Region Summary
National Name: Commonwealth of Australia
Capital: Canberra
Language: English and native languages e.g. aboriginal
Currency: Australian dollar ($AUD)
Highest Point: Mt. Kosciusko (2,229m / 7,316ft)
Overview
The ski season in Australia (the world's smallest continent) is June to October (it can be shorter depending on the location and obviously snow conditions). The southern hemisphere winter officially starts on 1st June so when the northern hemisphere ski resorts have shut up shop for the season you can head south and basically ski the whole year round. Accommodation and equipment hire is available at all Australia's main resorts.
New South Wales
The skiing in New South Wales is within Kosciusko National Park, home of Australia's highest peak. New South Wales has 4 of Australias main ski resorts: Charlotte Pass, the Selwyn Snowfields, Thredbo and Perisher Blue. Perisher Blue is the largest resort and a southern hemisphere favourite. It has most of Australia's highest runs and all are above the winter snowline. From Sydney, the closest places for skiing are Thredbo and the Perisher Blue resorts.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service requires all vehicles in the Park to have an entry permit displayed on their vehicle. This applies to all the ski resorts in Kosciuszko. The daily rate (24hrs) per car for winter 2007 will be $27 AUD. If you are going for a week it is best to get an annual permit for $190 AUS. The annual pass is valid for one year from date of purchase and allows you entry into all New South Wales National Parks. You can purchase your pass from the Entrance Station 13km before you get to Thredbo, the Snowy Region Visitors Centre in Jindabyne, the National Parks Visitors Centre in Khancoban, or the Thredbo Newsagency.
It takes around half a day to get to the "Snowy" (as the Snowy Mountains and their resorts are locally know), depending on road conditions. You may need snow chains or you can jump on a charter or tour bus. You can also fly to the small Snowy airfield - Cooma - from Sydney. By road you take the Hume Highway until after Goulburn, then turn left into the Federal Highway towards Canberra. Take the Monaro Highway to Cooma where you start your climb up the Snowy. The lakeside town of Jindabyne is located just before the snowfields in the Kosciuszko national park and is home to the region's visitor centre.
For up to date road conditions call the RTA traffic information line on 132 701. Select option 1 for road closures from storms, snow and ice etc and then option 1 again for Southern NSW. This will take you straight to the conditions for the Snowy Mountains. If in the local area tune to 2XL or 97.7 Snow FM for regular updates.
Victoria
The Snowy Mountain resorts of New South Wales tend to have the better known ski resorts in Australia. However, Victoria also has its share of popular snowfields. The ski resorts of Victoria are closer to Melbourne than the New South Wales ski resorts are to Sydney and hence, travel times are shorter. They are understandably popular with Melbourne residents. Its up to a 9 hour drive from Sydney to one of the Victoria resorts but between 3 and 6 from Melbourne.
The Victoria ski resorts are spread in a relatively wide area northeast of Melbourne around the Alpine and Mount Buffalo national parks. Mount Buller is probably the most popular resort just 3 hours drive from Melbourne.
Lake Mountain is known for it's cross-country skiing and even claims to be the third most visited cross-country alpine resort in the world! Lake Montain is the closest to Melbourne (120km), after Mount Donna Buang (less of a ski resort and mainly for sightseeing / tobogganing).
Smaller resorts include Mount Baw Baw resort and it's proximity to Melbourne and easy conditions make it a good place to learn to ski. Mount Buffalo (closest to the Victoria-New South Wales border) is popular with families due to gentle slopes and good intermediate runs. Additional small resorts include Mount Bogong, Mount St Gwinear, Mount Stirling, Dinner-Plain, and Falls Creek. Finally, the highest resort in Victoria is Mount Hotham.
