Skip to Content

News

Home>Weather News>Should I go to the snow this weekend?

Search Icon
Anthony Sharwood, 10 Jun 2021, 9:11 PM UTC

Should I go to the snow this weekend?

Should I go to the snow this weekend?

It's the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend this weekend (in all states except WA and QLD), which always means the start of the ski season in NSW and Victoria. But is it worth going?

Each week in the 2021 season, Weatherzone will dish up a quick quide to help you decide whether to load up the car and make a last-minute dash to the snowfields. We'll also offer our pick of the hills, plus a few other handy tips.

Of course, Weatherzone already has a dedicated snow page full of snow forecasts and other info, but this is about adding a bit of knowledge from a dedicated snow enthusiast who has skied every resort in Australia.

Image: The Road Runner quad, which will be open this weekend, is the one you can see in the distance crossing the bridge over the road. Source: Hotham Resort.

So is there skiable snow this long weekend?

You betcha! Especially in NSW so we'll head there first.

New South Wales

NSW got the best of the snowfalls this week, as it always tends to do with easterly systems. Up to 70 centimeters of snow fell at both Perisher and Thredbo.

  • Perisher will have at least 10 lifts open in both Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes, servicing a range of intermediate and beginner terain. Snow report here.
  • Thredbo will also have runs for beginners and intermediate skiers, with The Cruiser, High Noon and Friday Flat areas all open and pumping, serviced by six lifts including the sleek new Merritts Gondola. Snow report here.
  • The smaller resort of Charlotte Pass is also opening on the QBLW this year, which it hasn't done in the past. Check the snow report here to see which which lifts will be spinning.

Our pick: Perisher. How can you go past the juicy footage shown below?

VICTORIA

OK, so it's a bit trickier in Victoria for two obvious reasons: Firstly, Victoria missed out on some of this week's snow. Secondly and most seriously, due to the Covid outbeak, Melburnians are still banned from travelling into regional Victoria.

If, however, you're already in regional Victoria, what are your pospects of getting in a few turns this weekend?

  • There's no official word from Falls Creek yet, but locals say there should be a couple of lifts spining, including Towers for skiing. The resort did a lot of snowmaking on that particular run last week before this week's rain and snow mix that left the resort of with about a 20-centimetre snow base. Snow report here.
  • There's no official word on the Hotham website, however the resort announced on Facebook on Thursday that they'll have the Summit area for beginners, and the Road Runner quad for intermediate skiing, on a base of about 25 centimetres. Stay updated with conditions here.
  • Mt Buller should have limisted beginner skiing on snomaking snow only, due to rain washing away the natural snow that fell earlier this week. More info here.
  • Mt Baw Baw should also have limited beginner skiing, also on snowmaking snow only. More info here.

Our pick: Laps on the Road Runner quad chair at Mt Hotham should give experienced ski legs the best start to the season, not to mention the most scenic views.

Note to media: You are welcome to republish text from the above news article as direct quotes from Weatherzone. When doing so, please reference www.weatherzone.com.au in the credit.