The Be a Fun Mum Guide to the Australian Ski Fields

I’m tempted to start this off by singing an entire rendition of, “Do you want to build a snowman?” from Disney’s Frozen. But I won’t.

Snow. Being a Queenslander, snow holds a magical storybook quality for me, and I think many Australians feel the same. Taking my kids to the snow for the first time was a special experience and in my opinion, a must for the bucket list.

Once you start looking into a family snow holiday, there’s a lot of different options and added costs and it can be quite overwhelming. Expedia Aussie travellers usually spend 4 nights in the Snowy Mountains. The school holidays are definitely peak periods to travel, so make sure you book your trip well in advance.

I’ve boiled it down into the main areas to take into account when planning a family ski holiday.

Where to stay and play

First thing to consider is where to stay. This really depends on your budget, age of children and ability levels. Below are the main options for a snow experience in New South Wales:

• Charlotte Pass – More intimate than the larger resorts, Charlotte Pass is open to a limited number of guests so skiers are guaranteed short lift lines. There are both beginner and advanced level runs.
• Selwyn Snowfields – This family operated resort is fantastic for first timers. Activities include ski runs, tobogganing, snow play, snowboarding, snow tubing, just to name a few. There’s a café and hire gear available on-snow, however no accommodation is available so this needs to be sourced in the surrounding towns.
• Thredbo – Thredbo has a lot to offer in terms of skiing slopes and other snow fun, from snow play for kids to tobogganing. There’s also an indoor leisure centre with a 50-metre pool, gym and child care centre.
• Perisher – Perisher and its surrounding villages make up the largest alpine resort in the southern hemisphere, so if you’re looking for everything in one place, it’s a great option. The five terrain parks are varied so all ability levels are catered for.
• Jindabyne and Kosciusko National Park – These areas are popular spots to stay outside the main ski resorts. It’s the more affordable option and you can make the trip to a ski resort each day by car in under an hour

We enjoyed Perisher last time we visited the Australian ski fields. There was plenty of beautiful snow coverage and it was a great experience for our children, then aged from 4-10. Tobogganing and building a snowman were the highlights.