Here’s my 2020 day-by-day California family holiday diary of what we did, where we went & how to do it!

Our one week California family holiday diary

Looking for a one week California road trip instead? Watch our YouTube California Road Trip video playlist here.

Day 1 – January 29

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No time to read? Watch our Perisher beginner guide on YouTube here!

Three years in the making, this has the most up to date locations, prices, options and information to help you prepare – and enjoy – your time in the NSW Snowy Mountains at Perisher Ski Resort!

1 – Perisher is the biggest resort in Australia

Made up of four ski areas, Perisher Valley (once known as Perisher Blue), Mount Blue Cow, Guthega and Smiggins Holes, Perisher is the biggest ski resort in Australia. Being the biggest resort comes with advantages – a large number of resources geared to first-timers and beginners. Your ski ticket covers all areas of the ski resort, which means you can ride or ski beginner runs in Perisher, then traverse over or catch the Skitube between Perisher and Mount Blue Cow and then ski beginner runs there too if you want to! There are twice as many hire centres, ski lessons, restaurants, etc….the list goes on.

2 – Perisher has Front Valley

Front Valley is the very first ski slope you see when you arrive at in Perisher, and it’s mostly beginner friendly. The base of Front Valley on the right-hand side is where the beginner snow boarding and ski lessons are held or run too. It’s as simple as walking out of the ski hire centre to your lesson meeting point. Alternatively you can jump straight onto a beginner ski lift to go and try your luck skiing down from the top!

Front Valley offers a huge area for first-timer beginners to learn in comparison to many other Australian ski resorts. This gentle ski slope is serviced by a slow loading beginner chair lift (more about the Village 8 Express Chair next) and is usually populated with skiers and snowboarders of all ages and sizes. Front Valley is a big favourite with beginners in particular, and there’s plenty of room to fall down and pick yourself up, surrounded by others doing exactly the same thing!

Some ski resorts require you to catch a lift all the way up to the top section of their resort mountain areas to where the snow is of good enough quality for their beginner ski areas. At Perisher you are already high up above the snow line, so you’re already there. This also means that the non-skiers in your party can watch a lot of the fun from below without having to buy an expensive lift ticket.

Snow guns top up the snow cover with man made snow throughout the night so that every morning, even if it hasn’t snowed, there is still good snow cover awaiting you. As an added bonus, there is also a huge ski jump constructed at Perisher Front Valley, so you can take a break and go sit at a café to watch some incredible snow boarding and ski jumping stunts whilst you relax and have a drink.

3 – The Perisher Centre has a large ski hire centre

At the base of Front Valley is the Perisher Centre, a shopping-mall type building which houses a lot of eateries, some snow gear shops, the Perisher ticket and information office, lockers and a very large and well-stocked ski hire centre. This ski hire centre has a good system which moves a lot of skiers through quickly. This means you can be in and out without delay, getting set up with the right ski hire clothing and gear that you need, and get lots of support and advice as a beginner along the way.

It’s a little more expensive than using the hire shops at Cooma and Jindabyne on the way to the snow, but if you hire your gear in Perisher then if you encounter any problems with your gear, then they can be fixed on the spot. If something breaks or doesn’t fit right then you can just pop back into the Perisher ski hire shop and change or fix it. This is a better alternative to having to pay someone to fix your ski or board bindings, or rehire the faulty gear from Perisher anyhow and then return the broken gear to wherever you hired it from – probably miles away – later. Been there, done that!

It also saves having to carry all the gear from the SkiTube or your car, which is a juggling act – especially if you have little kids. Ski gear is really heavy and awkward! In my experience, hiring on site at the Perisher Resort is definitely worth it from a convenience aspect.

4 – Perisher Ski Resort has dedicated beginner ski lifts

Sure, everywhere has some kind of beginner type ski lifts, but Perisher’s beginner ski lifts line up is pretty impressive. For starters, there are at least two magic carpets in the beginner ski lesson area (plus one at Mount Blue Cow). Magic carpets are rubber conveyor belt step-on/step off skier and boarder lifts that carry you up the beginner slopes. These are very easy to use and are very difficult to fall off, as you are already at ground level. (See how magic carpet ski lifts work in our video here). Magic carpets are great starter lifts before moving on to T-bars and chair lifts.

