Perisher is Australia’s largest and most popular ski resort. It is also one of the largest resorts in the Southern Hemisphere.
It has an extensive all-rounder terrain with many snow activities to keep the entire family entertained. The resort is so massive that you get to experience an extended alpine experience and virtually never run out of things to do.
Not only is it the most extensive ski resort in Australia, but Perisher Ski Resort is also large by international standards. With its inception as Perisher Blue, four individual ski areas merged to form the massive snow domain. These four ski areas include
The skiable area is so massive that it is a challenge to traverse the whole ski field. For this reason, there is a whopping 47 ski lifts to help thrill-seekers access the slopes. What’s more, the four ski resorts are interconnected and can be accessed using a single convenient pass.
Perisher Ski Resort has a wide range of terrain and runs for all levels including great facilities for beginners. It also has many accommodation options for individuals, groups, and families on any budget. You’ll also find ample parking if you plan on staying overnight at the resort.
The resort’s terrain is highly dynamic and ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and levels. However, the terrain is more suited to intermediate riders.
In 2015, Vail Resorts, the largest ski resort management company in the world, acquired Perisher. This means that the resort is part of the Epic Pass which grants skiers access to other Vail-owned resorts in the world.
Every year, perisher hosts the popular Peak Music Festival, where dazzling firework displays light up the sky every Tuesday and Saturday night.
Perisher Ski Field is estimated to be open
Between the dates of June 11th to October 3rd, for the 2022 season.
Ski life Services at Perisher open as early as 8:45 AM and last to close is at 5:00 PM.
The four constituent resorts that make up Perisher avail 3,076 acres of skiable terrain. To put this into perspective, this area is 4 times the size of Mt. Buller and Mt. Hotham. It is also a whopping 25 times larger than Charlotte Pass and Selwyn.
Perisher has some of the best terrain parks in Australia, loved by skiers and snowboarders of varying abilities. Its distinctive snow eucalyptus trees grace the landscape, making for serene scenic views.
Much of the resort’s slopes are spread out horizontally, only rising a modest 355 meters vertical.
The Perisher snow domain spreads across seven mountain peaks, with each peak and associated area offering a unique brand of snow sports. These peaks are:
Perisher Ski Resort’s dynamic terrain is highly varied and has the following stats:
The interlinked ski areas are also popular with different types of skiers and snowboarders. For example:
There are many well-groomed and maintained runs at the resort. Perisher Ski Resort's terrain has a higher proportion of blue runs, which are more favorable to novices and intermediates.
For more confident beginners, there are plenty of steeper slopes at Pretty Valley, accessed through the double chairlifts. The terrain is also more friendly and with long and gentle runs where newbies can practice their curves and turns.
It also has expert areas with a few black runs that experts love. In addition, the resort offers some of Australia's top terrain parks, which are favored by skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. There are also great opportunities for tree skiing and access to several off-piste and backcountry opportunities.
Perisher’s terrain parks are particularly famous in Australia as they are the training sites for many Olympic and X Games skiers and snowboarders.
The Perisher Ski Resort has the most extensive lift network of all Australia’s ski fields. It has 47 lifts that provide access to the slopes spread across the seven mountain peaks. The following lift types provide access to the resort's slopes:
Getting a Perisher Ski Pass is simple. You just need to visit their website and order your pass online.
Like most ski resorts, you will still need to check in at the base camp to get your pass card which you’ll use to scan at the lifts.
You can also order Season passes, Night Ski Passes, and a Ski and Train package from Bullock Flats.
Visit the Perisher Website to order yours today.
Curious to know what the snow is like today at the Perisher Ski Resort?
The following is a live Snow Cam feed of the slopes at Perisher. We’ve curated the best views to show you the current snow conditions from around the resort.
You’ll also be able to get a detailed weather report of snow depth or whether there will be sunshine when you hit the slopes.
The resort has the most reliable snow conditions of all Australian ski resorts. The snow is also relatively well-maintained as it has a high base elevation most of the slopes face southwards.
Perisher Ski resort receives a cumulative seasonal average snowfall of about 4 meters, with a peak seasonal snow depth of 1.9 meters. Great snow conditions peak in August, which is when they are at their best. On good days, the snow domain may experience great snow storms that deliver a decent powder dump onto the slopes.
Even though the average snowfall is modest, Perisher has invested in modern snow-making infrastructure that covers a large proportion of the slopes. In addition, the resort has an exceptional snow grooming and maintenance crew that keeps the slopes in top-notch condition throughout the skiing and snowboarding season.
In the following live graphic, you can see the current estimated snow Depth for the Perisher Ski Resort.
