A checklist of things to know before skiing in Thredbo

A charming village life, epic all-night parties and intermediate-skewed slopes make skiing in Thredbo a winter holiday favourite.

What makes cashing in your annual leave for a visit to this NSW ski resort worth it? A long list of things spanning family-friendly thrills, unforgettable bar hopping and a diverse mix of accommodation options. To help set up a hitch-free adventure, we’ve jotted down the key things to wrap your head around before skiing Thredbo.

1. If you’re after apres, skiing Thredbo is your best bet

The Apres Bar is a top spot for live music and a buzzing atmosphere. (Image: Destination NSW)

While none of Australia’s alpine resorts can quite compare to the scenes in Europe, Thredbo is the country’s best contender. It’s home to impressive bars, some of which double as clubs, and caters to a wide array of punters.

Make a beeline for local stalwart, the Après Bar in The Denman Hotel. It’s home to live music and a huge range of spirits including when-in-Rome schnapps. The party kicks off at 4pm from Thursday to Monday.

Fancy a more relaxed post-piste drink in the company of an open fireplace, while relaxing on leather sofas and armchairs overlooking snow-capped mountains? Visit Lounge Bar in the Thredbo Alpine Hotel from 3pm on Fridays. While cocktails, including a dedicated menu of martinis, roll out ahead of the weekend, the central meeting spot is a magnet for groups (including exhausted little ones) who laze around those charred logs to defrost in style.

There’s also Kareela Hutte , a winter-only ski-in, ski-out venue dishing up exquisite a la carte meals and premium cocktails, beer and wine. For tasty home-made Glühwein over live music, try the bar at the River Inn hotel near Friday Flat with its spacious, atmospheric deck. From November to April, the bar morphs into a Gin Lab, serving up gin flights that present homemade creations utilising quality gin found throughout the state. Think chocolate, raspberry, blood orange, chilli and more.

2. There’s plenty of life beyond skiing in Thredbo

The Snowies Alpine Walk is one of Thredbo’s popular adventures. (Image: Destination NSW)

The name is synonymous with hot chocolate and snowball fights, but Thredbo is alive during summer when nature lovers seize the opportunity to explore without throwing on all the layers. Featuring spectacular hikes, including the Snowies Alpine Walk and others that scale Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest mountain, and the fun-for-all-ages Thredbo Mountain Bike Park, the town offers good clean adventure all year round. While puffy jackets might have your name on them this year, future holiday temptation of the warm weather variety will likely prove tempting.

3. A free shuttle bus helps you get around

Thredbo shuttle bus — Take a shuttle bus to explore Thredbo fuss-free. (Image: Destination NSW)

While Thredbo is small in scale compared to other Aussie ski resorts, it’s not a walking town. It’s naturally hilly and getting to restaurants and bars from your accommodation will require far too much effort, particularly with heavy gear in tow. The solution? A complimentary shuttle bus that carts visitors right around the village. Four routes run regularly with multiple drop-off and pick-up points, making your exploration cheaper, faster and much toastier. Check out the shuttle map via Thredbo’s website to help plan your days.

4. You’ll need to pay a Kosciuszko National Park entry fee

Factor a small national park fee into your budget as all vehicles that enter Thredbo will need to cough up. When you’re driving in via either Alpine Way or Kosciuszko Road, you’ll come across a vehicle entry station which charges $29 per vehicle per day. If you’re visiting outside of June to October, the price drops to $17 per vehicle per day. If you’re eyeballing multiple Thredbo skiing trips in one year, consider an annual pass, available for purchase via the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services’ website .

5. Travellers with access needs are welcome

Disability parking, sealed paths and accessible facilities can all be found in Thredbo. The car parks are well marked along Friday Drive, both in front of the Thredbo Alpine Hotel and within the accommodation’s car park, plus there’s more priority parking at the Thredbo Leisure Centre and the Friday Flat car park. As for safe walking routes, visitors with access needs can navigate the length of Friday Drive with ease. Accessible bathrooms can be found along Friday Drive, within the village square, at the Valley Terminal located at the base of the Kosciuszko Chairlift, at the Thredbo Leisure Centre and at Friday Flat.

6. It’s a mecca for intermediate skiers and snowboarders

skiing in Thredbo — Thredbo offers a good balance of enjoyable and challenging terrain. (Image: Destination NSW)

Nearly 70 per cent of the pistes at Thredbo can be classed as intermediate, which makes it a great spot for those who’ve already dabbled in skiing or snowboarding and are looking to level up their proficiency.

