[category]
[title]
I’m not here to pull the wool over your eyes. I’m sure you’ve seen the news (TikToks). This year isn’t going to go down in history as the Best Snow Season Ever. Bar a few great dumps of fresh powder a few weeks ago in the NSW Snowy Mountains, there hasn’t been a huge amount of snowfall this winter. But as one man said in front of me in the chairlift line: “Yeah, some years have had better snow. But the sky’s blue, the vibes are high, and everyone’s having a blast.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Similar to my wonderful colleague Winnie, who recently checked out Perisher’s brand-new women-only ski weekend, I hadn’t hit the slopes in a long time. Close to 20 years, I reckon. I went twice in primary school – once to Selwyn and once to Perisher. I was a little rusty when I clicked my boots into my skis, but as soon as I’d done a couple of warm-up runs in the kids’ section, that familiar exhilaration and thrill returned. I started to glide.
Throughout our three days, we breathed in the majestic beauty of Mount Perisher under a bluebird sky, laughed our way down Pretty Valley and enjoyed whipped cream-topped mochas. We whooshed past twisted snow gums, marvelled at the pros doing aerial tricks, saw groups knocking back Spritzes, and smiled at the cute-as-heck kids going a million miles an hour down the mountains without a fear in the world.
Perisher, located about a 5.5-hour drive from Sydney (or half that if you break it up and spend a night in Canberra), is the biggest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with 114 runs across four interconnected resort areas. And while some may say it’s not Japan or New Zealand, I think it’s still pretty spectacular. I mean, where else in the world do you find lush rainforests, sparse red desert, stretches of golden beaches and snow-capped mountains on the one island?
There’s a bunch of reasons why now is still a great time to hit the slopes. Firstly, while there may not be much snow falling, the cold overnight conditions mean the resort is still able to make snow, so there are plenty of runs to explore. You’re also past the main July school-holiday rush, so while you’ll likely still need to wait for the more popular lifts, you’ll spend less time in the queues than if you went in peak season.
The days are getting longer and sunnier – which means there’s more time to hit the slopes (depending on how long your legs can take it). And there’s cash to be saved by travelling later in the season – keep a lookout for deals and mid-week offers. Of course, I’d recommend you still check the snow forecast before you make plans, but if you’ve been dreaming about a snow trip this year, there’s still time.
Looking for somewhere to stay? I spent a couple of nights at Barrakee Ski Lodge – a cosy, family-run lodge just outside the main village, with excellent three-course meals (which are very much appreciated after a day on the slopes), alpine views and incredible hospitality. The team offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the slopes, so everything is taken care of.
Find out more and make a booking here.
Note: I was kindly hosted by Perisher, but our editorial recommendations are always honest.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.