I tried Perisher’s brand-new women-only ski weekend – here’s what it was like

Astrologically speaking, July 29 was the luckiest day of 2026. There was a full moon in Aquarius, and something called a “Jupiter Cazimi” which, according to the astrologers I follow on Instagram, saw the planet of luck align with the sun in Leo – supercharging optimism, confidence and fresh starts, while the full moon helped clear away old baggage to make room for new opportunities. I’m not claiming to be an expert in these things, but if my recent ski trip is anything to go by, the astrologers know what’s up.

After what has been a relatively mediocre season for snow in the NSW Snowy Mountains, the night of July 28 brought with it a beautiful flurry of fresh powder, with the snow at Perisher measuring more than 80cm when we arrived. I’d signed up to trial the resort’s brand new Women’s Ski Weekend, and – having not skied for 10 years – was a little nervous about how I’d fare. But on the morning of July 30, our first morning on the slopes, my nerves evaporated as the full moon sunk behind the mountains. The sky above the gleaming white slopes was ocean blue, the winds had died down, and every person in the resort was beaming. Snow conditions aside, the days I spent in Perisher's magic bubble, under the guidance of one of the resort's incredible female coaches, were the perfect way to return to a sport I'd loved as a child. By the end of the trip, I'd totally rediscovered the joy, freedom and out-of-body thrill that had drawn me to the slopes in the first place – with seriously improved technique an added bonus.

Following a six-hour journey from Sydney (we broke ours up with an overnight stay in Tarago, a post-journey stretch at Jindabyne’s Pilates studio Centred Health and a hearty three-course dinner at the Man From Snowy River Hotel) our itinerary kicked off with a welcome breakfast at Perisher Valley Hotel's Snowgums Lobby, where we met our coach and the other members of our girl-power ski team.

Leading the coaching was Veronika Larson, a Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance Trainer who spends her northern hemisphere winters coaching in Whistler. With an intuitive understanding of the nuanced habits holding us back (or propelling us forward), Veronika was the perfect coach: warm, patient and perfectly ambitious with super on-point personalised tips. Having learnt to ski at age 30, V understands what it’s like to feel fear – and how transformative it can be to have someone believe in you. One hour in, we were flying down runs with the kind of pitch I wouldn’t have dreamt of tackling on my first day back on skis. 

Over both days, we spent around six hours on snow refining our technique across the resort's varied runs (more on that later). Designed for lower-intermediate through to advanced skiers and snowboarders, the program includes movement analysis, tailored coaching and priority lift-line access, giving us more time actually skiing and less time waiting around. Lunch is included each day, giving us the chance to swap stories and celebrate breakthroughs over stacked plates of parmi before heading back onto the mountain.

The first day wrapped up with the most blessed skiing ritual: après. Gloriously exhausted, we headed back to Snowgums Lobby Bar for a celebratory glass of Champagne. If you’re travelling alone, the format of the retreat is perfectly social – you’re grouped together with a team of women who share an interest, and there’s really nothing more bonding than flying down a mountain following someone’s tracks through glittering snow. 

The second day involved another full day of skiing under Veronika’s expert guidance: we caught the ski tube down to Blue Cow (another hub that sits within Perisher Resort, a little further down the mountain) and sailed down fresh new runs, ranging from wide open groomers to magical, tree-studded trails.

If you're looking for a solid ski experience from Sydney, Perisher is the perfect option. Around a five-and-a-half-hour drive from the city, it’s a genuinely achievable snow destination for a long winter weekend. It's also Australia's largest alpine resort, with four interconnected resort areas meaning you’ve got terrain for every ability, and new places to explore every day.

Off the mountain, there's a whole lot to keep you busy. The après scene pops (especially on Saturday nights, when the mountain is open for night-skiing) and the village is dotted with cafes, restaurants, bars and lodges serving up top-tier mountain delights (our faves are Sundeck, The Man From Snowy River and Perisher Valley Hotel). Need some TLC? Housed within The Man From Snowy River Hotel, Mountain Spa is a gem of a wellness hub – home to a series of warmly-lit treatment rooms, a hair salon, an anti-gravity yoga studio (for wildly good post-ski stretches) and a recovery suite kitted out with compression boots, crazy high-tech massage chairs and a sauna/ cold plunge room. We spent a few hours here trying out everything they have to offer, but for the most high-impact option I’d recommend booking the recovery suite: $99 will score you a two hour session of massage and contrast therapy – and the opening hours (7am - 10pm) mean you can easily fit your recovery around your journey home.

Accommodation-wise, we stayed at The Man From Snowy River Hotel and absolutely loved it: a delightfully retro, super cosy base just steps from the slopes, with a really excellent dining room (dinner is included for guests, and the three-course menu changes daily) and an adjoining pub that’s a local institution. Otherwise, short snowy trails will lead you to lots of other options. We’d suggest Marritz Hotel for its indoor swimming pool (floor-to-ceiling windows frame the slopes, a pretty magical place to swim) or Corroboree Lodge – an alpine-style lodge and bar that’s blessed with the kind of don’t-make-me-leave energy that only a beloved family-run operation can create.

In my opinion, there are few places where stepping outside your comfort zone feels quite as rewarding as the snow. One smooth run can have you grinning from ear to ear; the next can leave you questioning everything. But when you're surrounded by a group of women cheering you on rather than racing ahead, tackling the mountain  feels a whole lot less intimidating. That's the thinking behind Perisher's  Women's Ski and Snowboard Weekend: a two-day program created by women, for women, that combines expert coaching with a heap of opportunities to connect both on and off the slopes. After the  August program quickly sold out, a second weekend has now been added for September 12-13, giving more Sydneysiders the chance to sharpen their skills before the snow season winds down. The Women's Ski and Snowboard Weekend includes two full days of coaching, a welcome breakfast, lunches, Saturday afternoon Champagne and customised instruction throughout the weekend. Lift tickets are purchased separately. The August 15-16 program has already sold out, but places are currently available for the September 12-13, 2026 weekend, with 2027 dates yet to drop. Keen? You can learn more and book over here.


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