Once you’re feeling more confident about skiing, you can head to the Village Eight chairlift which not only automatically moves you to the right spot for loading via a small magic carpet step-on conveyor belt, the chair lift itself slows down for you to sit down safely – plus it is also slow and level to get off at the other end. These things matter when you’re a beginner. User-friendly beginner lifts are great to learn on and bolster your confidence, too. You can see what it’s like to board, ride and unload on the Perisher Front Valley beginner chair lift in our Youtube vide here.

5 – Perisher Valley has lots of ski lessons for kids and adults

Whether you’re an adult or child, there are lots of different ski lessons on offer at Perisher Valley. Group lessons and private lessons are all available for both kids and adults. For children’s ski and snow boarding lessons, helmets are compulsory. For adults, they are strongly recommended. You can come down hard on the snow, even beginner skiing!

Kids lessons go for two hours, adults snow board and ski lessons go for one hour. You can book before you go or at the Perisher services and information office when you arrive if you are lucky, but I strongly recommend booking well in advance, as even though there are lots of lessons, there is also a huge demand.

There is some child care afterwards available, but children must be toilet trained to take part in ski and boarding lessons at Perisher.

6 – You can catch the Skitube to Perisher

A big advantage that Perisher offers to those who have never visited the snow before, is the Skitube. The Skitube mountain railway cuts right through the mountain, climbing up from Bullocks Flat (located on the Thredbo road) to Perisher Valley and then Mount Bluecow.

Ski Tube tickets are expensive. Prices fluctuate depending on when you buy the tickets. The Skitube is not a cheaper way to get to Perisher, but it does have a lot of advantages, especially for beginners.

You can park your car for free short or long term at Bullocks Flat. It’s below the snowline, and although it can snow there, it doesn’t happen frequently. You can be pretty confident that snow plows will clear the road promptly if that does occur. (There can be ice on the road very early in the morning)

Your Skitube ticket does include your entrance fee into the Snowy Mountains National park (around $25 a car, which you need to pay if you drive to Perisher or Thredbo). You are not permitted to park overnight at Perisher (excepting a few ski lodges with private parking). So if you’re staying at a lodge or a hotel at Perisher, you need to either need to catch a coach or bus (not plentiful from Jindabyne – there was a trial bus in 2022 I believe) or the Skitube train.

I often choose to use the Skitube because I don’t like worrying about having to put snow chains on my car (compulsory for non-4WDs to carry in the National Park during the snow season), or having to drive in snowy conditions. That said, the Skitube does cease operating before the end of the ski season, so if you visit during the shoulder periods you may need to find another way to get to Perisher.

FUN FACT! The Skitube between Perisher Valley and Mount Blue Cow is absolutely FREE! No ticket is needed

7 – Perisher has lots of green beginner ski runs

Whilst there are beginner ski and snow board runs at all Australian ski resorts, Perisher Valley has a huge, interlinking network of green runs that you’ll love to explore. Some favourites of ours which are very long and beautiful beginner runs with a gentle slope include Pretty Valley and Pleasant Valley. There is an easy to understand sign and marker system showing beginners where they can ski safely (green runs).

You can even ski between some of the ski village centres such as Perisher Valley and Mount Blue Cow, so you can literally ski for miles once you have reached an adequate level of skiing – and that won’t take long. A day or two of lessons and most kids and adults are capable of turning on gentle slopes.

Perisher Valley really does have a huge beginner skier and beginner snow boarding advantage with the sheer volume of green runs they can offer.

8 – The Matterhorn Lodge is great Perisher accommodation for beginners

When we visit Perisher we are hosted by the Matterhorn Lodge, a beautiful on-snow Perisher accommodation ski lodge with a gentle slope down straight from the lodge’s front door to Front Valley where all the main Perisher beginner ski areas, lessons and lifts are. This means even beginners can ski from their lodging at the Matterhorn Lodge to the ski lifts and areas.

