Australian Alps - Resort Skiing Areas

Resort Skiing Areas

The Australian Alps are the main region in which skiing in Australia takes place (although skiing is also possible in Tasmania). Skiable terrain stretches through large areas of territory from June to October. New South Wales is home to Australia's highest snow country, oldest skifields and largest resort. Recreational skiing in Australia began around 1861 at Kiandra, New South Wales, when Norwegian gold miners introduced the idea to the frozen hills around the town. The first and longest surviving ski club in the world, The Kiandra Snow Shoe Club is believed to have been formed at Kiandra in that year. Steeper slopes and more reliable snows lie further to the south and in the 20th Century, the focus of recreational skiing in New South Wales shifted southward, to mountains in and around the Kosciuszko Main Range region, where Australia's best vertical drop is found at Thredbo and Australia's biggest resort, Perisher is now found. The State of Victoria is the one with the largest number of skiing areas in Australia.

Mount Bogong, with its peak at 1986 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in Victoria. The surrounding Bogong High Plains is one of the largest areas of snow country in Australia. It includes the leading resorts of Falls Creek and Mount Hotham. Recreational and practical skiing was being practised in the Victorian Alps by the 1880s and 90s with skis made from local timbers, and making use of single steering poles. Skiing began at Mount Buffalo in the 1890s and a Chalet was constructed in 1910. Australia's first ski tow was constructed near Mount Buffalo in 1936.

Cross country skiing is possible in the Australian Capital Territory as well as in New South Wales and Victoria, but downhill skiing can only be done in New South Wales and Victoria:

New South Wales

  • Perisher
    • Perisher Valley
    • Guthega
    • Mount Blue Cow
    • Smiggin Holes
  • Thredbo
  • Charlotte Pass
  • Selwyn Snowfields

Victoria

  • Mount Buller
  • Falls Creek
  • Mount Hotham
  • Dinner Plain
  • Mount Baw Baw
  • Mount Buffalo
  • Lake Mountain (cross country)
  • Mount Stirling (cross country)
  • Mount St Gwinear (cross country)
  • Mount Donna Buang (snow play)

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