Skiing in Australia: regions, winter and ski resorts

• Australia’s winter falls in the calendar months of June to August.
• The Australian Alps in the south of the country contain ski resorts.
• Perisher is in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales.
• Falls Creek is in the High Country of Victoria.
• Perisher combines alpine ski areas with marked cross-country trails.
• Falls Creek offers downhill skiing and a cross-country network starting at the Nordic Bowl.
• The Kangaroo Hoppet is an annual cross-country race at Falls Creek.

For visitors travelling from Europe, the Australian ski season falls at a different time of year: winter usually runs from June to August. Australia is a large country with varied climate zones. Many well-known ski resorts are in the Australian Alps in the southeast. Two resorts in different states show how the areas vary. The Snowy Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park are in New South Wales. Perisher, a resort made up of four linked areas, is located there. Ski and snowboard trails connect its sectors, and marked cross-country trails are also available.

Travel to the resort can include the Skitube from Bullocks Flat. The station is at the foot of the area; the train first reaches Perisher Valley and then continues to Blue Cow. Farther south, Falls Creek lies in Victoria’s High Country. The resort is both an alpine destination and a base for Nordic skiing. Downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing occupy different parts of the same mountain area. Its cross-country network starts at the Nordic Bowl and extends onto the Bogong High Plains. Within Victoria, visitors can therefore find both groomed downhill runs and extensive cross-country trails.

Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing differ in equipment and movement. On downhill terrain, lifts and pistes are central; on trails, skiers travel under their own power across flatter or rolling ground. Perisher and Falls Creek offer both forms, but have different geographic layouts and points of emphasis. Falls Creek also hosts the Kangaroo Hoppet, an annual cross-country event with several distances. The race leaves the Nordic Bowl and reaches the high plateau.

A ski trip to Australia is above all a journey into the country’s southern highlands. When choosing an area, it helps to decide first between downhill and cross-country skiing, and between New South Wales and Victoria. That distinction helps match accommodation, access and the preferred winter sport to a specific destination. Learn more about Perisher and Falls Creek.