We can admit it: Australia is not known for its snow, but that doesn’t mean we have to skip the snowsports come cooler weather thanks to a bunch of ski resorts that bring the Niseko and Whistler fun to our front door.
The handful of ski resorts in NSW offer stunning terrain that’ll see you sliding past snow gums and wombats, partying in après bars, and enough wood chalets to pass for the Alps on your Insta.
These are the best ski resorts in NSW.
Thredbo
Boasting the longest run in Australia, Thredbo is 480 hectares of Aussie alpine fun. This NSW ski resort has a variety of open, cross-country, and beginner-friendly slopes for everyone to enjoy, as well as parks and loads of apres and on-mountain food and beverage options including Eagles Nest, which takes the title of Australia’s highest restaurant.
Thredbo Village brings some Euro alpine vibes, with loads of cosy and comforting dining options including the beloved bakery, wood-fired pizza at T-Bar, and German faves at Candlelight Lodge, plus plenty of bars for late-night ski resort shenanigans.
There is accommodation in the heart of the action in and around Thredbo Village like The Denman Hotel, Snowgoose Apartments and Squatters Run, and the Jindabyne area is a short drive away; check out our picks for the best stays around Jindabyne here.
Perisher
The biggest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, Perisher is technically four resorts, totalling 1,245 hectares. There are hundreds of runs for all ability levels, lots of cross-country trails, and loads of effort put into generating and grooming snow for the best ski resort experience possible.
All four resorts (Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega) are known for different terrain but are suitable for all skill levels, with village and on-mountain dining options scattered around the whole ski resort.
Local stays include Boonoona Ski Lodge, Perisher Manor Hotel and Matterhorn Lodge, and it’s common to stay in Jindabyne too.
Selwyn Snow Resort
The smallest ski resort in NSW, Selwyn is a family-friendly paradise that’ll keep more experienced skiers and boarders entertained too. There are dedicated tubing and tobogganing areas, and 45 hectares of terrain with 10 lifts.
The Selwyn Centre (which will reopen in 2023 for the first time since the 2020 bushfires) houses all of the guest facilities and services including gear hire and food and drink offerings, but this one’s definitely a day-tripper, with limited dining and accommodation options in the nearby area.
Instead, check out stays like Snowy Mountains Resort in Adaminaby, Anglers Reach Lakeside Village, or the Nebula Motel in Cooma.
Charlotte Pass
The highest ski resort in Australia at 1,760 metres, Charlotte Pass is small, but has a lot of charm—and arguably some of Australia’s best snowfalls. You can only access it via a 45-minute trip on dedicated snow vehicles, which run regularly from the Perisher Valley Skitube Terminal.
19 runs cover all ski and snowboard needs, including plenty of first-timers and kid-friendly runs. A big drawcard in Charlotte Pass ski resort is the historic Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel, which was built in 1930 and is basically the epicentre of skiing in Australia. You can stay as a guest, or ski in for a meal at Arches Restaurant or an aprés drink at Adams Cocktail Bar.
Accommodation in Charlotte Pass is quite limited (there are 10 lodges and three hotels), so you might consider day-tripping—you can even buy a Daytripper Pass including lunch and your over-snow transport.