No snow, but queues form as Australia’s first ‘alpine coaster’ opens

The sight of a new $9 million alpine coaster – and a chaser of the biggest fireworks display of the season – were welcome distractions from otherwise bare and drizzly ski slopes over Thredbo’s opening weekend.

Opening to the public last Saturday the much-anticipated Thredbo Alpine Coaster saw scores of guests queue to be among the first to ride the new attraction – the first alpine coaster in the southern hemisphere to open year-round.

One of the first riders on the new $9 million Thredbo Alpine Coaster.

The all-weather, all-year attraction is one of several major enhancements or new features rolling out to “future-proof” the resort and widen its appeal beyond the peak winter and summer seasons.

The resort has amped up its events program for 2024 with a bumper calendar of over 180 events spread throughout the year, marking Thredbo’s biggest year to date.

Some of the changes guests can expect this season are a result of an expansion of the resort’s snowmaking, grooming and parks-building fleets, specifically the replacement of its pipeline snowmaking gun, three new fan guns near the Kosciuszko chairlift base, and two new snowcats.

Guests enjoying the thrilling 1.4-kilometre descent along the Alpine Coaster track.

Of course, the 1.5-kilometre track mountain coaster is the star attraction this season. Rides begin with a 410-metre ascent before a heart-pumping 1.4-kilometre downhill jaunt that snakes and circles the alpine slopes at up to 40km/h with speeds controlled by individual riders.

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting event on Friday, June 7, Thredbo’s general manager, Stuart Diver, said the new ride was a testament to the resort’s commitment as an all-season adventure destination.

“The Alpine Coaster is a world-class attraction for the Snowy Mountains and will greatly support year-round local tourism,” said Diver.

“It provides a fun new on-snow experience in winter, will build upon our wide range of outdoor adventures in summer and will be a drawcard in the shoulder seasons.”

EVT chairman Alan Rydge (left) and Thredbo general manager Stuart Diver cut the ribbon at the Alpine Coaster launch event.

While it’s not unusual to see a lack of early season snow, new modelling by the Australian National University points to Australia’s ski fields disappearing by 2080 if greenhouse gas emissions remain at current high levels.

Thredbo has been addressing this since 2022 with a rollout of upgrades and six significant developments, many geared towards year-round offerings, and focusing on premium experiences.

Thredbo brand and marketing manager Richie Carroll said the resort’s summer season is growing each year, powered by a burgeoning mountain biking craze.

Opening weekend act Client Liaison kept revellers dancing before a fireworks spectacle.

“The number of Australians participating in mountain biking has more than doubled since 2018 and as Australia’s only lift-accessed MTB park, our mountain biking offering has grown significantly,” said Carroll.

“We are constantly looking for ways to strengthen Thredbo’s year-round offering.”

Thredbo’s Izakaya by Yamagen launches on June 20.

This winter includes a bumper live music line-up with a season-first 10 weekends of major apres events (led by opening weekend act Client Liaison), as well as a number of lavish alpine experiences and on-mountain dining events. These include Sunrise Sessions starting with a private snowcat up the mountain, followed by a mimosa breakfast and first tracks down the Supertrail (all before lifts open), and the Saturday Kereela Hutte Supper Club, which offers canapés and champagne with views of the weekly flare run and firework spectacles from the deck. Thredbo will also launch a new hole-in-the-wall Tokyo-style eatery, Izakaya by Yamagen, on June 20.

Younger skiers pictured on the Thredbo snow cam at Friday Flat on Monday.

Only four lifts of 15 ran over the weekend, with two of those – Merritts Gondola and Kosciuszko Chairlift – operating as scenic rides.

All ski and snowboard action is confined to Friday Flat, a relatively level area designed for beginners, with the Wombats Snow Runner and Freddie’s Snow Runner currently operating. Snow guns fired overnight on June 10, with 13 centimetres of fresh snow up top overnight on Tuesday, and more showers and snowfalls expected across the week.

The writer attended opening weekend as a guest of Thredbo.