We took a bit of a risk this year and organised a ski trip very early in the Australian Winter. Pretty risky because Australia does not always get a lot of snow for skiing and winter sports. We usually get enough up in the high country down south but it is definitely not what Australia is famous for. They had some great snow last season with the all the wild weather we had thanks to La Niña weather events but they were saying that has now finished. We only had some limited windows for holidays this years so we just thought we would give it a go, hit the road, visit a few family and friends along the way and see what happens.
We took a bit of a risk this year and organised  a ski trip very early in the Australian Winter. Pretty risky because Australia does not always get a lot of snow for skiing and winter sports. We usually get enough up in the high country down south but it is definitely not what Australia is famous for. They had some great snow last season with the all the wild weather we had thanks to La Niña weather events but they were saying that has now finished. We only had some limited windows for holidays this years so we just thought we would give it a go, hit the road, visit a few family and friends along the way and see what happens.
After a few stop overs we finally made it. We had not done any skiing for 4 years, thanks to covid and all the travel restrictions and when we first arrived it looked like we might not doing any this year either.
After a few stop overs we finally made it. We had not done any skiing for 4 years, thanks to covid and all the travel restrictions and when we first arrived it looked like we might not doing any this year either. 
We chose Perisher as it is Australia’s biggest resort and has more beginner friendly slopes with lots of facilities. When I booked I thought with all the modern snow making machines they would at least have the beginner 8 chair lift on front valley working. Unfortunately things were not looking very good at all. They had a good dump of snow two weeks before the season opened but with warm overnight temperatures not falling below zero degrees Celsius they were unable to make any artificial snow to keep it topped up.
We chose Perisher as it is Australia's biggest resort and has more beginner friendly slopes with lots of facilities. When I booked I thought with all the modern snow making machines they would at least have the beginner 8 chair lift on front valley working. Unfortunately things were not looking very good at all. They had a good dump of snow two weeks before the season opened but with warm overnight temperatures not falling below zero degrees Celsius they were unable to make any artificial snow to keep it topped up.
Without the chair lifts running we did a bit of an exploring around the Perisher Valley Village. Though it is pretty small there were a few things I had missed even after visiting the place many times before. I suppose in previous years with good snow we were always keen to get up the mountain as fast as possible.
 Without the chair lifts running we did a bit of an exploring around the Perisher Valley Village. Though it is pretty small there were a few things I had missed even after visiting the place many times before. I suppose in previous years with good snow we were always keen to get up the mountain as fast as possible.
Even with the chair lifts closed there were plenty of other people around. Seems they all had the same idea as us and and were going to have a go at walking up the mountain and skiing down.
Even with the chair lifts closed there were plenty of other people around. Seems they all had the same idea as us and and were going to have a go at walking up the mountain and skiing down.
It felt pretty weird walking up in ski boots with what looked like enough snow still around for everything to be functioning normally but I believe the snow depth around the entry and exits to the chair lifts made them unsafe to use. There was a decent amount of snow to do a ski run down the middle of the trails but it was hard work walking up.
It felt pretty weird walking up in ski boots with what looked like enough snow still around for everything to be functioning normally but I believe the snow depth around the entry and exits to the chair lifts made them unsafe to use. There was a decent amount of snow to do a ski run down the middle of the trails but it was hard work walking up.
The bare patches at the top, but with some promising clouds starting to build.
The bare patches at the top, but with some promising clouds starting to build.
Overnight and the next day things changed dramatically. Twenty centimeters of fresh snow had fallen. The drive up the mountain from our Jindabyne village accommodation was like somebody had hit a switch and it had changed from summer to winter.
Overnight and the next day things changed dramatically. Twenty centimeters of fresh snow had fallen. The drive up the mountain from our Jindabyne village accommodation was like somebody had hit a switch and it had changed from summer to winter.
The snow cover trees make it feel like some sort of winter wonder land.
The snow cover trees make it feel like some sort of winter wonder land.
A snow plough clearing and salting the roads.
A snow plough clearing and salting the roads.
Luckily we had a 4wd vehicle and did not need to put snow chains on.
Luckily we had a 4wd vehicle and did not need to put snow chains on.
The eight person chair lift was now working so no more walking up the slopes.
The eight person chair lift was now working so no more walking up the slopes.
Even though it was not that cold by world wide standards for us Queenslanders it was freezing.
Even though it was not that cold by world wide standards for us Queenslanders it was freezing.
Nothing like a hot pizza and coffee to warm up afterwards
Nothing like a hot pizza and coffee to warm up afterwards
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for reading.