Snowy Mountains Overview

While skiers and snowboarders make the Snowies their winter playground, the warmer months attract swarms of hikers to the nation’s highest mountains. Kosciuszko National Park, home of magnificent Mt. Kosciuszko (2228m), Australia’s tallest peak, covers most of this area. The Snowy Mountains Hwy. and the Alpine Way ramble past boulder-strewn countryside where the skiing industry is king, though compared to other mountain ranges around the world, the runs are shorter and less challenging. Conditions vary wildly by mountain: Thredbo is a black diamond paradise with challenging advanced slopes; Perisher, despite its ominous-sounding name, is the largest and most popular park; Charlotte’s Pass is an elite luxury resort with the highest altitudes and most natural snow; and Mount Selwyn offers great deals and family-friendly slopes. Thredbo is the only area open in the summer, and it provides an adventurous wonderland for hikers and mountain bikers. Naturally, the price of accommodations in the Snowy Mountains jumps astronomically in the winter, so be sure to check rates before deciding where to stay.