10 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in Australia

Australia's best ski resorts offer unique winter adventures long after the snow has melted from the Northern Hemisphere's legendary slopes. Skiing and snowboarding through snow gum forests is something you can only do on the slopes Down Under. Despite the country's relatively modest peaks, Aussies love winter sports, and the nation has produced world-class competitors, including snowboarders Scotty James and Torah Bright and aerial skier Alisa Camplin, all winter Olympic medalists.

Aussie ski resorts are easy to access. If you look at the ski resorts in Australia on a map, you'll see that most of them snuggle in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and the Victorian Alps – less than a day's drive away from Sydney or Melbourne. Besides downhill skiing and snowboarding, the resorts usually offer tobogganing, tubing, terrain parks, and cross-country trails, and many also offer night skiing.

Wondering about the best time to ski in Australia? Typically, the Australian ski season opens in early June and ends in late September, but bumper snowfalls can extend skiing into October, and extensive snowmaking capabilities ensure the slopes are covered all season long. The best months to ski in Australia depend on snowfall, but July and August are the most reliable months.

When planning a ski trip in Australia, note that most of the resorts lie within national parks that require a daily entry fee. Also chains or 4WD vehicles are mandatory for access to most of the resorts.

No matter where you choose to ski in Australia, what it lacks in steeps and snowpack, it makes up for with a bubbly après ski vibe. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to rip up the slopes with our list of the best ski resorts in Australia.

1. Thredbo Alpine Resort, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

Ever wondered about the highest ski resort in Australia? Welcome to Thredbo. About a six-hour drive from Sydney, Thredbo has the highest lifted point in Australia at 2,037 meters. But that's not all.

Thredbo offers some of the best vertical runs and steeps of all the ski resorts in New South Wales (NSW). When snow conditions are favorable, the Supertrail here is Australia's longest ski run at 3.7 kilometers. And if you're not skiing, you can kick back at the chic European-style village. All these features make Thredbo one of the top ski resorts in Australia. In fact, Thredbo recently won Australia's Best Ski resort in the World Ski Awards for the fifth year in a row.

Thredbo skiing offers plenty of variety. Skiers and boarders have access to more than 1,186 acres of terrain, including four terrain parks, with extensive snowmaking. Beginners will find gentle terrain at Friday Flat.

Intermediate skiers enjoy the highest proportion of the terrain here, and backcountry skiers have some of the best options among all the resorts, with chutes, as well as access to Australia's highest peak: Mount Kosciuszko, on the Kosciuszko Express chairlift. Thredbo also has Australia's only alpine gondola. The high-speed, eight-person Merritts Gondola will whisk you from the village to the base of the Cruiser Area in only six minutes.

Visitors will find many things to do in Thredbo besides skiing and snowboarding. Free shuttles take you to Thredbo's lively village, where you'll find day spas, trendy shops and restaurants, and a leisure center with an Olympic-size pool and rock climbing wall.

The village also offers plenty of accommodation options, from youth hostels to luxury lodges (although few ski-in and ski-out options). Those who care about the environment will also be happy to know that Thredbo's main resort operations are powered by renewable energy.

Thredbo is also one of the mountains available on the Mountain Collective Pass, which offers two free days and then 50 percent discounts on lift passes at international resorts such as Jackson Hole, Aspen-Snowmass, and Whistler-Blackcomb, and it's also on the Ikon Pass.

Conveniently, Thredbo offers MyThredbo Card Kiosks, allowing contact-free pickup of your Thredbo ski pass from the village or in Jindabyne. Plus, you can choose from a range of new on-mountain experiences. These include Sunrise Sessions, where you can watch the first light of day as you stand atop the resort's highest lift-accessible point, fill up on brekkie at Australia's highest restaurant, and then catch first tracks down the country's longest ski run.

For the 2022 season, skiers and boarders can expect expanded snowmaking across the mountain. Also new to Thredbo in 2022, the Easy Rider T-Bar in the Cruiser Area will boost rider capacity by over 35 percent, which translates to faster laps through the popular Merritts Terrain park.

About a 30-minute drive from Thredbo, the lovely lakeside resort of Jindabyne offers more affordable accommodations and the option of skiing at either Thredbo or Perisher.

