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The world’s first rotating Snowtunnel is coming to Australia

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
An all-new Aussie invention is bringing year-round snow Down Under.

Despite boasting plenty of world-class ski resorts, Australia’s snow season typically only lasts three to four months each year. And while a winter road trip certainly has its charms, many Aussies still prefer the more enticing slopes of New Zealand and Japan.

But now, an elite team of action sport entrepreneurs is hoping to change that. After more than 20 years of work, the Australian start-up has unveiled plans to open the world’s first Snowtunnel Park in Melbourne – with a never-before-seen attraction at its heart.

Introducing Snowtunnel Park

Snowtunnel Park in Melbourne, Victoria
A pilot site for the Suntunnel will open in Melbourne later this year.

Catering to all ages and ability levels, Snowtunnel Park is set to become the ultimate winter destination – and you won’t have to wait for the seasons to change to visit. The world-class facility will operate year-round, pumping out more than 900 cubic metres of fresh white snow every day just beyond the city limits of Melbourne’s CBD.

There’s nothing artificial about it, either. Using a cutting-edge system created in partnership with leading tech firms, including TechnoAlpin and WSP, this winter wonderland is made from only water and air.

“Growing up in Australia, we all know how inconsistent each snow season can be. Our mission is to unlock the magic of snow and ignite a passion for alpine experiences for everyone all year round," says Scott Kessler, CEO and co-founder of Snowtunnel Parks.

Snowtunnel Park in Melbourne, Victoria
The first official Snowtunnel Park is scheduled to launch in 2027.

The park will feature a range of graded downhill slopes, an alpine play zone for family-friendly activities and modern lounge area complete with fireplace, plus a variety of food and beverage offerings. There will also be a dedicated progression program for everyone from beginners to experts, all guided by professional ski and snowboard instructors.

But its biggest drawcard? The all-new patented Snowtunnel – a colossal rotating tunnel spanning over 600 square metres – roughly the length of an average outdoor ski run. Designed to provide a constantly rideable surface, the 12.5-metre-tall structure features variable speed controls to suit all abilities.

The Snowtunnel
The Snowtunnel has been described as an “endless mountain" by its creators.

The brainchild of Scott Kessler (CEO), Daniel Portelli (COO) and inventor Darren Visser, the Snowtunnel was founded and designed right here in Australia. Aiming to bring the “magic of the mountains" into everyday life, Visser engineered their first prototype during the 2000s.

The team later secured patents to safeguard the design, giving them time to refine and perfect their creation. By 2022, Snowtunnel Parks was officially established and its first commercial concepts were underway. Now in 2026, this once-radical concept is coming to life.

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AI Prompt

Is this the future of snow sports?

The Snowtunnel
The rotating Snowtunnel mirrors the length of an average outdoor ski run.

Since its inception, the Snowtunnel has attracted global interest, with a range of international brands expressing both excitement and support. Early investment rounds proved successful, resulting in further proof-of-concept prototypes.

In another major milestone, the team has now secured a location for its global headquarters and pilot showcase site, just 10 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. Future locations in Sydney and Brisbane are also under discussion, alongside possible expansions into the UK, Europe and beyond.

Snowtunnel Parks map
Plans for international expansion are already gathering momentum.

“The interest we’ve seen from around the world since our reveal has been overwhelming," says COO and co-founder, Daniel Portelli. “By establishing our Global HQ and first showcase here, we are providing a permanent stage to bring this Australian innovation to the world."

Scheduled to open later this year, the pilot site will finally bridge the gap between innovation and implementation. In the coming months, it will serve as a showcase hub to demonstrate the technology’s commercial and operational power to potential partners, investors and even the public. By 2027, it will officially open as the world’s first complete Snowtunnel Park attraction.

But that’s not all. Tapping into the growing demand for passion-driven travel experiences, the company is also recruiting an exclusive Test Rider Crew. This lucky group of skiers and snowboarders will be among the first in the world to experience the Snowtunnel – before it becomes a global sensation.

The timeline at a glance

  • 2000s: First Snowtunnel prototype built and patents secured
  • 2022: Snowtunnel Parks launches as a business
  • 2023: Second Snowtunnel prototype designed and built
  • 2025: Construction of the first official Snowtunnel commences
  • 2026: Melbourne chosen as Snowtunnel headquarters, pilot site and launch location
  • 2027: First Snowtunnel Park attraction scheduled to open in Melbourne
  • 2028 and beyond: Sydney and Brisbane parks underway, potential international expansion begins
Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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This luxe trawler tour is redefining Victoria’s seafood experience

    Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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    Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington, like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

    We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

    A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

    inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes
    Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours. While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

    holding Portarlington mussels
    See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

    As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

    The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

    blue mussels off Portarlington
    Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

    Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

    Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli
    Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

    “Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

    a hand holding a Portarlington mussel
    Mussels are a sustainable food.

    Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

    But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

    guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard
    Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.