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

This affordable multi-resort pass will score you three flexible days of beginner lift access, lessons and rentals for just $499 across Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham – which works out to a very decent $167 a day. Designed for first-timers (or the very rusty), the Epic Beginner Bundle wraps everything you need into one neat, bookable package, with the freedom to spread your days across the season and resorts. There’s also a sweetener for future you: snag 20 per cent off a 2027 Epic Australia Pass or 4-Day Pass once you’re hooked. Just don’t sit on it – this one’s only available to buy until early June. Keen? You can learn more and book here. 

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 for a standard-priced 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 $89 day ticket pass, including a full mountain lift pass, return oversnow transport and a nice hot lunch (including a drink). 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 big discounts on lift tickets, lessons and ski hire. Check out Perisher’s deal page to find something suitable – the best-value deals end in early June, so you’ll want to act fast.

The Snowy Mountains village of Thredbo sits around 500 kilometres south of Sydney, a journey that takes around five and a half hours in the car. The ski resort is home to the country’s longest ski and snowboard runs – the longest is the Village Trail which clocks in at five kilometres. 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 Monday, July 20 until Friday, July 24 2026, tertiary students can snap up discounted lift passes, 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 the 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 NSW. There are 10 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.