Official site: https://www.thredbo.com.au/

2. Perisher, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

About a six-hour drive from Sydney, Perisher is one of the most popular ski resorts in Australia. In peak season, it positively fizzes with activity. Now owned by Vail Resorts, Perisher is the largest snow resort operation in the Southern Hemisphere and encompasses four interlinked ski resorts: Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes, Guthega, and Perisher, which skiers can access with one pass.

Ski hounds will also be happy to know that Perisher is included on the Epic Australia Pass, which also gives skiers access to other Vail Resorts around the world. New in 2022 is the Epic Australia Adaptive Pass, which ensures people with disabilities can access the same discounts as other snow sports enthusiasts.

Perisher Ski Resort snow conditions tend to be relatively reliable, and skiers love the high peaks and whopping 3,076 acres of terrain, which cater to all ability levels (with a definite bent towards intermediate skiers). The resort encompasses seven peaks; Mount Perisher is the highest at 2,054 meters, and Mt. Piper is especially good for beginner skiers.

Perisher also offers five terrain parks, including a superpipe, a three-kilometer run, and 47 lifts to whisk you to your preferred slope. Australia's highest chairlift ascends to 2,034 meters here.

Cross-country skiers can glide along 100 kilometers of well-groomed trails through beautiful forests of gum trees. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a wombat snuffling in the snow.

Due to its vast area, ski lodges in Perisher tend to be quite spread out, and some lie a considerable distance from the ski lifts; however, most lodges provide lift transportation. Skiers should also note that Perisher does not allow overnight parking in the village – you must park your car and take the ski tube into the village.

The best way to avoid the icy roads leading to the resort is to hop aboard the Skitube Alpine Railway, a Swiss-designed train that takes skiers from Bullock Flats, where you can park your car, to Perisher Resort and Mount Blue Cow.

About 30 kilometers from Perisher, the lakeside town of Jindabyne is an alternative base, with good-value accommodation and the option of skiing either Perisher or Thredbo.

Official site: http://www.perisher.com.au

3. Falls Creek, Alpine National Park, Victoria

Family-friendly Falls Creek offers some of the best snow coverage of all the ski resorts in Victoria. But that's not all. You'll also find a convenient walking village; well-designed runs; and excellent cross-country skiing, with more than 65 kilometers of trails – in fact, the resort has produced some of Australia's top competitors in the sport.

Falls Creek is also one of the best ski resorts in Australia for families, with an excellent kids' ski school and free toboggan slopes.

Skiers and snowboarders can schuss down the slopes on more than 1,114 acres of skiable terrain, and practice their tricks at the four terrain parks. The longest run is about three kilometers.

Falls Creek also has a reputation as a hot spot for freestyle skiing – it hosts many important competitions. Plus the resort is included on the Epic Australia Pass, offering discount lift tickets here and at other resorts around the world.

Perhaps the highpoint of a stay here is the classic alpine ambience of the pedestrian-only village and its excellent dining and accommodation options. When conditions allow, the village is ski-in, ski-out, as are many of the lodges, a bonus for those who appreciate fast access.

Falls Creek also offers guided snow biking tours, and if you're thinking about returning here with two wheels in the summer, it's home to a world-class mountain biking park. With so many things to do, it's no wonder Falls Creek is one of the most popular weekend getaway from Melbourne; it's about a five-hour drive from the Victorian capital.

Official site: www.fallscreek.com.au

4. Mt. Buller, Victoria

Only a three-hour drive from Melbourne, Mt. Buller is the easiest ski resort to access from the city, making it a popular choice for day trips from Melbourne. It also offers the largest network of lifts among the Victorian resorts.

Here, 22 lifts whisk skiers and snowboarders to 741 acres of skiable terrain, including three terrain parks and a rider cross course. About 35 percent of the runs cater to more experienced skiers, and the longest run is about three kilometers. Cross-country skiers can glide along nine kilometers of trails.

The village offers a lively après ski scene, with plenty of restaurants, as well as some ski-in, ski-out lodges, like Mansfield Ski Lodge. Not surprisingly, it can be especially busy on weekends.