Keep up to date on the latest Perisher weather.
If you are stopping past Canberra on the way to Perisher or if the weather isn't quite right there are the following options to fill in the day.
Perisher ski resort has a great village with various lodging and dining options. These cater to various thrill-seeker needs and budgets.
While the predominant accommodation is ski lodges, you’ll also find hotels and apartments on Perisher Mountain. There are also ski club and commercial lodges. Perisher is a great destination if you’re traveling with your family, as it has a ski school and childcare facilities.
Although it’s a smaller village (sometimes regarded as a collection of lodges), the Smiggin Holes village has several lodges and food joints. Some private lodges also offer ski-in/ski-out access. You can also stay at the mountain’s base at the iconic Smiggins Hotel. If you’re traveling with your family, you can stay slopeside at the Smuggler’s Lodge, which offers great deluxe services.
The other place that offers ski-in/ski-out accommodation is Guthega Inn which is about 80 kilometers from Guthega Village.
If you do not wish to stay on the slopes, you may stay at Lake Crackenback Resort, where you can also catch the ski tube.
For a greater variety of accommodation and dining options, you can try Jindabyne, located near Lake Jindabyne, about 30 minutes from the Perisher resort. At Jindabyne, you’ll find many great options to suit your budget and needs. Some great places you can stay and dine at Jindabyne include Rydges Horizons Snowy Mountains and Alpine Resort Motel.
You’ll also find more accommodation options at Cooma.
Perisher ski resort has a great village with various lodging and dining options. These cater to various thrill-seeker needs and budgets.
While the predominant accommodation is ski lodges, you’ll also find hotels and apartments on Perisher Mountain. There are also ski club and commercial lodges. Perisher is a great destination if you’re traveling with your family, as it has a ski school and childcare facilities.
Although it’s a smaller village (sometimes regarded as a collection of lodges), the Smiggin Holes village has several lodges and food joints. Some private lodges also offer ski-in/ski-out access. You can also stay at the mountain’s base at the iconic Smiggins Hotel. If you’re traveling with your family, you can stay slopeside at the Smuggler’s Lodge, which offers great deluxe services.
The other place that offers ski-in/ski-out accommodation is Guthega Inn which is about 80 kilometers from Guthega Village.
If you do not wish to stay on the slopes, you may stay at Lake Crackenback Resort, where you can also catch the ski tube.
For a greater variety of accommodation and dining options, you can try Jindabyne, located near Lake Jindabyne, about 30 minutes from the Perisher resort. At Jindabyne, you’ll find many great options to suit your budget and needs. Some great places you can stay and dine at Jindabyne include Rydges Horizons Snowy Mountains and Alpine Resort Motel.
You’ll also find more accommodation options at Cooma.
Perisher is situated in Australia’s snowy mountains in the stunning Kosciuszko National Park, in New South Wales. It is about 6 hours south of Sydney and about 6.5 hours from Melbourne. Canberra is the closest major city, about a 2.5-hour drive from the resort.
The closest international airport is the Canberra International Airport, where you’ll find an array of transfer options.
If you wish to drive yourself, note that if you wish to stay in any of the four villages, you don’t require a car. Also, remember that there is limited parking in the villages, and thus it is advisable to park at the base at Bullock Flats, then take the Skitube Railway.
If you plan to stay in the town close to the resort, your best bet is to stay overnight in Jindabyne as it is only a 30-minute drive away.
When driving in Australia’s alpine regions, the local administration requires that you carry fitting snow chains for your vehicle.
There are also bus services to take you to the resort from
The fastest way to get to the resort and avoid the icy roads is by taking the Skitube Alpine Railway. This is a Swiss-designed train that transports thrill-seekers from Bullock Flats to Perisher Resort and Mount Blue Cow. The train makes two stops and drops passengers off right on the slopes, saving you time and money. It also helps you avoid driving fuel costs, resort fees, and parking costs. Details on the Skitube can be found here you can also buy a ski pass and Skitube all in one package.
Perisher is located in Australia’s Snowy Mountains, in the southeastern end of New South Wales. It is situated between Sydney and Melbourne with Canberra towering nearby.
Perisher gets around 1.9 meters of snowfall a year with an average of 20-25 days of fresh snowfall a year. (Not Bad for Sunny Australia)
Perisher is up there with some of the best Ski Resorts in the world with 1,245 acres of Ski Area (This is really big compared to other resorts in the Sothern Hemisphere)
Yes, there is ample parking if you wish to stay overnight or for several days at the resort.
Yes, Perisher is the perfect place to learn to ski or snowboard. It has plenty of beginner runs located on gentle slopes. You’ll also find a ski school and gear rental shops.