How to do the snow on the cheap in New South Wales

Charlotte Pass is Australia’s highest ski resort and sits right in the middle of the Snowy Mountains. At 1765m above sea level, the mountain receives some of the most consistent snowfall across the snow season (from June to October) which means less man-made snow and more of the real fluffy stuff. To save some money when visiting Charlotte Pass, the resort offers resort packages which include lift tickets, group lessons, ski hire and return transport from Perisher Valley. For single daytrippers, on Tuesdays, they've got a '2 Buck Tuesday' deal this year, where if one person pays $149 for a Daytripper ticket,  the second person just has to pay $2. In the same crazy vein, if you head to Charlotte for a day trip on a Thursday, you can score a $75 day ticket pass, including a full mountain lift pass, return oversnow transport and a nice hot lunch. To get in for these incredible deals, you just have to travel in and out on the same day – but for a $2 ski experience, that feels kind of worth it.

Perisher is huge – there’s no denying it. It’s the largest snow resort operating in the Southern Hemisphere and combines Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Mount Blue Cow, Guthega, the Station and the Skitube Alpine Railway. As a result, there’s a huge number of lifts and some pretty reliable snow every season. If you book your Perisher stay early, you can score up to 30 per cent off lift tickets, lessons and ski hire. Check out Perisher’s deal page to find something suitable.

The Snowy Mountains village of Thredbo sits around 500km south of Sydney, which will take you about five and a half hours to get there. The ski resort is home to the country’s longest ski and snowboard runs – the longest is the Village Trail which clocks in at 5km. Booking early is key; you can score discounts on lift passes when you purchase at least a fortnight in advance. They also throw a pretty mean party – the resort has a stacked event schedule, but if you're a cost-conscious student, you'll want to schedule your trip for Uni Week. From July 22 - 26 2024, tertiary students can save more than 30 per cent on a lift pass, and blow the extra cash on the slopeside parties. Be sure to check out the Thredbo special deals page before your trip. 

Hiding in the Brindabella mountain range (located smack bang on the border of NSW and ACT) is the longest alpine slide in the Southern Hemisphere – Corin Forest Alpine Resort. During the colder months, snow machines make this a guaranteed slope for budding skiers and snowboarders – or just those who want to frolic in the snow. For safety reasons, the ski area is limited to 150 people, so it’s a nice alternative to the more popular resorts. There are discounts for group bookings, so fire up thr group chat and make your reservation over here.

Selwyn Snow Resort is located in the northernmost part of the Snowy Mountains and it’s one of the most family-friendly ski resorts in New South Wales. There are ten lifts and runs for all kinds of skiers or snowboarders, whether you’ve never seen snow before or you’re Olympic-level epic. Check out Selwyn’s bookings page before you hit the slopes to find some good early bird and 'Super Saver Season' mountain passes – according to their website, pre-booking will always save you money, so it's worth planning ahead.