To access the village, you must park about 1.5 kilometers away and hop aboard a free shuttle. Spas and shops offer alternatives for non-skiers, and the two toboggan parks keep the little ones busy.

Mount Buller recently joined the Mountain Collective and is also now on the popular Ikon Pass.

Official site: http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/

5. Mt. Hotham, Australian Alps National Park, Victoria

Mt. Hotham is often the top choice in Australia for advanced and expert skiers. About a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne, it has some of the steepest runs of all the Aussie resorts and the highest proportion of black runs.

At 1,861 meters, it also scores more natural snow than most of the other Victorian resorts and is known as the "Powder Capital of Australia," although bear in mind that this is a relative term in the realm of elevation-challenged Aussie ski resorts.

Tree glades and chutes are among the 791 skiable acres, and three terrain parks provide dedicated trick space. Backcountry options are also decent here, with cat skiing for faster access. Mt. Hotham continues to expand its snowmaking capabilities, resulting in even better snow coverage each year.

Despite its reputation as a hot spot for advanced skiers, beginners and intermediate skiers will find plenty of runs to keep them busy. Mt. Hotham is on the Epic Australia Pass, along with Falls Creek and Perisher. Cross-country skiers can explore 35 kilometers of groomed trails.

Unlike the other Aussie resorts, Mt. Hotham's village lies above the treeline, in the upper reaches of the mountain, with most of the slopes descending from the village. Thanks to this high elevation (1,750 meters), the village offers beautiful views; however, Great Alpine Road runs right through the middle of the resort. Accommodation and restaurants are scattered along either side of this main highway, and free shuttles run between the ski areas and hotels.

Non-skiers have plenty of options here, including dogsled rides, day spas, snowmobiling, and tobogganing. Like most of the resorts, Hotham offers great childcare programs, though the kids' ski area lies a fair distance from the main ski slopes.

For convenient access to the resort itself, you can fly to the nearby airport, about 20 kilometers from the slopes.

On a budget? Just 10 kilometers away from Hotham, the charming alpine village of Dinner Plain is a great base to ski Hotham, with more accommodation options and family-friendly amenities.

Official site: http://www.mthotham.com.au/

6. Charlotte Pass, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

Charlotte Pass, at 1,765 meters, is the highest and oldest ski resort in Australia. Snowbound during the winter months, the resort is only accessible via a snowcat from Perisher Valley, about eight kilometers away, but the reliable snow is a major drawcard.

The resort sits in a large open bowl, providing ideal runs for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Advanced skiers can explore the backcountry and hike to some steep chutes.

A bonus here are the spectacular views of Mt. Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak. In fact the resort is named after Charlotte Adams, the first European woman to climb Mount Kosciuszko in 1881. Freestylers can polish their skills in the terrain park, and kids will love the play park.

Dating from 1930, the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel is the Grand Dame of accommodation here and offers ski-in, ski-out access when conditions permit.

Official site: http://www.charlottepass.com.au/

7. Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort, Baw Baw National Park, Victoria

Mt. Baw Baw is the closest ski resort to Melbourne (only 120 kilometers away), and offers some of the best skiing in Australia for beginners and intermediates. Gentle slopes peppered by gum trees dominate the terrain, and this resort is also a favorite with families thanks to its three snow play areas.

Skiers and snowboarders can carve up the snow on more than 30 hectares of skiable terrain serviced by six lifts, and the terrain park provides dedicated space for freestylers. Want to extend your skiing time? In July, 2022, night sessions will resume at Mount Baw Baw.

Off the slopes, cross-country skiers can glide through the snow gums on 10 kilometers of trails. Tobogganing is another fun family activity, and dog lovers can sign up for a snow walk (and cuddle) with an alpine dingo, or book an exhilarating dogsled ride.

The resort offers several accommodation options, including ski-in, and ski-out lodges (when conditions permit), as well as ski rentals, ski school, and several restaurants.

Official site: https://mountbawbaw.com.au/

8. Selwyn Snow Resort, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

Family-owned and operated, Selwyn Snowfields is a great choice for beginners to boost their confidence on the gentle slopes. Many families bring their kids here for first-time snow experiences. The resort is an easy two-hour drive from Canberra.

