Australian snow fields: What’s new in 2017
THE countdown’s on. Whether you’re a ski fiend or a first-timer, there are new attractions wherever you head on the Australian slopes this year.
IMPROVED snow-making technology, better kids’ play areas and premium lessons are a few of the benefits in store for travellers to Australia’s top ski resorts this season.
With the opening weekend just a few weeks away on June 10, now is the time to find out which resorts are adding bang for your buck this year.
BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO AUSSIE SNOW
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Here’s the lowdown:
THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS
PERISHER
It’s Australia’s biggest resort, with 1245 ha of skiable terrain, and is renowned for its impressive parks and world-class ski competitions.
This season, the terrain will be in even better shape thanks to two new snow groomers – so your favourite runs will be smoother to ride.
Perisher regularly grooms 100 trails across its four mountain areas of Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. The new snow cats, including one winch cat to get to the steeper, hard-to-reach spots, will make the resort’s fleet of 17 the largest in the country.
More groomers leads to better skiing and snowboarding conditions, especially on icy days.
“It is fantastic to be updating the largest snow-grooming fleet in Australia,” Perisher Mountain manager Andrew Kennedy says.
Say goodbye to black ice and snow chains, with continued upgrades to Perisher’s Skitube making it the most appealing way to reach the mountain.
More than $2 million has been invested in upgrading the electronic control and brake units in carriages, meaning reliability and a better ride for skiers heading to Perisher Valley and Blue Cow. The “tube”, as regulars call it, is at Bullocks Flat, off the Alpine Way. There’s a large carpark, including an overnight area, which is free to use, and the ride to the Perisher terminal takes only 10 minutes.
If you’re enrolling your little one into ski school this season, you’ll be happy to hear that all indoor areas used by the Perisher Kids program are getting a facelift. You’ll be able to ski with peace of mind knowing that your tiny tot is enjoying a mid-morning lesson break in areas with upgraded furniture, improved kitchens, change rooms and toilet facilities.
Perisher Kids caters to children aged three to 14 years. Although it’s not new this year, parents should also know that they can start their children on skis or a snowboard at two years old when they’re enrolled in Little Stars. It’s a childcare program that allows parents to add a lesson upon check-in, and the bonus is that ski equipment is included.
THREDBO
Over the Main Range of the Snowy Mountains is Thredbo, one of Australia’s most beloved ski resorts, and this year it’s turning 60.
A commemorative bell has been installed at the top of Karels T-Bar, the highest lifted point in Australia at 2037m. Snap a snowy selfie beside the bell before ringing it across the valley.
Also at Thredbo, first-time skiers and snowboarders will be able to sign up for a premium beginner lesson, kicking off at 10.30am.
Numbers have been capped at six, meaning participants will get more time with their instructor and they’ll be able to cover more ground, literally and figuratively, than they would in a larger group.
This premium lesson is offered daily and costs an extra $19 on top of a standard beginner lesson.
To reserve a spot, add it to your beginner lift and lesson package when you book via thredbo.com.au.
Snowboarders will also be stoked to hear Thredbo’s introduced a special class for intermediate and advanced riders. Max3 snowboard lessons allow experienced riders to focus on terrain park skills during a 1pm session.
There’ll be just you and two others in the group, so plenty of time to really hone those tricks over the three hours. The lessons are available from mid-July to the end of August.
Thredbo also offers Max3 sessions for advanced skiers.
Mini snow bunnies will enjoy special treatment this season with new on-mountain adventure zones just for kids. They’ll be at the family-friendly Cruiser, as well as the beginner slope of Friday Flat.
Expect to see fun animal-themed areas, such as Pygmy Possum Tree Trail and Wally Wombat’s Snow Cave.
The Thredboland Hideouts are for anyone with a valid lift ticket and are a great addition to the resort’s popular Thredboland ski school, catering to children aged three to six years.
CHARLOTTE PASS
Charlotte Pass Ski Resort is also turning its attention to the youngest on the slopes by expanding Kosi Kids Club.
The all-day ski program is now open to children aged three to 12 years.
Resort management has also decided to make the popular kids’ standard race a permanent event every Wednesday.
The race allows young skiers and boarders to develop their competition skills in a safe and child-friendly environment, as well as giving regular visitors an extra something to be excited about when holidaying at “Charlottes” – Australia’s highest ski resort at 1760m.
SELWYN
MORE SNOW
Selwyn has taken on a new portable snow making machine called SnöFlake 25. The only one of its kind in NSW, SnöFlake enables snow to be made at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees. This will guarantee snow and the operation of the New Chum chairlift for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.
