It’s snow business time on the ski slopes of Australia and New Zealand. You’ll need inside information on the top cross-country and downhill runs, terrain parks and best places to eat, drink, stay and soak.
New South Wales
Thredbo and Perisher are a six-hour drive from Sydney. Charlotte Pass is an 8.6km snowcat journey from Perisher, and Selwyn Snowfields is about five-and-a-half hours from Sydney (turn right at Cooma).
Thredbo: For skiers who like the finer things in life
You haven’t skied Thredbo until you have...
Played among the gum trees in the fresh powder of Golf Course Bowl.
Partied on in the Keller nightclub.
Booked a table at the elegant private dining room at Merritts Mountain House.
Thrown an Austin Powers and booked into the retro Seidler Lodge.
Enjoyed a long lunch celebrity spotting at Kareela Hutte.
Taken the gondola to dinner at Eagles Nest, Australia’s highest restaurant.
Participated in the weekly Saturday night flare-run.
Taken a guided ski or snowboard run through the snow gums to Dead Horse Gap with Thredbo Outdoor Adventures, run out of the ski school.
Gone on an overnight snow-camping trip (new for the ’09 season) with the Snowy Mountains Climbing School.
Perisher: Australia’s largest ski resort has variety to burn
You haven’t skied Perisher until you have...
Put first tracks down Kamikaze or Rock Garden through the Yarrandoo trees on Blue Cow after fresh snow.
Lunched at the Guthega Pub overlooking the Main Range.
Booked a romantic dinner at Snow Gums in the Perisher Valley Hotel.
Eaten at Eiger Chalet’s White Spider restaurant après.
Ordered cocktails and a round of schnapps at Base 1720.
Devised your best fancy dress and entered the annual Pub-to-Pub Classic cross-country race.
Danced the night away at Jax Bar after comedy night at the Sundeck Hotel.
Had a hot chocolate at Avalunch Cafe in Pretty Valley.
Taken the whole family to Tube Town snow tubing park.
Leapt into the resort’s most exciting terrain park, the PlayStation Slopestyle in Front Valley.
View Image
Charlotte Pass: The only snowbound resort in NSW
You haven’t skied Charlotte Pass until you have...
Stayed at the historic – and romantic – Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel.
Hiked the Chutes at Guthries and conquered the Powder Wall.
Watched the sun set over Mount Kosciuszko on a Snowshoe Tour with Charlotte Pass Snowsports School.
Tried the Day Tripper experience from Perisher: an 8km snowcat journey to Charlotte Pass, one-day mountain pass and hot lunch.
Entered the 8.6km Kosciuszko Alpine Club Classic, the most popular cross-country race in Australia, from Perisher to Charlotte Pass.
Drunk glühwein with the ski instructors by the Chalet’s blazing log fires.
View Image
Selwyn Snowfields: A gentle playground for families and beginners
You haven’t skied Selwyn Snowfields until you have...
Tried the Snowflake Snowtube park.
Ridden the new Township Triple Chair lift.
Taken a whirl at the toboggan park.
Bitten into a Kiandra Burger at Snowgums Cafe.
Snowshoed through spectacular snowgums.
Had a cold beer in the Snowgums Bar.
Tackled the Township Terrain Park.
Torn down Pig Gully without stopping.
Victoria
From Melbourne: Mount Buller is a three-hour drive; Mount Hotham four-and-a-half hours (or direct QantasLink flight from Sydney); Falls Creek, a four-and-a-half hour drive.
Mount Buller: Victoria’s largest alpine village
You haven’t skied Mount Buller until you have...
Taken a sunset snowshoe tour to the Summit to see spectacular views with the Snowshoe Guru company.
Gone from snowplough to parallel in the Burnt Hut Spur beginners’ area.
Skied the longest run on the mountain, Little Buller Spur.
Stayed in the penthouse apartments at the ski-in/ski-out Mount Buller Chalet.
Hit the moguls through the trees on Powder Keg or Thulke’s.
Enjoyed a massage and a personal spa tub at Breathtaker on High alpine spa retreat.
Drunk schnapps in the Austrian-style Pension Grimus.
Sampled Victorian produce at Buller’s top restaurant, the Black Cockatoo.
View Image
Falls Creek: Mostly gentle terrain for intermediates
You haven’t skied Falls Creek until you have...
Skied the bumps directly under the main Summit Chairlift.
Caught the snowcat out to Falls’ most difficult terrain on Mount McKay.
