Each of the State’s snow resorts has its own special strengths, but whether you’re a complete novice or a black run bomber, a family with infants or a single skier with a taste for après-ski action, there’s a resort in the NSW snowfields that’s just right for you.
Beginners and families
Perisher is the largest ski area in the country with something for everyone in four adjacent ski areas of Smiggins, Perisher, Blue Cow and Guthega, all connected by green level runs.
Smiggins is a great option for learners and a free shuttle service connects the resort with Perisher if you don’t want to ski the traverse. The Perisher Snowsports School has a great choice of one-on-one sessions, group lessons and programs tailored specifically for women. Children from three years can take part in the Milo Discovery Kids program, graduating to Milo Adventure and Milo Explorers Kids.
For families and developing skiers and boarders, Selwyn Snowfields is one of the best places to start. About 40 per cent of the resort’s runs carry the green 'beginner' rating and close to half are rated intermediate. Selwyn’s Snow Sports School has skilled instructors and tailored programs for wherever you’re at on the skills ladder.
Selwyn also has one of the only remaining toboggan parks in the country, with snowtubing at Snowflake Snowtube Park, so anyone who decides that skiing or boarding is not for them needn’t be left out. Selwyn is also one of the best-value winter playgrounds in the country.
Located close to the car park at Thredbo, Friday Flat beginners area is ideal for novices who want to develop basic skills and confidence. Thredbo Snow Sports can set you up with a group or private lesson that’s just right for you, and Thredbo guarantees to fast track the learning experience with a program that keeps you constantly improving. Specially designed for children aged three to six, Thredboland stimulates, encourages and rewards – while having fun against a majestic backdrop.
Intermediate
There are plenty of intermediate runs at all NSW resorts - at Selwyn, 50 per cent of snowfields are intermediate-friendly.
There’s a sensational variety of just about everything in Perisher’s seven peaks, 48 lifts and more than 1,245 hectares of skiable terrain – much of it ideal for mid-level skiers. 60 per cent of Perisher’s terrain is ideal for intermediate skiers and the Snowsports School has a wide variety of lessons with experienced instructors to ensure you get all the right tips on safe skiing and snowboarding.
Charlotte Pass is the highest ski village in the country, with about 80 per cent of its runs rated ‘intermediate’. This is one of the smallest of the NSW snowfields with just five lifts, but also one of the friendliest. You’ll be sharing the mountain with an absolute maximum of about 500 other skiers. It’s great for parents who might want to ski by themselves, yet with the knowledge that their children are safe and within sight at all times.
Two-thirds of Thredbo’s 480-hectare ski area is devoted to intermediate trails. Even from the top of the Karels lift – the highest lifted point in the country at 2,037 metres – there are intermediate trails all the way to the bottom, a total of 672 vertical metres of snow-covered slopes. As well as all levels, Thredbo Snow Sports caters to just about every age group – three-year olds to teens to senior-age adults.
Advanced
Perisher has some of the hottest ski and board action on Australian slopes. Park addicts can test their skills in one of Perisher’s six progressive terrain parks.
The PlayStation Slopestyle course is the main terrain park and home to huge table tops, hip jumps, spines, stairs, step up jumps, fun boxes and the giant PlayStation Wall, plus much more. The Columbia Fun Park is the perfect place to hone park skills on low to the ground features. Riders can ramp up their skill levels with specialist lessons with Perisher's Snowsports School.
Don't forget, Perisher's Superpipe is the best in Australia. It is 95 metres long, 16 metres wide, with a seven metre transition and a five metre high walls - it is the perfect compliment to a day's riding.
Thredbo has the longest runs in the country, and that means some awesome black runs. A comprehensive snow-making system virtually guarantees top to bottom skiing all season long. Thredbo is also pure heaven for board riders.
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