The Matterhorn Lodge accommodates all, from singles to couples, friends and groups, and is very family – and budget – friendly. They welcome children of all ages, from the tiniest baby to teenagers. The lodge is super cosy and serves delicious dinners every night – with no washing up for mum or dad to do! There’s a free laundry, drying gear room and tea and coffee station. They even have plastic toboggans for the kids borrow to slide down the surrounding snowy slopes.

Head off to the cosy lounge and bar after dinner to kick back in front of the log fire whilst the kids play on the games tables. This is a great way to unwind when you’ve been physically exhausting yourself learning the art of skiing or snow boarding!

The best thing about the Matterhorn is that you don’t have to worry about anything once you arrive, other than having a fun, relaxing stay. Matterhorn staff really look after you.

As you may be able to tell, we genuinely love staying at the Matterhorn. You can read all about our stays at the Matterhorn Lodge here or alternatively you can book your Snowy Mountains accommodation at Booking.com here

9 – Perisher has night skiing

Not the only resort to offer night skiing it’s true, but it’s super fun, just the same – and beginners are welcome. Night skiing is run under the lights on Perisher Front Valley, which is a green run beginner area.

It does get very cold skiing at night at Perisher – minus 4 to minus 7 can be common – so rug up and wear a warm, waterproof jacket if you do decide to go. If the weather is calm, you often get to see the Perisher fireworks display on the same night too!

Night skiing is usually run twice a week (Tuesday and Saturday nights) for an extra cost. Kids and Epic Pass holders can ski for free. A single Night Skiing pass in 2021 was $40 for an adult – book as far in advance as possible, as it can book up early.

10 – Should I buy an Epic Pass?

Currently, my answer would be no, you probably shouldn’t buy an Epic Pass, however I am still including it in my list, as like anything, there are advantages – and disadvantages with everything.

What are Epic Passes?

Epic Passes are basically the name for Perisher season passes for skiing and boarding. You need to buy them in advance of the ski season, and they usually go off sale around April. Epic Passes normally give unlimited access to Perisher Ski Resort Lifts (with the exception of 2020 number limiting) throughout the Australian ski season. You also get free night skiing, and ski lesson and ski hire discounts. Plus you have the option of adding on discounted Skitube season tickets.

Epic passes also include ski lift ticket access and discounts to other resorts, including two Victorian ski resorts, as well as selected ski resorts in Japan and the USA.

Should beginners buy an Epic Pass?

Epic Passes offer some significant Perisher discounts and beginner skier benefits for the reasons stated above, but in particular the 20% off ski lessons and ski hire can save a fair amount of money, in addition to ski lifts. Ski lessons can be almost as expensive as your lift tickets, if not more (you can see our video here for some price examples). But it’s important to point out that you will only save money on ski lift prices using an Epic Pass IF you are intending to ski or snow board for more than one week. This is roughly the cost of an Epic Pass.

The gamble with Epic Passes for beginners being – are you going to enjoy skiing?! Many people love skiing and snow boarding straight away. Some try it once and walk away. Therefore it’s probably best to skip buying an Epic Pass in your first year at least, until you work out if you actually like skiing and snowboarding.

Epic Pass buyer beware

Whilst Epic passes can represent great value for money normally, in the last couple of years they have created a lot of skier and snow boarder controversy due to lock downs making the resort periodically inaccessible. A promised refund for certain conditions can prove highly difficult to obtain. with slow response rates and contentious condition disagreements. With the same policy still active this year, I would recommend caution before outlaying the significant investment of thousands of dollars (as I did for my whole family) in these current unstable times – or you may find yourself losing money instead of saving it.

How we lost money buying Epic Passes

I purchased Epic passes with additional Ski Tube access for my family last year (the 2021 Australian Ski Season), and now have cause to regret it. We were only able to use our Epic Passes for one ski trip during the 2021 ski season. The remainder of the snow season we couldn’t access the Perisher ski resort due to lockdowns, both Perisher and personal, including our own local council region lockdown. Almost a year later I’m still attempting to get a refund after receiving an initial rejection from Perisher administration – and that notification came several months after my refund application. Indeed, I’m still waiting for a reply to my twice-emailed objections. It hasn’t been a seamless experience, thus far.