There’s the wicked Supertrail, which rings in at 3.7 glorious kilometres, as well as the longest vertical drop of all the Aussie ski resorts clocking in at 672 metres. Beyond its 50+ kilometres of slopes, Thredbo also has five terrain parks, complete with jumps and rails to help you get the most out of skiing in Thredbo.

7. It’s big on amenities despite its size

food and drinks at Cascades Restaurant, Thredbo — Sample local favourites from the seasonal menu at Cascades Restaurant.

If the amount of skiable terrain available is a deciding factor for your next holiday on the slopes, then Perisher does have an edge over Thredbo. After all, you can’t argue with the fact that Perisher is the largest ski area not only in Australia, but the Southern Hemisphere.

However, when it comes to atmosphere and amenities, Perisher doesn’t hold a candle to Thredbo. Skiing in Thredbo comes with a tiny but mighty village at the base of the mountains so chasing that après life is a cinch.

A diverse variety of hotels, lodges, chalets and apartments glitter with mountain views and there’s also dining experiences tapping into all your favourite international cuisines.

A collection of stores to pick up last-minute ski garb is also on hand. The range of ski-in/ski-out properties available is, however, more limited than at other ski resorts across NSW and Victoria but the ones Thredbo does contain deliver magical snow-scattered experiences every season.

8. It’s one of only two Australian ski fields included on the Ikon Pass

Keen skiers looking to get more bang for their buck (and ski across the globe) should investigate the Ikon Pass which covers both Thredbo and Mount Buller in Australia.

Internationally, the multi-resort multi-day pass grants access to more than 60 ski resorts across Europe, the USA, South America and Canada, plus Japan’s Niseko United and Arai Mountain Resort, and New Zealand’s Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt.

9. Yes, you can bring the kids

The Family Flare Run is an unforgettable event for kids and adults alike. (Image: Destination NSW)

With a string of dedicated ski programs catering to those aged anywhere from three up to 17, it’s fair to say Thredbo is a family-friendly resort. And if you feel like your little one needs extra special attention, private ‘It’s All About Me’ lessons for children aged from two to four, plus private lessons for those aged five and over, are on the table.

Lift passes are also heavily discounted for children with rates increasing incrementally up until 21 years of age. Patient mums and dads can also take to the slopes with the kids — Friday Flat is perfect for beginners, though critics may caution that the snow at the base of the mountain has a tendency to verge towards slushy. Regardless, its easy-going slopes are made for youngsters.

The kids’ action doesn’t stop there. There are truckloads of kid-focused activities for families skiing Thredbo. Every Thursday, as dusk falls, the resort stages its Family Flare Run and there are school holiday Snow Festivals that include movie nights, fire pit S’mores making, face painting, trampoline sessions and more.

10. It’s home to Australia’s only alpine Gondola

A scenic adventure in itself, Thredbo’s Merritts Gondola is an eight-person, fully enclosed Euro-style cable car that travels from the base of the village, right near the Kosciuszko Chairlift, to Merritts Mountain House at the base of the Cruiser area, in just six minutes.

It’s fast and warm, making the six-minute journey up the stunning powder-laced hill completely cosy, recharging and breathtaking. And again, it’s a fabulous kid-friendly activity as there’s an unofficial yet spacious patch of powder right when you step off the Gondola that begs for children to build a snowman or throw a few balls at their parents.

When the chill gets the better of you all, pop back on the Gondola for a quick return to Village life. How convenient.

11. If you don’t have gear, you can rent just about everything

Kits from top skiing brands can be easily loaned. (Image: Destination NSW)

If skiing is more of a once-every-few-years type of holiday, you don’t need to pour money into sourcing an entire kit before you go. All the flashy sporting brands including Rossignol, Nitro and Burton can be loaned through a rental package right at the base of the mountains, which is also going to cut your luggage size down dramatically.

Choose from clothing or equipment packages and let the team size you up for the perfect fits and thrills. There are also discounts to be snapped up if you book the packages with your lift passes prior to skiing Thredbo.

Plus, two ground-level chairlift locations situated next to car parks and accommodation, are fitted with lockers to make changing in and out of your chic on-mountain ‘fit extremely convenient.

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best things to do in Thredbo

Warmer days call for slowing down and relaxing in nature. Discover why The Tweed is the ultimate destination to do just that.

As the end of the year draws near, the need for rest and restoration grows ever more prominent. For many, that means heading into nature – and there’s plenty of science to back up the benefits of doing so. It quite literally makes us happier as it reduces stress hormones, lowers our blood pressure and more. And what better place to lean into this feel-good effect than during summer in The Tweed (in the Northern Rivers region of NSW)? Blending sparkling beaches, riverside towns and hinterland villages, this area has nature covered, while also offering top activities and dining options.

