How Our Resorts Are Taking On The World
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday April 18, 1988
AUSTRALIA's snowfields are gearing up for a bumper season. "We're on the world circuit now," says Ian Talbot, publisher of Powderhound Magazine. "Thredbo is comparable to any overseas skiing resort.
"Our prices have never been so competitive: it now costs less to ski in Australia than in New Zealand."
Expanded snow-making has been the most significant development in 1988, improving chances for a season that could last from June till early October.
Thredbo, Perisher, Blue Cow, Falls Creek and Mt Buller now make artificial snow. The greatest difference should be felt at Thredbo.
"We've doubled our snow-making to 55ha including the beginners' area," said Jane Nicholas, of the Thredbo Resort.
Experienced skiers, however, point out that adding several runs of artificial snow does not solve the problem of inadequate snow cover, as it concentrates all the skiers on a few runs, making conditions congested.
Knowing that artificial snow can be created during the times when snowfall is usually poor will encourage more people to ski in the low season. Doing this saves money: skiing in the high season can almost double your costs. If you have a choice, avoid school holidays which are usually crowded.
Most lodges stay low-season until July 2 or 3, the start of NSW school holidays, but some, like The Station and Guthega Lodge, stay low until July 10 or maintain mid-season prices until July 17. Selecting such lodges will save money.
Although snow-making will improve chances of skiing early in the season, experts say that most skiers book too early, risking poor snow.
Says Len Murray: "Snow in Australia is most reliable at the end of the season. As an added bonus, spring days are warmer, the slopes less crowded and costs are less."
Nick Elliott, managing director of Perisher/Smiggins Ski Resorts, agrees: "Last year our season lasted till October 10, and we ran our lifts till 5.30pm."
Having decided when to go, the next question is which snowfield to choose. Your level of expertise will be the main consideration. For beginners, Mt Selwyn near Kiandra offers ideal conditions: a farm-run operation with reasonable costs, gentle terrain and all facilities. Perisher/Smiggins suits the average Australian skier, says Len Murray: "Smiggins is almost entirely for beginners while Perisher offers good intermediate skiing." For advanced skiers, Thredbo, Mt Buller and Mt Hotham provide a higher percentage of challenging slopes.
Having decided when and where to ski, the next decision is how to get there. If driving, check what precautions you should take. Travelling by coach not only relieves you of driving in difficult conditions, but also provides you with instant company. Flying gives you more time on the slopes: by taking an early morning flight, you have almost a day's skiing ahead of you. Air New South Wales has lower cost off-peak fares for stays of five days or more if you leave Sydney after midday and depart from Cooma before midday.
Note, however, that to take advantage of this deal, you lose the benefit of an entire day's skiing on the day you arrive and leave.
There are more skiing packages available this year than ever before, and the one you choose will depend on your budget, mode of transport, and requirements. You can buy all-inclusive packages that include transport, ski hire, lessons, lift tickets, accommodation and food, lift and lesson packages, accommodation modules, or any combinations of these.
By hiring your equipment before you leave, you save time and ensure that you get exactly what you want, but then you're paying for several days' extra hire. Ski Australia has a 40-page brochure filled with useful tips and packages to resort in New South Wales and Victoria. Alpine Tours, Value Tours and World Travel Headquarters all organise skiing holidays in Australia.
The Sydney Snow Centre, which organises the Ski Australia packages, has an advisory centre. Throughout the season you can call it for up-to-date information on every aspect of skiing. From now until September, its "open house" will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5.30 until 7.30 when you'll be able to see ski videos and meet other skiers over drinks. Ring 2618088 for details.
When you're scanning the packages you'll notice that the closer to the snow the accommodation is, the more it costs. But many skiers maintain that it's worth paying more to stay close to the snow because travelling to and from the snowfields every day is a hassle and a waste of time.
Also, the cheapest packages are early in the season, which carries a risk of poor conditions. Some packages mention a "snow guarantee". Check what that actually means: guarantees apply on certain properties only, for certain dates. They don't mean that if the snow is poor you'll automatically get your money back.
Skiing involves some risks, so don't forget to take out holiday insurance. Comprehensive Holiday Insurance have a ski policy that covers accidents, cancellation or loss of baggage. $27 will insure you for 8 days for up to$200,000 personal liability in case you injure another skier. It also covers you for $5,000 in case of accident and $3,000 in case of cancellation.
NSW PACKAGES
THREDBO: Generally accepted as Australia's top skiing resort, with exciting runs and a charming Alpine village atmosphere, Thredbo this year is twice the mountain according to developers. "We've spent $22 million on the mountain in the past year," explains Thredbo Resort's Jane Nicholas. "The main aggravation here was that it was no good for beginners who had to get to the top of the mountain to reach the easier slopes, a daunting prospect. Now we've built a beginners' area at the base of the mountain, with a graded 12 per cent slope."Other impressive improvements at Thredbo include a new base area called Friday Flat, with parking for 700 cars and 40 coaches, plus restaurants, ski-hire centre and information office, doubled snow-making capacity which gives Thredbo the biggest snow-making capacity in the Southern Hemisphere, and two new quad chairlifts one of which is a low-speed chair to service the new beginners' area.