Have you ever been to Perisher Ski Resort, or do you plan to go one day? Tell me, or ask your questions in the comments below…

All information is correct as at April 2022 – please check the official Perisher website here for relevant, up to date information and prices.

We are frequent hosted guests at the Matterhorn Lodge at Perisher Valley. As always, all opinions remain firmly my own.

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In February of 2020 we took a trip from Sydney, Australia to the USA with Visit California to experience three different Californian destinations. We found that an incredible USA family vacation awaits where you can travel from theme parks to snow and back again to the sunny beaches of California – all within the same American state – and in the space of just one week!

Famous for its amazing beaches, theme parks and year-round warm temperatures, there’s a whole Californian winter wonderland that is just waiting to be explored! California makes a fantastic family holiday destination any time of year, but travelling during the Californian winter offers several big advantages that you may not have thought of.

Not only are there less crowds at tourist attractions and theme parks during winter, California winter holidays also happen to be less expensive due to the lower, off-peak season demand. This stretches your all-important family vacation dollar further! Year-round sunny weather means you can still have your beach holiday and add on a side trip to the mountains for some skiing too. These are just a few of the many advantages of visiting California during winter.

Watch our complete California trip in 5 minutes video!

Planes, trains and automobiles – or buses! Our California trip had it all. Watch our 5 minute video of what’s possible on an Australian family holiday to California here!

Of course there is so much more to see of California that just three locations as you can see in our video, however these particular Californian towns and cities are all stand-out holiday destinations – feature-packed with stunning sights and amazing attractions.

So without further ado, here are three amazing Californian winter holiday destinations we know you’re going to love just as much as we did!

Destination 1: Anaheim, California – home of Disneyland Resort

A family trip to California just wouldn’t be the same without visiting at The Happiest Place On Earth – Disneyland Resort!

Disneyland Resort is located in the Californian city of Anaheim, a 45 minute drive from Los Angeles.

Made up of two incredible theme parks, Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, as well as the Downtown Disney District – plus the official Disney hotels – Disneyland Resort is an essential part of any USA family holiday.

One of the best things about Disney Resort is that even if you’ve been there before, it’s constantly changing. There are always new rides being added, new entertainment to enjoy and features to see. It’s what keeps Disney fans coming back year after year!

Disneyland Park, California

Disneyland Park, California is THE Disneyland where the Disney magic was first created by Walt Disney in 1955. It’s here you’ll find all the famous, original rides – plus some fantastic new attractions, such as the new Disneyland world, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Read and watch videos of our Disneyland Park and the new Star Wars world experiences here!

Read our tips on what to see and do at Disneyland Park here!

Disney California Adventure Park

Disney California Adventure Park is an exciting theme park encompassing 8 different lands full of wonderful experiences and thrilling rides.  Some of the famous Disney rides you’ll find here are the Incredicoaster roller coaster, the iconic Mickey Mouse head Ferris wheel and Cars Land – a faithful recreation of the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

Read our tips on what to see and do at Disney California Adventure Park here!

Downtown Disney District

Downtown Disney District is a shopping, restaurant and entertainment precinct located between the two Disneyland Resort theme parks.

You don’t need a ticket to Disneyland to visit Downtown Disney, which means you can access this area whenever you like for a bit of shopping or a great meal.

With live music and entertainment as you eat, Downtown Disney is a great place to sit back and soak up the Disney atmosphere – setting the scene perfectly for all the Disney magic to come!

Cali trip tip! At Downtown Disney we recommend the Black Tap Anaheim restaurant – it’s a great place to grab a delicious American craft burger and wash it down with some of the most elaborate milk shakes you’ll ever see!

Visit Anaheim

Whilst Disneyland is a huge attraction, there’s much more to Anaheim than just Disneyland! Find out what other things there are to do and see in Anaheim, California here!

Where to stay in Anaheim

Whilst in Anaheim we stayed in the Anaheim Marriot Suites, in Garden Grove.

Located only minutes from the Disneyland Resort attractions, this elegant full-service hotel is the perfect base for your Disneyland family holiday.

Find out more about our Anaheim Marriot Suites stay here.

Destination 2: Mammoth Mountain, California

To pack even more into your California winter holiday, all you need to do – is just add snow!

