Introduction to the NSW Snowy Mountains region
In NSW there are 2 major ski resorts: Thredbo and Perisher-Blue (Perisher for short), both are near the NSW town of Jindabyne, 463km south-west of Sydney. Thredbo is 35km from Jindabyne along the "Alpine Way". Perisher is 33km from Jindabyne along "Kosciuszko Rd". Perisher-Blue comprises 4 areas: Perisher, Smiggins Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. You can park in Thredbo for free indefinitely, but if you drive to Perisher you can only park from 7am-7pm. You cannot leave your car in Perisher or Smiggins overnight.
Thredbo Resort and Village
Thredbo is widely regarded as Australia's best ski resort. It has Australia's biggest vertical drop of 672 metres (1365m - 2037m), tree runs as well as open areas, and a true alpine village. Thredbo also boasts the biggest snowmaking system in the Southern Hemisphere (other resort's snowmaking is trivial by comparison), they can even open vast areas with no natural snowfall at all (ie: 2km long runs).
Despite only having 14 lifts, they are far longer and faster than at other ski resorts, so the real uphill lifting capacity is the best in the country. Queues are shorter here than at other resorts - you spend more time on the slopes and less time in queues and in lines.
Thredbo Village has over 5,000 commercial beds but it is a small place - if you are wearing shoes you can walk from the centre (or the slopes) to the furthest point in about 4-5 minutes, but there is a free shuttle bus system (they run in circles every 5 minutes or so) so you do not have to walk far when carrying your equipment and wearing your ski/board boots.
Booking Restrictions
From late June to early September, almost all Thredbo accommodations will only accept bookings as follows: 2 or 7 nights arriving on a Friday, or, 5 or 7 nights arriving on a Sunday. The reason for this is that snow accommodations get little business outside of winter, so they heavily rely on 100% occupancy during this period. Most people like to book 2 night weekends and 5 night "midweeks". So, for example, if an accommodation accepts a 3 night weekend booking, then they are left with 4 nights that are very difficult to sell.
National Parks & Wildlife (NPWS) Entry Fees
If you drive to drive to Thredbo or Perisher you have to pay this outrageous NSW Government tax yourself to enter the National Park. It is $27 per-car per 24-hour period (or part-thereof), or $190 for an car's annual pass. You pay at the entry gate on the road. Inspectors are rampant and there is a 99% change you will get fined $300 if you do not have valid a permit on your car.
Snow Chains
If you take a 2WD car to the snowfields you will need to carry snow chains. These are available for rent at the Thredbo resort.
Book your Thredbo Accommodation with Ski Kaos, and we'd be delighted to help you rent snow chains.