From June 4 until July 3 and from September 10 until October 10, learn-to-ski packages at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel offer good value, but remember, this resort is relatively expensive. For $650 per person, the package includes six nights bed and breakfast on a twin-share basis, two dinners, five-day lift and lesson packages, and six days of ski hire. For those with skis, this package costs $600.
Value Tours suggests a seven-night package at the Black Bear Inn. Recently renovated, close to the chairlifts, and featuring Austrian musicians two evenings a week, this inn costs from $315 in June, September and October, to$650 in the high season in July. This is based on a twin-share basis and includes breakfast. Lift and 2 1/2-hour-lesson packages can be added to all accommodation packages. They cost from $65 per adult for a two-day ticket on the beginners' squad, to $265 for five days on all lifts.
A five-night midweek package at the Punchinello family-style lodge, costs from $279 per person in June and September to $489 in between. This price includes dinner, bed and breakfast, and ski hire. Although most units sleep four to five people, couples who book early may get the double room!
Alpine Tours is offering two new Skier Improvement Tours this year for skiers between 18 and 35. Departing on June 18 and September 3, these are five-day mid-week coach packages which accommodate a group of 44 at the Snowy Valley Motel in Jindabyne, and on top of dinner, bed and breakfast, include a five-day lift ticket at Thredbo, with four hours skiing tuition and seminars each day. This package, which includes daily transport to and from the snowfields, costs $698 per person. Ski hire costs $35 extra.
PERISHER/SMIGGINS: At Perisher, 30 lifts link over 100km of runs and snow-making covers four beginners' lifts. Access to Perisher has improved with the recent opening of the Skitube. Skiers can park their cars at Bullocks Flat and take the 12 minute underground railway to Perisher.
Until July 4, and after September 4, four major hotels - Smiggins, Sundeck, Valley Inn and the Man from Snowy River - offer excellent packages. For $440 per person, you get five nights bed and breakfast, the use of all lifts and a two-hour beginners' lesson every day. Packages operate Sunday to Friday on a multi-share basis.
For a more luxurious holiday, the small exclusive Perisher Valley Hotel charges $300 per person per day for dinner, bed and breakfast regardless of season. This five-star hotel which accommodates up to 50 guests offers 24-hour room service and chefs from the Dorchester.
You can combine your accommodation package with a beginners pre-paid package which gives you the use of 30 lifts and 10 hours lessons for $170 for beginners, or $210 for advanced. To take the pressure off parents, there's a special kids' package for $180 which covers five days supervision, lessons, lifts, a hot lunch and entertainment for six hours a day. World Travel Headquarters packages holidays for the Perisher/Smiggins Resort.
JINDABYNE: Jindabyne's proximity to five ski resorts Thredbo, Perisher/Smiggins, Blue Cow and Guthega, gives skiers great flexibility. Staying here and buying two-and three-day packages for different snowfields, you can ski at several resorts in one week. Accommodation in Jindabyne is plentiful and reasonable but you have to weigh this up against the inconvenience of daily travelling. In heavy snowfalls, the road becomes very slow and congested: the Skitube is the best solution. Return fare costs $10. Buying Skitube tickets ahead eliminates waiting in queues.
The biggest accommodation complex in Jindabyne is The Station which offers a lot of apres-ski action, and motel or lodge-style accommodation for 1,200 skiers. Tariff includes full hot breakfast, three-course dinner, serviced rooms and transport by Skitube. Special five-day midweek packages cost from$366 per person, for five to six sharing. This includes dinner bed and breakfast, skitube, ski and boot hire, Perisher/Smiggins lifts and daily two-hour beginners' lessons.
For details of 30 apartments and a variety of lodges and motels in Jindabyne, see Snow Scene's Ski Australia brochure.
BLUE COW: For the first time this year, this resort will be fully operational. The slopes are ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers. Blue Cow has snow-making equipment, four new high-speed quad lifts and a large ski school including one for children. Unlike other resorts, their lift pass is interchangeable. There is no accommodation here so skiers must stay at Jindabyne or Perisher but the Skitube makes access fast and easy.
GUTHEGA: Beginners who stay at Guthega Lodge between June 13 and 17, will receive 4 two-hour ski lessons free. The Sydney Snow Centre's snow guarantee applies to this package. Rates for this period start from $338 per person which includes use of lifts. $288 for children under 15. Peak season rates rise to $598.
