Australia
The Country
The Kiandra Snowshoe Club in Australia lays joint claim to the title "world's oldest ski club" with a Norwegian contender; although the title may be academic, as the Kiandra Snowshoe Clubs founder members were probably Norwegian immigrants anyway, as it is they who are credited with bringing skiing to Australia in 1861 during the gold rush. Since then Australians, along with New Zealanders have re-exported their skiing talents world-wide, it's a rare ski school in the world's top resorts hat doesn't employ at least one antipodean ski teacher.
Most of the country's ski areas today are in New South Wales and Victoria, home to the country's highest peaks, as well as most of its population. There has been heavy investment in resort development in recent years. The ski centres range from enthusiastic club fields to modern developments following the North American model of self-contained complexes with modern lift systems, all amenities on site and the opportunity for condominium ownership.
The world's first indoor snowdome (arguably), Mount theBarton, opened in Australia in 1987 and several of the world's pioneering 'indoor snow' manufacturing businesses are also Australian. Most resorts offer a good mix of accommodation from basic to high calibre. There's skiing here when 98% of the world's resorts are shut down through "lack of snow" but It Is a long trek to most of the resorts with few ski centres near major population centres.
Resorts in Australia
Ben LomondHeight: 1,420m
Tasmania's only serious ski centre is reached via a spectacular drive up 'Jacobs Ladder', snow ch...
Falls Creek
Height: 1,500m
One of Australia's major resorts and the first to install a high-speed detachable quad chair in t...
Mount Hotham
Height: 1,750m
The highest resort in Victoria and thus one of the most snow-sure. Hotham is characterised by wor...
Mt Buller
Height: 1,600m
Boasting the largest lift system, most marked runs, most slope-side beds, most snow-groomers and ...
Perisher
Height: 1,605m
Created in 1995 from the merger and lift-linking of Perisher, Blue Cow, Smiggins And Guthega this...
Selwyn Snowfields
Height: 1,492m
Located in one of the world's earliest downhill skiing areas, the historic gold mining region of ...
Thredbo
Height: 1,365m
A year-round holiday destination with some of the country's longest and steepest trails, and hous...