'We took our kids on a snow getaway - without the chaos and crowds of the snow'

If you're keen for a fun weekender at the snow, but not so keen on the cost of visiting the big resorts, this one is for you!

Ah, ski season. It's all fun and games ... until you come face to face with those insane lift lines and realise how much it costs for a sandwich and a coffee on the mountain.

If you've got young kids, and you're eager to get them on a set of skis and feeling confident on the slopes, but you simply can't fathom the thought of braving the mayhem that is snow season in Australia, this might be the mini getaway for your family.

Just two hours north of Sydney lies the gorgeous Hunter Valley, but this hot travel tip has absolutely nothing to do with wine (sorry, Mums and Dads!). 

Each year, the Hunter Valley Gardens transforms into a magical winter wonderland for a month-long extravaganza of activities and sights designed for all ages.

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The bobby seals were a huge hit! Photos: Supplied

Activities for the young and the young at heart

There's a mega snow play zone, where little ones can build their best snowman and create angels in the super soft powder, and big kids can battle it out with snowball fights and slip and slide down the hill. 

There's also a super-fast giant 45-metre ice toboggan slide, as well as an ice skating rink perfect for both beginners and more adventurous skaters. And for the very little snow bunnies, there are bobby seals available for booking. But they book up fast, so make this your first stop off!

Kids not feeling the Antarctic? There’s a whole selection of amusement rides to fill up your day, for both the young and the young at heart. Hop on the Venetian carousel, spin yourself into a tizz on the teacup ride, hold on for dear life on the swing chair, hit up the 35 metre long superslide, or pile the whole family into a cabin on the 25 metre Ferris Wheel overlooking the gardens. These rides aren't included in your Snow Time ticket price however, so best to make a pit stop at the ticket booth upon arrival to stock up on a handful of passes.

There's also the magical Storybook Garden, a permanent fixture on the premises which takes little book worms on a journey through some of our most beloved nursery rhyme stories. Life-size Humpty Dumpty, Alice in Wonderland and Jack and Jill, among others, are all perfectly positioned throughout the maze for storytime and cute photo opportunities.

We joined Alice at the Mad Hatter's tea party! Photo: Supplied

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Make a weekend of it with chalet-style accom

We arrived prepared with snacks galore, but there's also an impressive range of food stalls to keep rumbling tummies at bay. Hot chippies, burgers, hot dogs, snow cones, coffee, cold drinks - all of the amusement park essentials. 

We wanted to take full advantage of a long-overdue family weekend away, so we opted for a two-night stay at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, which was perfectly located just a short 2-minute drive from the Gardens.

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Nestled in the peaceful hinterland surrounds and set against the Broken Back Mountain Range, we woke up to visits from friendly kangaroos and kookaburras from our balcony each morning, had a tasty hot breakfast included in our package and even took in the stunning sight of hot air balloons over the valley on our last morning.

On kangaroo watch, and check out those hot air balloons! Photos: Supplied

The property's close proximity to, not only the Hunter Valley Gardens, but also Pokolbin Village, and award-winning wineries such as Brokenwood, Tamburlaine and Tempus Two, made it the ideal destination for bulk weekend activities.

The iconic 300-acre resort features one, two and three-bedroom villas and offers a range of premium facilities, including a pro golf course and country club, two restaurants, two bars, three pools and two tennis courts.

* This writer was a guest of Wotif.com and was also gifted media passes to Snow Time in the Garden.

Tickets for a one-day pass to Snow Time in The Garden are $36 per adult, and $28 for children 4 - 15 years. Children 3 and under are free. A family of 4 pass is $98. Extra ride tokens are $6 per ticket. 

The annual snow event runs for a month through June and July, and while it has wrapped for 2023, it will be back next year - so pop it in the diary for your 2024 winter weekend escape. 

Accommodation at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort starts at $190 a night for one and two-bedroom suites. 

Originally published as 'We took our kids on a snow getaway - without the chaos and crowds of the snow'