MORE KIDS ACTIVITIES
Selwyn is now offering a revamped children’s ski school with the Discoverers and Explorers program aimed at children from 18 months to 6 years. Both programs offer indoor and outdoor game activities along with an introductory skiing program aimed at developing children’s confidence and ability on skis and in the snow.
MORE CAMERAS
Additional cameras have been added around the resort now allowing visitors to view live weather conditions across four different sections of the mountain including the New Chum chairlift, Township Summit, Township Base and Racecourse. For more info visit selwynsnow.com.au
THE VICTORIAN ALPS
MT BULLER
The most exciting development at Mt Buller this season is its new “Snowfactory”, which guarantees skiing on the main slope of Bourke Street from opening weekend.
More than your average snow gun on the side of your favourite run, the $1.6 million Snowfactory can produce snow 24 hours a day at any temperature. It’s the first machine of its type in Australia, which means it’s not only big news for Mt Buller but for the entire Down Under ski industry.
“This investment rewrites the script for the start of winter,” Buller Ski Lifts general manager Laurie Blampied says. “Instead of wondering when the snow will arrive, we can assure our guests early season skiing and snowboarding from the beginning of the season.”
Mt Buller has 300ha of skiable terrain and if you fail to tackle it all during daytime hours, you can stay out late for a twilight skiing session.
This season, night skiing, including beginner lessons, is available on Saturdays and Sundays in peak season (July 15-August 27).
This means weekend warriors from Melbourne, three hours away, can really make the most of quick visits to the resort. The night skiing will be held on the gentle and wide Bourke Street run, which will be lit up until 8.30pm. It’s also the first time beginner lessons will be available at night, at any Australian resort.
Also in July and August, on every weekend, there will be lights on Buller’s fun snow play park (try tobogganing), plus entertainment in the Village Square, so there’s really no excuse to stay indoors after dusk.
MT HOTHAM
This season sees the completion of Mt Hotham’s $4.4 million investment in snowmaking infrastructure. Eighteen new snow guns have been installed across the resort, with 12 added to The Summit, one of two beginner ski areas.
The other six have extended snowmaking to intermediate terrain off the Roadrunner chairlift and to the advanced slopes of Heavenly Valley. The guns take the terrain covered by snowmaking from 25ha to 33ha.
“The expanded snowmaking in Heavenly Valley is part of the final stage of a snowmaking master plan we began in 1998,” Mount Hotham Skiing Company general manager Belinda Trembath says. The Summit area will also be “snow sure” from much earlier in the season, she says.
After chatting to Hotham instructors and regular visitors, resort management has improved the group lesson experience for both skiers and boarders. Adult lessons (aged from 15 years) will run for 2½ hours – that’s an extra 30 minutes to work on your skills. These lessons will also now be capped at a maximum of seven, as opposed to 12 in previous winters.
In spite of these improvements, you won’t pay more for classes, so you can spend your savings on an extra apres schnapps at day’s end.
Extended lessons with Max7 will cost the same as Group Lessons in 2016 and that’s from $63, if purchased in advance online. Mt Hotham lessons start at 10am, while beginner lessons are repeated at 1pm.
Heading on to the slopes during a blizzard because you’ve already bought a lift pass is a shabby way to spend your holiday, but you’ll no longer have to at Hotham.
The resort has created a more flexible ticketing and rental system that gives visitors rest days for when the weather turns, or your body simply needs a break. This season, all rental purchases from Hotham Sports outlets of four days or more will include these rest days.
The same applies to multi-day lift tickets, so you can buy a “4 of 6 Days” pass and/or rental hire. This adds to the resort’s existing five, six and seven-day flexible passes. You don’t have to return your rental gear on the days you take off.
MT BAW BAW
One of Australia’s smallest resorts, Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort has this season joined forces with another little-known hill, Lake Mountain Alpine Resort.
The 35ha Baw Baw and nearby Lake Mountain Alpine Resort have teamed up to offer visitors the Dual Mountain Season Pass. Both resorts are 2-2½ hours from Melbourne, making them a great option for city slickers wanting a season of easy weekend escapes, as well as beginners keen to work on their turns on mellow slopes.
Baw Baw has a beginner to intermediate terrain park, while cross-country skiers will enjoy 10km of trails. The Dual Pass costs $400, while the All Resorts Vehicle Pass (including Hotham, Falls, Buller and Mt Stirling) costs $683.