While Australia is known for its brilliant summers, the country also sees some pretty consistent snowfall every year. In fact, The Australian Alps are believed to receive more snow than Switzerland in winter. The changing leaves are slowly moving past peak and winter is beginning to creep in with plenty to look forward to including activities like skiing and snowboarding. One place to add to your list is the delightful alpine village of Charlotte Pass which is perched in the heart of the Snowy Mountains and it’s one of the best places to get your fill of snow in NSW. At 1,765m metres above sea level, it is Australia’s oldest and highest ski resort and receives some of the most steady snowfall throughout the winter months.
Charlotte Pass, Kosciuszko National Park
There’s only one way to get to this snowy wonderland — via over-snow transport so there are no cars, crowds or long queues to contend with. The resort offers city dwellers an intimate space to recharge among pristine landscapes. Aside from snowy slopes perfect for skiers and snowboarders, it also offers lessons for beginners, races for kids and adults and after-hours skiing for night owls.
There are also some cosy dining options at Charlotte Pass if you want to kick back and enjoy the views. Adams Cocktail Lounge provides the perfect cosy setting with après ski, high tea and smooth jazz tunes while the excellent Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel built in the 1930s offers a cosy fireplace, hot chocolate and sweeping views of the mountains. Find accomodation options here.
Conveniently, there are a number of deals and packages available for visitors. For day trippers looking to escape the city for a quick trip, they’ve got a “2 Buck Tuesday” deal where if one person pays $149 for one full-priced Daytripper pass, the second person just has to pay $2. If you’re heading down to Charlotte on a Thursday, you could score a $75 pass which includes a full mountain lift pass, return over-snow transport and a wholesome lunch. Or you could make it a proper getaway and nab a resort package which comes with lift tickets, ski hire, group lessons and return transport from Perisher Valley.
Looking for other activities around Charlotte Pass? There are plenty of scenic hiking and walking trails to explore including the Mount Kosciusko Summit walk where you can climb Australia’s highest mountain plus options for mountain biking and bushwalking if you want to get in the great outdoors.
What is the best time to visit?
June to October are excellent times to visit with August typically presenting some of the snowiest days of the season. The resort is fully snowed in during the colder months so it’s the place to be if you want snowy adventures at home. The resort is equally scenic to visit during spring with plenty of wildflowers and alpine scenery to explore.
Getting there
Charlotte Pass is about a 5.5-hour drive from Sydney. It’s completely snowbound so the only way to get in or out is through their oversnow transport vehicles which you can take from the Perisher Valley Skitube Terminal.