best place for a snow trip

[Garfish]

I put on a Christmas movie and they see snow, even turn the air con down a bit for the real experience.  16 is too cold for me. Unless I'm bream fishing..

But need to do this soon...

[McTavish]

Reviving the thread - looking at the same thing in 2016.   Here we go - lots of questions:

June or September school holidays to guarantee snow.  Novice Skiing/tobogganing etc.

Is there any such thing as budget conscience accommodation near the ski fields?   

How much are we talking about per night?

Does anyone here own or knows friends that own a place (cabin, farm stay, holiday house etc) we could stay at for 2-3 days?

If you had the 2-3 days which place would you go?  Thredbo, Perisher, Blue Cow, Mt Selwyn (names I've just picked out of my head)

Thanks...

[Liege]

If you have little ones, Selwyn is the most child friendly, if looking to ski. also has a small tobaggan run & a child minding service. Adaminaby is close by if you want accomodation. Or Old adaminaby ( i have stayed at the caravan park here)

The National Park is approx $27 a vehicle/day .. could be more now

If camping under the snow is your thing, I have camped at Island bend camping ground inside Kosciusko NP, you can see the snow above you.. bloody cold. But this is closer to Jindabyne and thredbo. From Memory i dont think they are any camping fees other than the car entry.. but i could be wrong.

[Hewy54]

NSW snow is easily accessible staying below the snow. Adaminaby and Jindabine have good access via the ski tube. To get a bit closer to Perisher you could try Ski Rider - they have a free bus service to Perisher.
In Vic it is a bit harder if you stay below the snow. Mt Hotham has a variety of private lodges that can be relatively cheap. Park at Harrietville and catch the bus up. Mt Hotham Accommodation service used to be a good contact for bookings.
Have been an avid skier for many years, but I do not know much about the snow play type resorts.
As far as actual skiing goes, my picks would be Perisher/Blue Cow/Guthega in NSW and Mt Hotham in Vic.

[CBRK]

Reviving the thread - looking at the same thing in 2016.   Here we go - lots of questions:

June or September school holidays to guarantee snow.  Novice Skiing/tobogganing etc.

Is there any such thing as budget conscience accommodation near the ski fields?   

How much are we talking about per night?

Does anyone here own or knows friends that own a place (cabin, farm stay, holiday house etc) we could stay at for 2-3 days?

If you had the 2-3 days which place would you go?  Thredbo, Perisher, Blue Cow, Mt Selwyn (names I've just picked out of my head)

Thanks...

Hi McTavish,

Neither of those dates will guarantee snow.  Just depends on the season.  Definitely will be cheaper for those dates but if you plan to ski you'll be at the mercy of the snow gods.

In terms of budget accommodation you can try the Big4 at Jindabyne they have relative speaking cheap cabins (that is they are cheaper than other places - but not what you'd call cheap).  Station resort is another place to try.  Private rentals might work as you could possibly get a spot between other renters if you only 3 days.  If you want your family to enjoy it, DO NOT CAMP!  You need to be really set up for snow or very cold weather camping.  I camp twice a year in 0 or below temp ranges and I wont bring my family along for those, they would hate it (despite both loving the snow).

Unless you love fast skiing I'd stay away from Thredbo (there are less greens in my opinion - less variety for green skiers - my wife only skis on greens - I trick her into the odd blue run).  I prefer Perisher resort for skiing, good long meandering slopes that are fun.  Lots of choice for all levels of skiing (if its windy in one location, say Mt Blue Cow, you move to Guthega or Front Valley and its good).

Both Thredbo and Perisher have good toboggan areas and the kids have lots of fun on those.  If the kids are under 2 then Perisher childcare will only look after then till 1pm.  Older kids they take the whole day.  Thredbo childcare does all day regardless of age.  Once they are 3 then ski school is the way to go for them.

If you haven't ski'd before then take lessons, if you have young kids put them in childcare / ski school while that is happening.

Both resorts have beginner packages for those that havent ski'd before.  Welcome to another expensive hobby!  Having said that for the last 5 years I haven't needed to hire anything so I'm almost at my break even point :-)  I did have 22 ski days one season so I was happy!

Oh I should also warn you that if you ever ski overseas you'll look at Aussie snow differently......

Chris

[McTavish]

thanks - kids will be 14 & 10 next year - so this Ski School idea sounds good.    NSW looks to be the preferred spot going from your suggestions.  And sounds like we camp on the way down and back and bunker in cabins when we're there    Good info - keep it coming as I'm sure there are plenty of others looking to do this type of trip.

My take on skiing is it's fun until you fall over and the ski doesn't come off the boot - then you have your leg wrapped around the back of your head and wondering how pain can be so cruel

In saying that I'm keep to give it a go and maybe snowboarding - how much different to surfing can it be hey....

[Hewy54]

Spent 15 years skiing, then spent a season managing a lodge at Hotham, and took up boarding. Much more user friendly on the knees, but be careful of broken thumbs and wrists. Got sick of sitting on my bum all the time so went back to skiing.
When hiring skis just make sure they adjust your bindings correctly dependant on your weight and ability. If set correctly they are supposed (? hopefully) to release to prevent serious injury in case of a fall.

[Spada]

There is a caravan park in Jindabyne, and that puts you close tio the ski tube. If you stay at the caravan park, take a large oil heater with you and just leave it on (on van park power of course) and that'll keep things toasty warm.

[discoteddy]

We head down to Jindy several times a year for the kids to enjoy playing in the snow.
Accomodation - We camp in our soft floor Trackabout at the Discovery Caravan Park, Jindabyne. We have camped on unpowered sites mid July, encountered snow flurries and enjoyed temps as low as minus 4 inside the camper. We are well prepared for this type of camping with inverters and leccy blankets. This is not for everyone. Even using powered sites you will be cold camping under canvas. Our experimenting with oil heaters been under welming in very cold conditions. There is just to much heat loss through the canvas. Electric blankets and a blow heater with a thermastat gives a moderate level of comfort! Be aware there is a fair chance you will be packing up with wet canvas.

Which Ski Field - Easy choice if you have kids and want snow play, Perisher. It has a generious snow play area and the snow tubes are enjoyed by big kids aswell. In my opinion Thredbo's play area is just to small and limitted. Either way two or three days will sort you out. I'd choose September over June, far more chance of natural snow. Outside of the school holidays the resorts don't focus much effort on snow making outside the established runs.

Just my 2 cents,

Cheers,


Disco teddy.