CHARLOTTE'S PASS: The oldest and most isolated ski resort in NSW, this is close to Mt Kosciusko and gets the heaviest snowfalls. Its remote location and 1930s Chalet Hotel give it a special charm. Ten kilometres from Perisher, the village can only be reached by oversnow transport. Most slopes are suited to beginners and intermediate skiers. There are five lifts including a triple chair. A seven-night package at the Chalet with breakfast and dinner costs from $450 per person, with two to six sharing. High season packages go up to$790.
SPONAR'S CHALET: Halfway between Jindabyne and Perisher/Smiggins, Sponar's Chalet gives skiers the opportunity to try various snowfields. A six-night package including dinner, bed and breakfast costs from $199 per adult ($145 for kids). That's on a multi-share basis in early June. Later in the season they charge $429. Private rooms range from $299 to $575.
MT SELWYN: In the northern end of Kosciusko National Park, this is considered the perfect place to introduce kids to skiing, with skiing facilities conveniently close to the car park, wide and gentle slopes and an excellent children's program. Packages at Adaminaby Country Club Hotel and San Michele include the use of all ski lifts.
VICTORIAN PACKAGES
East West Airlines flies to Albury, from where you can travel by coach or rented car to Falls Creek, Mt Hotham or Mt Buller. Super Saver fares are available with special conditions.
Combined Super Saver return air fare from Sydney to Albury, combined with coach, costs $221 to and from Falls Creek; $229 to Mt Hotham. Australian Airlines's advance-purchase return fares, which can only be used in conjunction with seven-night packages, cost $222 from Sydney to Melbourne. V-Line Coach from Melbourne to Mt Buller costs $55 return.
MT HOTHAM: The highest resort in Australia, this has some of the most challenging runs with 50 per cent slopes graded as advanced. Recent developments at this small resort include the opening of the Heavenly Valley and the new Summit quads.
There's good cross-country and off-trail alpine skiing nearby. Coach connections are available to Albury and Melbourne airports.
A mid-week package at Foards, in the new Snowgums ski village at Dinner Plain 8km from Mt Hotham, costs $220 per person. That's in the off-season for five nights twin/share, no meals. Up to two children sharing their parents'unit go free. In the high season this unit costs $445.
The package includes a free shuttle bus day and night to the mountain. Five nights at the Snowbird Inn in the low season costs $340, twin-share. This includes dinner, bed and breakfast and a 50 per cent discount for children under 13 who share with parents. In the peak season, the tariff is $440 per person.
FALLS CREEK: A picturesque alpine village where you can ski right from the lodge door to the lifts, Falls Creek has good night life, and good intermediate skiing. Snow-making equipment covers four lifts. According to Lyn Gibbs, marketing manager for the resort, the new 350-seat restaurant at the top of Halley's Comet chairlift, will be open by June.
A seven-night package at Feathertop Lodge, from which you can ski down to the lifts, costs $350 per person, twin-share, from June 11 to 18. This includes dinner, bed and breakfast. In peak season, it rises to $650. Add to that a seven-day prepaid lift and lesson package, $245 to $298 depending on the season. Lift alone costs $204. There are family discounts in the low seasons.
MT BULLER: Only three hours away from Melbourne, Mt Buller is a well-developed and exciting mountain, according to Len Murray. Says Susie Rogers, the resort's PR and marketing manager: "We have the most extensive lift capacity in Victoria, catering for all grades of skiers."
The Burnt Hut Spur, a restaurant complex, had been built at the top of the Horse Hill access Gondola/Chairlift. Twenty-four ski lifts service the runs, able to move 36,000 skiers per hour. With over 7,000 beds on the mountain and more off the mountain, Mt Buller is the biggest ski resort in Victoria.
Special packages for Mt Buller include various family ski plans, like the five-day package valid between July 1 and September 4, where children are supervised for four hours a day while parents ski.
The on-mountain package costs from $455 per day and includes accommodation and breakfast at Alpine Retreat, lift and lesson tickets, ski hire and oversnow transport to and from the lodge. A September spring holiday package costs from $330 per day per family. The Ultimate Ski Weekpackage, valid from July until September, offers seven nights at the Breathtaker Ski Lodge where you can ski to and from your front door from $159 per day. This includes a seven-day lift pass, and seven one-hour private lessons. Beginners week, August 1 to 5, costs from $110 per day.
Allaround Travel Services has a wide range of ski holidays at Mt Buller. Its toll-free number is (008) 331238.
It says that skiing is the most fun you can have standing up: 1988 might be the year to give it a go!
WHEN TO GO
June 13 to 17: Good time to learn to ski.
June 18 to July 10: Victorian holidays.
July 1 to 17: NSW holidays.
July 17 to August 28: Peak season. Midweek is less crowded than weekends.
August 28 to Sept 11: Less crowded.
September 16 to October 3: Victorian holidays. Late season skiing often very good.
September 23 to October 9: NSW holidays.
September 30: Official end of season, but season sometimes continues until October 9.
© 1988 Sydney Morning Herald