Zooming down the tubing and toboggan runs, and freestyling on the mini-terrain park are favorite activities here, as are the skiing and snowboarding lessons.

Cross-country skiers will appreciate the 45 kilometers of Nordic trails. Equipment rentals, a ski shop, and café are all on-site, and accommodation is available a 30-minute drive from the resort in Adaminaby, Old Adaminaby, and Anglers Reach.

Selwyn Snow Resort will reopen for the 2022 season after a massive renovation. Skiers and snowboarders will enjoy upgraded lifts and expanded snowmaking capabilities, as well as the brand new Selwyn Centre, with guest facilities and services all under one roof. Expanded ski and snowboard hire, as well as fresh dining choices are other enhanced features of the center.

Address: Kings Cross Road, Mt. Selwyn, New South Wales

Official site: www.selwynsnow.com.au

9. Dinner Plain, Victoria

Dinner Plain is a fantastic option for beginner skiers, as well as families who want a good-value base to ski Mt. Hotham, 10 kilometers away. This charming alpine village hosts two small downhill ski slopes that are perfect for kids to polish their skills, and it's relatively sheltered from icy winds that can whip across the Hotham slopes.

Kids can also hang out in the snow park, and zoom down Australia's longest toboggan run.

The town's rustic elegance recalls its rich history as a grazing stop for cattlemen – the buildings use plenty of natural stone and wood.

A big plus here is that Dinner Plain lies outside the national park, so no overnight parking fees are payable. However, if you're driving to Hotham each day, you still have to pay the daily resort gate entry. Alternatively, you can hop aboard a shuttle, or glide along a 10-kilometer cross country trail from here to Mt. Hotham and skip the parking fees.

Another bonus of staying in this quaint little town, is that you can usually drive to the door of your accommodation instead of lugging travel bags across the snow. Accommodation is mainly self-contained apartments, houses, and chalets, which are great for families and big groups. The village is also home to a couple of fabulous restaurants. Plus, Dinner Plain is dog friendly!

Official site: http://www.visitdinnerplain.com.au

10. Ben Lomond Alpine Resort, Ben Lomond National Park, Tasmania

About 90 minutes by car from Launceston, Ben Lomond Ski Lifts is the only ski area in Tasmania accessible by car. With seven lifts, this is a great spot for beginner and intermediate skiers who want to escape the long lift lines often found at the resorts in New South Wales and Victoria.

To access the resort, which sits at 1,453 metes, you have to negotiate the switchback-riddled Jacob's Ladders, a serpentine two-lane road, which has recently been extensively upgraded. But it's worth it for the spectacular views. Note that between June and September, all vehicles are required to carry snow chains.

The resort offers a sheltered toboggan run and snow play areas for the kids, as well as cross-country ski terrain. Rentals are available at the local ski shop.

Accommodation options are limited on Ben Lomond, but you can stay in Launceston, about 47 kilometers away.

In 2022, Ben Lomond Alpine Resort will reopen under new ownership, with plans for extensive snowmaking in future seasons.

Official site: https://www.alpineenterprises.com.au/

Map of Ski Resorts in Australia

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Nearby Aussie Cities: After you've carved up the slopes, head to one of the nearby cities for a culture fix. Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory, (ACT), is only about a 2.5-hour drive from Perisher and Thredbo, with some of the country's best museums and galleries. Less than a day's drive from the ski resorts in Victoria, Melbourne has a charming European feel and an eclectic array of restaurants and attractions. About a 5.5-hour drive from the New South Wales ski resorts, you can explore all the things to see and do in Sydney, from the iconic Sydney Opera House to family-friendly Darling Harbour.

More Outdoor Adventures in Australia: If you also like adventures on the coast, check out some of the top beaches in Australia and the best places to fish in Australia, from fly fishing for trout in Jindabyne to exhilarating big game fishing. Want an extra boost of adrenaline? Our list of the top-rated outdoor adventures in Australia will get your heart pumping. Snorkel with whale sharks, raft the Franklin River in Tasmania, or sail the Whitsundays.