Watched the snow fall while eating at the Japanese-style Oishii Go restaurant/bar.
Chosen your tipple from Australia’s only on-mountain vodka bar at the Astra Lodge.
Watched the ski and snowmobile displays at the weekly Snow Spectacular.
Taken a freestyle lesson in the renowned Ruined Castle terrain park.
Been pampered at the Mii Spa in the new Quay West Resort and Spa.
Had a guided snowmobile tour with Falls Creek Snowmobile Tours.
View Image
Mount Hotham: Australia’s only alpine airport with direct QantasLink flights from Sydney
You haven’t skied Mount Hotham until you have...
Skied the famous steep run Mary’s Slide without falling over.
Knocked back a schnapps at Zirky’s Bar. n Gone backcountry with Hotham’s Kat Skiing Adventures.
Booked into Dinner Plain’s ultra-plush Onsen Retreat & Spa (about 10 minutes from the slopes).
Stayed at Hotham’s architect-designed chalet Blowhard, which has 10 levels and a cinema.
Devoured the hot hazelnut praline soufflé at Blakes @ Zirky’s.
Danced hard to DJ Eddy at The General.
Taken a husky sleigh ride with Australian Sled Dog Tours.
View Image
New Zealand
The Remarkables and Coronet Peak are the closest to Queenstown, while Treble Cone, Cardrona and Snow Park are nearest to Wanaka, but still within driving distance of Queenstown for daytrips. Mount Hutt is about a 90-minute drive from Christchurch. On the North Island lies New Zealand’s largest ski area, Whakapapa, and the impressive Turoa – both on the flanks of Mount Ruapehu.
North Island
Mount Ruapehu
You haven’t skied Mount Ruapehu until you have...
Skied the unusually formed slopes of the live volcano, with Mount Taranaki in the distance.
Taken a hike from the top lift to Mount Ruapehu’s bubbling crater lake.
Felt like royalty when checking into the grand 80-year-old Bayview Chateau Tongariro, just down the road from Whakapapa.
Celebrated a day’s skiing at the outstanding Turoa skifield with après at the Powderhorn Hotel followed by dinner at the hotel’s Matterhorn Restaurant, the best food in town.
South Island
Mount Hutt
You haven’t skied Mount Hutt until you have...
Skied powder turns from Mount Hutt’s summit while taking in the view of the Pacific Ocean across the Canterbury Plains.
Started the day with pancakes at Primo Caffe & Secundo in Methven (the town closest to Mount Hutt).
Kicked back in the hot tub under the stars at the boutique Beluga Luxury Lodge.
Downed a schnapps at the Forest Lodge Bavarian Bar with owner Ian McLean (who also happens to be one of the world’s top ski coaches).
Skied four heli-runs by lunchtime and then flown to Terrace Downs luxury resort to squeeze in 18 holes of golf in the afternoon.
View Image
Queenstown
You haven’t skied Queenstown until you have...
At Coronet Peak: taken part in the resort’s new daily Après Hour on the deck from 4pm-5.30pm.
Skied at night on the fully floodlit main runs.
Nabbed a First Tracks ticket to be the first to ski on the fresh snow at 8am.
At The Remarkables: hiked to the extreme chutes.
Ridden past the giant kea statues to hit the features in The Stash, the Southern Hemisphere’s first Burton natural terrain park.
Skied the 1.5km Homeward Bound backcountry run off the side of the ski field and down to the road in fresh snow.
Skied in the morning and golfed in the afternoon at the plush Millbrook resort.
Sipped a Mount Difficulty Roaring Meg Central Otago pinot noir by a roaring fire at the House Bar in boutique hotel Eichardt’s.
Gone heli-skiing in knee-deep powder with Jeremaia Fisk’s Southern Lakes Heli Ski.
View Image
Wanaka
You haven’t skied Wanaka until you have...
Boarded or skied the enormous Saddle Basin at Treble Cone after hiking to the peak for several fresh turns.
Tested your freestyle skills in Cardrona’s 22-foot (6.7m) superpipe.
Drunk mulled wine in front of the fire at the historic Cardrona Pub.
Hit Snow Park, the first dedicated freestyle terrain park resort in the world.
Carb-reloaded with pasta and pizza at The Cow. n Sampled the upmarket dining of the Botswana Butchery restaurant.
Experienced a thrilling white-water spin through the rapids in a jet boat with Clutha River Jet.
View Image
Source: Qantas The Australian Way July 2009