to enjoy audio tours of Gnome Roam, Summit Nature Walk and the new Sculpture Park Walk.

The Village Square Plaza (previously Cow Camp Plaza) has also undergone a major renovation to double the seating and dining capacity of the popular day visitor facility.

At Mt Baw Baw, a beginners slope and ski school has been transformed into the new Kicker Park for entry-level riders. It includes a dedicated lift line, snow guns and permanent park features such as small flat boxes, combo boxes, rails and jibs.

Skiers on chair lift at Charlotte Pass Ski Resort in Snowy Mountains, NSW.

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