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

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon. — Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

Aerial view of Wilderluxe. — Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe. — Sleep beneath the stars.

Style and character

When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe. — Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake. — Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

A person kayaking through serene waters. — Paddle into peace.

The details

A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

The interiors of the glamping tent. — Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.