Skiing In Oz: The Season Is Just Beginning

Here’s A Snapshot Of Skiing Down Under.

[Editor Note:  This was written by Melbourne, Australia-based Marg Malkin, a retired ski industry veteran who spends February and March at SilverStar, BC.  She is SeniorsSkiing.com’s first Australian contributor.  We hope to see more news from her.]

Australian seniors only have a very small window to enjoy skiing in Australia given the ski season is a short 14 weeks from the first weekend in June through to the end of September. Historically, the season is a bit “scratchy” when it begins and then the snow comes with a blustery vengeance, often covering the slopes with almost a metre of snow. Given the elevations of ski resorts vary between 1300 and 2000 metres in altitude, a two metre snow-depth season is a good one.

The major ski resorts—Thredbo, Perisher, Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buller—are all located in the high country of New South Wales and Victoria, the South Eastern states of Australia. The resorts also serve as summer hiking, mountain bike riding, and bush walking destinations. Only one resort, Mount Buller is an easy day-tripper resort, two-plus hours access from Melbourne.

The other Victorian resorts are three and a half hours away, so therefore overnight destinations. New South Wales ski resorts are a five-hour drive from Sydney, however they are easily accessible from the Australian capital city of Canberra.

Unlike the New Zealand resorts, all these Aussie resorts are accessed by car or bus right into the main resort areas within easy distance from the accommodations.

The resorts began with small private lodges (or cabins) built by a few die hard skiers walking in with skins. More private lodges developed in the 50’s and 60’s, and, in the 70’s, commercial investors began developing private condo complexes and licensed taverns, most of which thrive today. Generally most of our “baby boomer” sector began as members of private lodges, these lodges becoming open to the public in the 80’s to cover infrastructural costs.

Majority of the ski fields are surrounded by National Parks, and there is a fair amount of government infrastructural control throughout the ski fields. The Australian ski lift companies make skiing very attractive to our generation, providing over 65-year-olds with 50% discount of lift passes. And if you are inclined to keep skiing after 70, then your ski lift pass is free! However there is a government entry fee per car for the ski season to access the Victorian resorts.

For current ski conditions in Australia, click here.  Looks like the “scratchy” start of the season is here.

For more information about skiing in Australia, click here.