Essential Travel Ski Guides

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Travel to Perisher Blue with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Perisher Blue is one of Australia’s largest ski resorts, with a massive 3,076 acres of skiable terrain spread over seven stunning peaks, including the popular Guthega, Blue Cow and Smiggin Holes. Its popularity lies in the variety of its runs and the sheer range of après-ski and lodging options, making it one of the country’s premier ski resorts.

A generous number of ski resorts can be found throughout the Perisher Blue area, with ski-in ski-out accommodation found at Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. Dining options are located at all four base villages, while other amenities include numerous shops, ski hire, a popular ski school, medical centre, childcare facilities and a great variety of bars, bistros and cafés.

The bulk of the resort’s runs are aimed at intermediate skiers, but a good number of beginner and expert trails are also on offer, all served by a total of 50 chairlifts. There are over 60 miles of marked cross country trails, while snowboarders can enjoy the four terrain parks and two half pipes.

Perisher Blue ski resort is home to a full range of accommodation options ranging from luxury ski resorts and chalets to a variety of lodges to suit all budgets. Many resorts boast ski-in ski-out access, placing you right in the thick of the action. Restaurants, pubs and bars can be found throughout the valley and with live entertainment and other activities occurring nightly during the ski season, you can rest assured there’ll be something to do after dark. And for those who can’t get enough, night skiing is offered several times per week.

With the huge number of runs and variety of terrain found at Perisher Blue ski resort, you may not feel inclined to go anywhere else. Even so, Thredbo is just up the road for even more choice of runs, while the more adventurous can board a Snow Cat for the oversnow trip to the less crowded Charlotte Pass.

The ski season runs from June through to the beginning of October, although snow cover during the first and last week of the season can be patchy and may not cover the ski resort area entirely. For this reason, these periods are the cheapest times to visit. It is possible to drive to Perisher Blue, although the popular ski tube, with secure overnight parking, is a convenient means of transportation to Perisher Blue.

Skiing in Perisher Blue

Perisher Blue is one of Australia’s most popular skiing destinations due to its expansive area and huge number of runs spread over seven mountain peaks. Located in the beautiful Snowy Mountains, it is a stunning 20-mile drive from the lively town of Jindabyne.

The number of ski runs can initially seem overwhelming, while the variety of terrain ensures there’s a multitude of trails to suit everyone, with 22 per cent designated as beginner runs, 60 per cent as intermediate and 18 per cent as advanced. Access to the slopes is provided by 50 lifts with a capacity of over 50,000 skiers per hour. The longest run is around two miles long, with an overall vertical drop of 1,165 feet. Four terrain parks and two half pipes keep snowboarders entertained, while there are also over 62 miles of groomed cross country trails to explore.

People don’t just come to Perisher Blue for skiing; the resort has earned a reputation as being the nightlife hub of the mountains, with numerous pubs and bars spread throughout the valley offering nightly live entertainment and friendly hospitality. A generous splattering of cafés, kiosks and licensed restaurants means you never have to walk very far for a meal.

All the services and facilities you’ll ever need are at your fingertips to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable skiing experience at Perisher Blue. Newsagents, chemists, souvenir and clothing shops can be found at the Perisher Centre, while all four base villages are home to a good variety of lodging options. Childcare and ski hire facilities, and a renowned ski and snowboard school are also on hand.

The official ski season runs from June until early October, with the best months for skiing being July and August. The ski tube is a popular option for getting to Perisher Blue, with overnight security parking available at the station. Coach packages from Sydney and Canberra are also popular and as a result the slopes are usually packed on weekends.

Transportation to Perisher Blue

Perisher Blue is well positioned to take advantage of the ski tube, which ferries skiers up from Bullocks Flat, while it is also possible to drive all the way to the resort itself. Taking advantage of the former means you don’t have to pay for park fees or chain hire.

Perisher Blue is a scenic six-hour drive from Sydney, taking you through Canberra, Cooma and Jindabyne, from where take you the Kosciusko road for the final 20 miles stretch to the resort. Note that Perisher Valley does not offer overnight parking, except at a selected number of lodges, while Guthega offers a number of limited overnight spaces. A free shuttle service operates between Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes.

The Skitube Alpine Railway is perhaps the most popular form of transportation to the slopes and on-snow accommodation. Trains leave from Bullocks Flat, a 12-mile drive from Jindabyne, with ample overnight secure parking available.

Snowy Mountains Airport at Cooma services daily flights during the ski season, with express shuttles and car hire available for transfers to the slopes. Canberra Airport offers convenient connections with international flights arriving at Sydney and Melbourne, and also offers a number of transfer options up to Perisher Blue.

Coach packages from Sydney and Canberra are extremely popular, which means the slopes can get crowded on weekends. There are express buses to the slopes leaving Canberra, Cooma and Jindabyne.

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