These days Australian ski resorts are offering a lot more than just skiing and boarding. Here’s a rundown of what each has for snow-mad families.
There is something special about a family holiday in the snow; a perfect mix of fun, exercise and lots of pristine alpine air, where lifetime memories are created and plenty to do both on and off the slopes.
The key to an affordable family skiing holiday is to do your homework and seek out the early bird specials offering value-for-money packages including accommodation, lift and lesson tickets and ski gear hire. If you are flexible with dates, the start and the end of the season are great cost-savers, and some resorts offer refunds if there’s little snow.
Here’s our essential round up of the need-to-knows for ski resorts for families in Australia.
Mt Hotham’s valleys are a joy to explore, with skiers and snowboarders able to swoop from one to the other, or up to the top of Summit. As for kids, learning to ski or snowboard at the Ski and Ride School at the separate Big D area is super fun.
Where: a sprawling ridgetop village in the heart of the Victorian Alps – 750 kms from Sydney and 360 kms from Melbourne, between Harrietville and Omeo.
Skiable Terrain: 245ha with 20 percent beginners, 40 percent intermediate and 40 percent advanced.
Lifts: 13 – 8 quads, 1 triple
Longest downhill run: 2.5kms
Ski School: Mighty Mites – ages 3 to 5 years, Kids’ Klub ages 7-14. Adult classes are offered, too.
Babysitting: yes and Hotham Day Care Centre – 3 months-5 years
Terrain parks: four
Cross country: over 35kms
Ski Hire:
On mountain – available from many outlets
Off mountain – Bright, Harrietville and Porepunkah
Accommodation:
On mountain: ski-in, ski-out – 7,000 beds available in chalets, lodges, resorts and self catering units including Dinner Plain.
Off mountain: Bright, Mt Beauty, Harrietville and Porepunkah.
Transport: free village shuttle bus.
Heli-link: Mt Hotham and Falls Creek are linked by a 7-minute helicopter ride. Lift tickets are interchangeable.
Activities for kids: downhill skiing, cross country, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, night skiing, tobogganing.
Bookings: early bird deals available including accommodation, lessons and ski hire.
National pass: Epic Australia Pass
More information: call 03 5759 3550 or www.mthotham.com.au
Resembles a fairytale village nestled among snow gums – a firm favourite for families with young children. The architecture reflects the cattlemen’s history of the area and blends into the surrounding snow gums. Not as busy as Hotham and often snowbound.
Where: a 10-minute drive from Mt Hotham.
Skiable terrain: 4ha with 100% beginner runs
Lifts: Beginner’s Tow
Snowmaking: 4ha
Longest run: .1 km
Ski School: beginner lessons available for skiing, snowboarding and cross country
Babysitting: yes:
Terrain Park: none
Cross country: 15 kms, in addition to the 10km trail between Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham
Ski hire:
On mountain: yes
Off mountain: Omeo and Harrietville
Accommodation: 200 lodges and chalets
Transport: a shuttle service operates between Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham.
Activities for kids: twilight skiing, snow shoeing, toboggan, dog sledding, snow 4×4 driving, snow play.
Bookings: early bird discounts available.
More information: www.visitdinnerplain.com
A picturesque alpine resort catering for families and skiers of all abilities, has reliable snow cover and extensive snow making. The charming European-style village boasts a range of accommodation to suit most budgets, and access to the slopes is easy peasy with two chairlifts whisking skiers and boarders to the top. The Village Bowl has a stack of fun activities for kids and the night skiing on Wombat’s Ramble is legendary.
Where: 357kms from Melbourne and 690 kms from Sydney. Flights are available from Melbourne and Sydney to Albury airport. Coach transport and hire cars available.
Skiable Terrain: 450 hectares with 17 per cent beginners, 60 per cent intermediate and 23 per cent advanced.
Lifts: 14
Snowmaking: 120 hectares
Longest downhill run: Wishing well (3kms) and Australia’s longest green run at 2.2kms
Ski school: yes
Babysitting: yes. Childcare from 12 weeks to 5 years
Terrain parks: seven
Cross country: over 65kms of trails
Ski hire:
On Snow: many outlets.
Off snow: Bright, Mt Beauty, Albury, Wodonga
Accommodation: chalets, lodges, units, hotels and motels
On mountain: 5,000 beds in a range from hotels, apartments and lodges.
