Blog

Snow conditions in Australia

Australian snow season typically lasts from June through October. The unpredictability of the weather in this particular part of the world has created the need for artificial snow making and maintenance of it during the winter. Now well equipped, the ski resorts can offer their visitors exceptional skiing conditions and accommodations.

 

English: View from outside Blue Cow Terminal t...

Image via Wikipedia

Below you will find the list of most popular resorts which accommodate downhill and cross country skiing:

  1. Perisher Blue located in New South Wales is the largest skiing center in Australia as it combines four separate villages into one resort covering the area of 4.6 square miles. The resort is accessible by underground railway or by road. Eighteen percent of trails is suitable for advanced skiers and sixty percent is appropriate for intermediate snow enthusiasts. Skiable area is estimated at over 3000 acres and the snowfall is ranged within medium percentage. The snow is maintained by artificial snow making throughout the season. Both downhill skiing and cross country skiing are allowed. Passes, tickets and accommodation can be booked online well in advance.
  2. Mount Hotham located in Victoria is the second highest resort in Australia. The resort contains 1.2 square miles of skiing area and is now holding the record of the highest annual snowfall for the past ten years. Forty percent of the trails are dedicated to advanced skiers and another forty to intermediately skilled visitors. With its 72 challenging runs and 13 lifts the resort is one of the most popular ski centers in Australia. Accomodations can be reserved in the near- by Hatham Village online or in person while visiting.
  3. Ben Lomond Mountain is located in Tasmania and it offers alpine skiing with its superb downhill runs. Less visited it provides exceptional year-round experience for tourists, hikers and skiers alike. Comfortable accommodations can be arranged at the local lodges providing easy and quick access to the trails. Medium sized Ben Lomond Mountain offer 99 acres of terrain and is best suited for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Presently there is no cross country skiing in this location. Snowmaking is implemented often as the climate doesn’t produce excessive snowfalls.

Snow conditions and lift reports are always available at all resorts as well as trail status and grooming. The reports are updated several times per hour and are always accurate and informative. Snow conditions will vary at each location and are largely dependent on time of the year. For more information please see the link here:

Enhanced by Zemanta

History Of Skiing In Australia

Selwyn traces its origins to nearby Kiandra, w...

Image via Wikipedia

The wintertime sport and high country recreational activity of skiing in Australia, began in 1861 on the Kiandra goldfields. This was the fervent period of the Kiandra gold rush, and when Norwegian prospectors first introduced the concept of skiing to Australians. Originally known as snow shoe riding, skiing gained popularity and the then Kiandra Snow Shoe Club, now known as the Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club, was established. The Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club is located in the Perisher valley in New South Wales, and is the longest, non-stop, operational ski club in the world. It’s documented that this Australian ski club conducted the first and highly organized ski race competitions in the history of the sport. The oldest and longest running interclub ski competition is the Balmain Cup. The Balmain brothers ran a bus service in the Snowy Mountains and donated the cup in 1939. Before the invention of lifts, the race was held at Kiandra, Mt. Franklin and Cambramurra. Participants were required to climb to the mountain top with skins on their skis, complete the run, then climb back to the top for s repeat performance. The race today consists of slalom, giant slalom, a cross country run, and snowboard giant slalom. Ski equipment in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s were somewhat primitive and cumbersome when compared to today’s standards. However members of the Kiandra club developed a short broad ski called the “Kiandra Kick-in”, specifically used for downhill racing in the years between 1861 and 1863. Standard gear at the time consisted of two wooden planks that were smoothed on the underside for ease of gliding, tapered tips and leather bindings to hold a shoe or boot in place . Two sticks with woven baskets on the ends to keep from sinking into the snow, served as poles. Ski clothes consisted of baggy wool trousers and knitted sweaters, often adorned with fashionable wooden buttons. The oldest and highest ski country is located in New South Wales, although formidable alpine ski resorts are also found in Tasmania, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, during winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

Christine Anu Highlights the Snowy Mountains of Music Festival

The fourth annual Snowy Mountains of Music Festival kicks off at Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, Australia on June 8, 2012. Produced in partnership with Perisher Ski Resort, the four day event marks the beginning of the Australian ski season and is home to ten indoor live music venues and over 100 concerts which will feature a range of musical styles from all over Australia and the world.

The event is headed by famed Illawarra Folk Festival artistic director and veteran Australian musician Dave De Santi, who has organized another stellar bill featuring an eclectic mix of folk, acoustic and roots music. The festival also features poetry, spoken word, dance and yarnspinning events.
This year’s gala will be headlined by Australia’s own Christine Anu, Ash Grunwald, The Sunny Cowgirls, Scottish folk songwriter Eric Bogle and the famed indigenous orchestra Afro Mandiko.

 

English: From the summit of Guthega, July 2011...

Image via Wikipedia

Snowy Mountains of Music will also feature the unique stylings of Doc Jones and the Lechery Orchestra, blues rock favorites from Heath Cullen and The 45 as well as Lilli Pang, The April Maze and The Go Set.

Daytime concerts feature a kid’s stage highlighted by the Jindabyne Central School Band and renowned children’s singer/songwriter Brett Campbell. In addition to arts and crafts workshops, the festival also features daily poetry breakfasts.

While a world of music and arts events will warm festival goers inside, skiing, snowboarding and tubing are also staples of the event.

Packages are available for purchase which includes a festival pass for all events in addition to accommodation at the Perisher resort and access to their twelve kilometers of ski fields which are accessible by 49 ski lifts and rack railway.

The concerts main events will take place at the 600 seat capacity Smiggins Hotel auditorium. Other venues include Bazil’s Bar, the Sundeck Hotel and Guthega Alpine Inn. A free shuttle bus operates throughout several concert event venues and hotels.

Tickets for the Snowy Mountains of Music Festival can be purchased from the reception desks at the Smiggins Hotel, Sundeck Hotel, The Man From Snowy River Hotel and Perisher Valley Hotel. Festival passes are available at discount rates with advanced purchase. Children under 14 years of age can attended the event free of charge with a paying adult. Day passes are available for families with young children.

Passes can also be purchased online at the Snowy Mountains of Music official website, located at http://www.snowymountainsofmusic.com.au

Enhanced by Zemanta

Enquire Now

Click here to make an Online Booking Enquiry

Call us on 1300 332 637

Enter your number and we'll call you back:

My Fieldset