30 October 2023
10 mins Read
The Snowy Mountains village is the home of Australia’s longest ski runs but there’s plenty more going for Thredbo than its snow-dusted slopes. From mountain biking to fly-fishing, incredible dining experiences and magical camping, the list of things to do in Thredbo knows no bounds.
Thredbo’s number one calling card. Keen skiers and snowboarders have long been drawn to this alpine village and its slopes.
Visit in ski season to carve up the slopes at Thredbo.
Home to more than 50 ski runs suitable for beginners, intermediates, and the advanced, plus a terrain park complete with jumps and rails, and various flare runs and fireworks displays, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
The Kids Flare Run in Thredbo is one of many kid-friendly activities.
But activity isn’t just relegated to the groomed pistes. There are plenty of things to do in Thredbo’s backcountry too, with several local operators offering specialised tours. You can even give snowkiting a go.
Thredbo’s rugged terrain transforms into the Thredbo Mountain Bike Park during the warmer months, where dirt ribbons weave down the mountainside among the rocky scrub, all accessible by chairlift.
Ride the lift to Thredbo’s many mountain bike trails.
The linked network of cross-country trails has something to suit every skill level, from absolute beginner to consummate bikeaholic.
When the weather heats up Thredbo’s rugged terrain transforms into the Thredbo Mountain Bike Park.
There’s even a skills park, clinics available for all ages, and MTB programs for little ones.
Kids can make new friends in the MTB program.
The Kosciuszko National Park is littered with scenic hiking trails, best accessed in late spring and summer, when wildflowers speckle the mountainside, local wildlife surfaces to feast on the scrub, and glacial lakes emerge from their icy winter forms. The most beautiful Thredbo camping spots are worth consideration in summer, too.
Hike past pristine glacial lakes in Kosciuszko National Park.
Trace the contours of the Snowy Mountains on the Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk, which leads to the top of Australia’s highest peak. Wander leisurely through a forest with a mossy creek on the Meadows Nature Track or pack a picnic and take to the Pallaibo walking track, shaded by dry eucalypt forests where you’ll spy waterfalls and maybe even chance upon platypuses, wedge-tailed eagles and crimson rosellas.
Kosciuszko National Park is overflowing with scenic hiking trails.
Explore the so-called ‘rooftop of Australia’ from a different perspective: by scaling and rappelling down the granite tors above Thredbo. Everyone from kids aged four years old and upward, through to skilled climbers and abseilers can take to the region’s rock walls with two local operators offering full- and half-day adventures: K7 Adventures and the Snowy Mountain Climbing School. Those who’ve never abseiled before and are feeling a touch cautious can try their hand at the adventure sport at Thredbo Leisure Centre’s indoor climbing wall.
Explore Thredbo from a different perspective.
Those in the market for a little ‘soft’ adventure, should try their hand at snowshoeing. You’ll soak up the serenity of the Australian Main Range’s winter wonderland, yet still work up a sweat. Half- and full-day tours are available in the region, with a maximum group size of five.
Knowledgeable guides will take guests into the backcountry during Thredbo Snowshoe Tours.
Breathe in the fresh alpine air at Australia’s highest golf course, the Thredbo Golf Club. This scenic nine-hole course runs alongside the Thredbo River, around the base of the mountain, and is surrounded by wildflowers and lined with eucalyptus trees.
Tee off alongside the scenic Thredbo River.
You might even spy some native wildlife as you’re teeing off. The season typically starts in November, once winter’s frost has loosened its icy grasp.
Cast a line and hook some wild trout on the winding Thredbo River; some local catches have even weighed in at nearly five kilograms. And newbies needn’t feel deterred from getting in on the action.
Cast a line in the winding Thredbo River.
The team at Clearwater Fly Fishing Guides offers lessons, as well as full- and half-day excursions for those keen to try, or just for those who need a refresher.
In the mood for something a bit different? Make a beeline for the Alpine Bobsled. Zooming down the 700-metre steel track that winds its way down the mountainside, you’ll gorge on views of snow gum forests and the local mountainscapes.
Feel the adrenaline rush down a 700-metre steel track at Alpine Bobsled.
Almost anyone can ride it: kids under nine, or less than 130 centimetres tall, just need to double up with an adult. Riders control their speed using the sled’s inbuilt brake, so you can choose to hurtle down or take it all in at a leisurely pace.