Off mountain: Mt Beauty and Bogong Village
Transport: free village shuttle
Activities for kids: snowmobile tours, fat biking, snowshoeing, tobogganing, cross country skiing, snow grooming tours, night skiing, snow tubing
Bookings: early bird packages available
National pass: Epic Australia Pass
More information: 1800 232 557 or www.fallscreek.com.au
One of three major ski resorts in Victoria, and the closest of these. Mt Buller is a popular destination for daytrippers from Melbourne and weekend skiers. Wide range of terrain and a vibrant village.
Where: 225kms from Melbourne. Fly into Melbourne, coaches and car hire optional.
Skiable Terrain: 300ha with 20 per cent beginners, 45 per cent intermediate and 35 per cent advanced.
Lifts: 22
Snowmaking: 78 hectares
Longest downhill run: 2.5kms
Ski school: extensive children’s program including Bunyip program for 3-6 year olds, and Buller Kids program for 6-14 year olds.
Babysitting: yes and the Buller Kids’ Centre Creche for 3 months up to 3 years
Terrain park: three
Cross country: 9kms
Ski Hire:
On Snow: yes
Off snow: Mansfield, Merrijig
Accommodation:
On mountain: wide range of chalets, lodges hotels motels, units,
Off mountain: Mansfield, Merrijig and Sawmill Settlement
Transport: free village shuttle
Activities for kids: Air Zone for trampolining, a climbing wall and bounce sessions, two toboggan snowplay areas, Australia’s hightest cinema, gnome roam, night skiing on weekends, snow shoeing, cross country, telemarking, dog sledding, sleigh rides, skidoo rides.
Bookings: value for money early bird packages available.
More information: 03 5777 7800 or www.mtbuller.com.au
In Victoria, first-time families who want to introduce their kids to the snow, or those who want to try cross-country skiing, should head for Lake Mountain Alpine Resort. Just two hours’ drive from the city, Lake Mountain is the closest resort to Melbourne with 30 kilometres of cross-country trails and lessons available for kids and lessons available for kids from four years old. Or if snowboarding is top of your kid’s to-try list, there are lessons for that, too.
Where: two hours drive from Victoria
Skiable Terrain: 2400ha
Lifts: 2
Ski School: yes, snowboarding from 3 years
Babysitting: no
Terrain Park: one
Ski Hire: yes
Accommodation:
Off mountain: in nearby Marysville
Activities for kids: downhill skiing and boarding, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, tube run, snow shoeing, tube run.
More information: (03) 5957 7222 or lakemountainresort.com.au
Thredbo is ever popular with families, too, thanks to its village, range of terrain and Snow Sport School, which has an exceptional program for kids. Children aged three to six can start off in the legendary Thredboland program, before moving on to the Thredbo Freeriders.
Where: located in the Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains in southeastern Australia, 500kms from Sydney. You can fly into Canberra and catch a coach.
Skiable Terrain: 480ha with 16 per cent beginners, 67 per cent intermediate and 17 per cent advanced.
Lifts: 14
Snowmaking: 67 hectares
Longest downhill run: 5.9kms
Ski School: A range of lessons for all age groups.
Babysitting: yes, plus childcare for those aged 6 months to 6 years available
Terrain Parks: seven
Ski Hire:
On Snow: yes
Off snow: Jindabyne, Cooma
Accommodation:
On mountain: many options of chalets, lodges, hotels and units.
Off mountain: Thredbo Valley, Jindabyne
Transport: free shuttle bus in the village
Activities for kids: downhill skiing, night skiing, boarding, snow shoeing, cross country, telemarking, tobogganing and skidoo rides, Leisure Centre with heated pool, fireworks, NASTAR race course
Bookings: great early bird specials available
National pass: Mountain Collective
More information: 1300 020 589 or www.thredbo.com.au
Perisher is the largest resort in the Southern Hemisphere with four linked ski areas to explore (Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Perisher) and runs for all levels. And it is the only one in Australia that is accessible by train. The Skitube makes it fun for kids before they even get to the slopes.
Where: In the Snowy Mountains near Jindabyne in southern NSW, about 500kms from Sydney.
Skiable Terrain: 1245ha with 22 per cent beginners, 60 per cent intermediate and 18 per cent advanced.