And of course, pack your SPF. We Are Feel Good Inc’s Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that keeps your skin hydrated and shielded, thanks to nourishing Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. But it’s also helping preserve the natural beauty around you on your Tweed vacation, thanks to 30 per cent ocean waste packaging.

Discover eight experiences that make The Tweed the perfect place for summer.

1. Underwater worlds

two people swimming after turtle on the tweed — Get a chance to swim with the locals.

There’s something about the ocean that calls to us as humans, and what’s below the surface is even more magical.

Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (not to mention an abundance of other marine life) all use the protected waters around Cook Island, near Fingal Head, as their foraging ground, making it the perfect place to dive and snorkel to spot these adorable creatures.

Join Cooly Eco Adventures on a guided snorkelling tour that combines unforgettable turtle encounters with an inspiring look into marine conservation.

2. Farm-to-table dining

table spread at Potager restaurant — Treat your taste buds at Potager. (Image: Cara Sophie)

Respecting the land and nature also means appreciating its abundance of food. From farm-to-table cafes and boutique breweries to river cruises and restaurants championing local produce, dining around The Tweed often means engaging with the best local producers.

The award-winning Potager Restaurant , part of The Hinterland Collection , is the perfect example; beginning life as a kitchen garden, the passion to champion local producers is woven into every dish. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked from the garden or sourced from other local producers, the seafood comes from the Northern Rivers, and meat is sourced from ethical local producers. Even the cocktail list features local distillers.

Extend your stay with a night (or several) at boutique on-site accommodation, Potager House . This French-inspired country four-bedroom retreat boasts stunning views of the surrounding hills and nearby ocean, as well as a large pool, outdoor entertaining area and infrared sauna.

3. Water wellness

Waterguru Mindfulness in the Mangroves summer on the tweed — Find mindfulness in mangroves. (Image: Matt Johnson)

You’ll find mindfulness while floating around the mangroves of Kingscliff’s Cudgen Creek at any time, but Watersports Guru offers an immersive experience to help guests do so with more intent. Join a 90-minute guided session on a stand-up paddleboard to reconnect with nature and relax through breathwork, gentle movement and sensory awareness.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, Watersports Guru also offer Kayak fishing adventures or join a Sea Turtle Odyssey experience.

4. Restorative seaside stays

woman relaxing in spa at Halcyon Wellness, halcyon house — Unwind at Halcyon Wellness.

The Tweed encourages locals and visitors alike to slow down. To really indulge, a seaside stay is a must. Halcyon House has understood the assignment, blending a wellness philosophy centred on balance and self-discovery with luxurious surrounds. Stay in one of 22 rooms and suites (each individually designed by eclectic interior designer Anna Spiro) right on the beachfront. Book restorative treatments at the onsite spa, Halcyon Wellness, relax by the pool, dine at the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant and just let The Tweed work its magic.

While Blue Water Motel offers a relaxed coastal escape, just steps from Kingscliff Beach. Settle in stylish rooms, recently restyled by Jason Grant, nodding to the cool of Kingscliff with a fun retro vibe. Hire a bike from reception to explore the surrounding area.

5. Tasty drops

The owners at Husk Farm Distillery aren’t just about creating high-quality rum: they’re also farmers themselves. In fact, they create one of the world’s only single estate, farm-to-bottle spirits. Join a Farm to Bottle tour to discover the sustainable ‘full circle’ distilling practices used here, and even get hands-on with your own cane knife to help harvest and juice your own stalk of cane. And, of course, a welcome drink plus complimentary tastings along the way.

6. Rail trail adventures

Exploring the rolling green slopes and historic towns of the 24-kilometre Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of the best ways to connect with the region’s lush hinterland and interesting heritage. In this section of the trail, discover the area’s railway history at heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, and traverse by 18 railway bridges and through two railway tunnels.

Linking vibrant towns and villages with the larger hub of Murwillumbah, this section of the trail is covered in asphalt or compacted gravel, making it accessible for all ages and abilities, from prams to adaptive bikes.

7. Linger longer

surfer at fingal heads the tweed — Enjoy beachside locations, like Fingal Heads.

Linger longer at one of the seven idyllic beach, river and creekside locations of Tweed Holiday Parks – including at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff Beach, Hastings Point and Pottsville South. All just steps from the water’s edge, they make the ideal base to unwind, or head out for exploration of The Tweed. Choose from luxury waterfront cabins, accessible cabins, surfari tents (yes, they are basically glamping tents) or spacious sites for caravans, motorhomes and campervans or tents.

Find your feel-good summer in The Tweed at visitthetweed.com.au .