Pack the skateboard (or scooter, or bike) and make for the Thredbo Skate Park, on the Village Green.
Situated next to public barbecues, picnic tables, a children’s playground and a large grassy area, it has banks, a flat rail, mini ramps and some speed bumps for practising tricks.
Practice on the mini ramps at Thredbo Skate Park.
Attracting visitors from right around the globe means catering to the pickiest of tastebuds, which is why Thredbo is crammed with authentic international cuisine and some of the most extraordinary restaurants in the country. From Eagles Nest up at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift, Australia’s highest restaurant, and Candlelight Lodge serving up European-inspired cheese fondue, to The Mad Mexican dishing up delicious traditional favourites and Cascades Restaurant nailing modern Australian fare, you could very easily spend your trip hopping between restaurants and forgetting where you are.
Immerse yourself in the greatest of outdoors during the warmer months with a stay at one of the best Thredbo camping spots. Several beautiful campgrounds, mostly dotted throughout Kosciuszko National Park, offer down-the-road access to Thredbo village and rich, barely touched alpine forest in which to lose yourself in. Sleep under the stars in camper trailers, caravans and tents before waking to the Thredbo River (perfect for tubing or some more fly-fishing), an array of walking and biking trails and pure natural magnificence.
Camp on the lush grounds of Kosciuszko National Park.
Get behind the wheel and explore the Snowy Mountains region along the endlessly impressive Kosciuszko Alpine Way, a 100-kilometre stretch that journeys from Cooma, a charming country town one-and-a-half-hour’s drive from Canberra, to Khancoban, famed for its scenic waters and gentle water sports. If you only have time to do a portion of the trip, hitting the road and heading to Jindabyne offers plenty of rewards including a pit stop at Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery and incredible views of the looming mountains.
Let an expert do all the hard work and share some of the ski resort’s rich history with a Discovery Tour of Thredbo. The small-group tours, which don’t go over seven people at a time, run for three hours during the winter months and require participants to be either intermediate or advanced in the way of skiing or snowboarding. Guides also promise to reveal the mountain’s secrets which you’d probably never even consider as you’d typically fly past them on your way down the slopes.
Go skiing and join the Discovery Tour of Thredbo.
Another highlight of the winter months, the Merritts Mountain Haus Feast is a jolly good time celebrating traditional Bavarian cuisine.
An authentic dinner is served inside Merritts Mountain House, right at the top of Merritts Gondola, and once you’re done stuffing yourself with pretzels and smoked butter, roast pork knuckle, crispy pork belly, sauerkraut, cured meats, apple strudel and more, you’re invited to head back down the mountain on your skis or snowboard in the dark. A truly unique and very special thing to do in Thredbo.
Never heard of it? Don’t let that deter you. Disc golf is a family-friendly sport that’s staged at the Thredbo Golf Club when powder covers the course and golfers hibernate. Eighteen holes are set up right across the nine-hole golf course and the aim is to sink it, only you’re using a flying disc and your hands rather than a tiny ball and a club. They also run the game at Friday Flat during the summer months so you can give it a try all year round.
Try disc golfing at Thredbo Golf Club.
Find your zen in the winter months with weekly yoga sessions at Thredbo Alpine Hotel. Salute the sun as the one-hour class kicks off every Wednesday at 6.30am in the Tate Room and the team provides yoga mats, bolsters, blocks and straps so you don’t need to awkwardly cram any of it into your luggage. It costs $25 per class and welcomes both beginners and experienced yogis.
Salute the sun during the winter months at Thredbo Alpine Hotel.
They’re a kid favourite, often spotted in shopping centres, and now Thredbo plays home to an alpine bungee trampoline of its own. Put a smile on their dials down at Friday Flat where you’ll spot the tramp set up from Thursday to Sunday during the winter months. You need to weigh in at 15 kilograms or more to get into the action but there are no age restrictions. Watch the little ones squeal with delight as they soar safely above the ropes, fully strapped in thanks to secure harnesses.
The perfect remedy to a long day on the slopes is a session of live music to help you let your hair down. During winter, there are plenty of spots offering a top-notch fix including the River Inn’s beer garden and Lounge Bar at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel.
Get your fill of mouth-watering food and drinks at Lounge Bar. (Image: Ben Calvert)
Stay across the ski resort’s events calendar for go-all-night music festivals featuring some of the country’s best DJs, too.
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