Lifts: 47
Snowmaking: 40 hectares
Longest downhill run: 3km
Ski School: kids’ ski programs for 5 to 14 year olds, or Discovery Kids program for children aged 3-4 years old.
Babysitting: yes
Terrain Park: 5
Cross country: 100kms of trails
Ski Hire:
On Snow: many on-mountain outlets
Off snow: Jindabyne, Cooma
Accommodation:
On mountain: 4000 beds including chalets, lodges, units and hotels.
Off mountain: Jindabyne, 30 minutes drive away, Lake Crackenback
Transport: oversnow taxi service and shuttle buses available. The ski tube operates between Perisher and Blue Cow on a standard lift pass at no extra cost. There is a free shuttle connecting Perisher and Smiggin Holes
Activities for kids: downhill skiing, boarding, snow tubing, snow shoeing, cross country, telemarking and toboganning, first tracks, groomer tours, night skiing
Bookings: early bird packages available.
National pass: Epic Australia Pass
More information: 1300 655 822 or perisher.com.au
Unique because it’s the only snowbound resort in Australia, accessed via Perisher. It has the lowest temperature ever recorded in Australia, –23 degrees and is Australia’s highest resort. You will really feel as if you are immersed in the mountains. It is extremely kid friendly, especially if staying at the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel, which was recently revamped, and the intimate vibe means your children can learn in a comfortable environment.
Where: near Jindabyne in southern NSW.
Skiable Terrain: 50 ha with 40 percent beginners, 50 percent intermediate and 10 percent advanced.
Lifts: 5, 1 chair 4 tows
Snowmaking: yes
Longest down hill run: 3kms
Ski School: lessons and workshops offered.
Babysitting: yes
Terrain Park: two
Cross country: lots of trails
Ski Hire:
On Snow: yes
Off snow : Perisher, Omeo, Cooma
Accommodation:
On mountain: 700 beds
Off mountain: Jindabyne, Cooma
Transport: oversnow transport from Perisher that leaves from the Perisher Centre. The village is small so you can easily walk around.
Activities for kids: downhill skiing, boarding, snow shoeing, cross country, telemarking, skidoos
Bookings: early bird packages available.
More information: 1800 026 369 or www.charlottepass.com.au
A family-friendly beginner and snowplay destination in the north of the Kosciuszko National Park. Selwyn Snow Resort is perfect for first-timers, and while there is no accommodation at the resort, there are some excellent farmstays nearby.
Where: 500kms from both Melbourne and Sydney.
Skiable Terrain: 45 hectares with 40 per cent beginners, 48 per cent intermediate and 12 per cent advanced.
Lifts: 10
Snowmaking: yes
Ski School: Selwyn Kids caters for children from 4 to 12 years in either full- or half-day programs. Selwyn Sam Hours are available for children aged from 18 months to 3 years, during which staff will look after your little one for an hour for you to hit the slopes.
Babysitting: yes
Terrain Park: one
Cross country: There are some trails.
Ski Hire:
On Snow: yes
Off snow: Adaminaby Talbingo Tumut
Accommodation:
On mountain: No
Off mountain: Talbingo 62kms, Adaminaby 46kms, Tumut 102 kms, Cooma 97kms
Transport: Walk or ski around the resort
Activities for kids: Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, tobogganing and lots of snow play
Bookings: Look out for mid week specials.
More information: 1800 641 046 www.selwynsnow.com.au
If you are heading to the Apple Isle and want to dust off your skis, Ben Lomand National Park is an excellent downhill skiing resort in Tasmania.
Where: Located 55kms south-east of Launceston.
Terrain: 37 per cent beginner, 53 per cent intermediate, 10 per cent advanced.
Lifts: 6 on the down hill slopes , 3 T bars and 3 poma lifts.
Snowmaking: minimal
Ski school: Lessons for all abilities available.
Babysitting: no
Terrain Park: no
Cross country: Trails available
Ski hire:
On mountain: yes
Off mountain: Launceston.
Accommodation:
On mountain: About 500 beds. A variety of lodges and units available.
Off mountain: Launceston
Transport: There is a daily shuttle service from Launceston to Ben Lomand.
Activities: Snow play, skiing and snow boarding.
More information: 03 6390 6199 or www.parks.tas.gov.au
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