Just one hour’s flight hop from LAX – or half a day’s road-trip – you’ll find California’s Mammoth Mountain ski resort.

From sun to snow holiday in just a day, it doesn’t get any easier or more convenient to enjoy the best of both worlds on your family holiday. Simply jump on a quick flight to Mammoth Lakes – and get skiing!

Mammoth Mountain ski resort

At Mammoth Mountain you’ll find a huge range of family snow fun!

The skiing at Mammoth is world-class with a huge network of ski trails and lifts to explore – plus ski lessons and great snow quality for all skiing levels.

But Mammoth isn’t just about the skiing – there’s a whole range of snow activities, traditions and fun on offer!

Read more about our adventures at Mammoth Mountain here!

Where to stay at Mammoth Mountain

Whilst at Mammoth Lakes, we stayed at The Village Lodge Mammoth – a luxurious hotel set in a beautiful village complex, boasting year-round entertainment and superior shopping and dining.

The Village also has its own direct-access gondola to the skiing trails of Mammoth Mountain. This is the perfect place to base yourself for your snow holiday at Mammoth!

You can read more about The Village Lodge hotel at Mammoth here.

Destination 3: Santa Monica

After all the winter fun of Mammoth, it was time to take advantage of that sunny Californian beach weather and head back to the coast – and gorgeous Santa Monica!

Conveniently located just 25 minute’s drive from LAX and 45 minute’s drive from the Disneyland theme parks, Santa Monica is a beautiful, family-friendly city.

It’s here you’ll find a miles of stunning sandy Californian beaches, fun entertainment and fabulous food and shopping – making it a wonderful all-round family holiday destination.

The iconic Santa Monica Pier takes pride of place on this sweeping coastline with its resident fun fair and iconic big wheel. Nestled beneath the Pier you’ll also find the Santa Monica Aquarium, plus several shops and restaurants lining the Pier boardwalk. A favourite tourist photo spot is at the Pier sign proclaiming it the “end of Route 66”, the famous American road trip route which snakes across the USA.

From year-round surfing lessons to skateboarding, or enjoying a family bike ride along the miles of paved bike paths, Santa Monica truly has something for everyone.

You can read all about our adventures in Santa Monica here.

Where to stay in Santa Monica

Whilst in Santa Monica we stayed at the stunning Shore Hotel.

The Shore Hotel is located directly opposite the famous Santa Monica Pier neon archway sign, and backs onto the main shopping precinct.

A truly green hotel, The Shore Hotel prides itself on being an eco-conscious, environmentally sustainable hotel.

You can read about our stay at the Shore Hotel here.

Book your 2021 family California holiday adventure now!

A winter California holiday truly is a very clever choice for your Australian family.

With exciting theme parks and world-class ski resorts only a short flight away from the mild winter climes of the beautiful California coast, you really do get to enjoy the best of all holiday worlds.

California is an incredibly beautiful, exciting and fun destination for the whole family. Why not book your own Californian family adventure now?

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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It would be fair to say that these goggles are SO scientifically superior in design overall, that they’re way too advanced for me to reliably talk about!  So forgive me if I borrow a little bit from the messy weekend designers themselves…

Magnetic construction

Eight powerful magnets hold the goggle lenses securely in place. They form a tightly sealed environment, eliminating any chance of gaps occurring that might cause a change in vision. The logic behind the magnet technology is not simply that they fit perfectly, but also the ability to exchange using only one hand.

The FLOAT II

The FLOAT II snow goggles lenses are spherical in appearance and available in two different colour variations: the XE2 Green Revo and the XE2 Silver.

Taking a look at the exterior, you can see the frame is a lightweight thermoplastic polyurethane which is an extremely flexible and durable materials This is covered with a cutting-edge protective and insulating foam technology. The foam is triple layered and therefore provides an exceptionally comfortable fit. While being secure, the foam enables a pleasantly light airflow to prevent the fogging of the lenses and moisture-wicking.

Accessories are included

Each pair of goggles has an assortment of additional items including: a yellow overcast lense which provides greater distinction and clarity, a microfiber bag to ensure safer scratch-free protection, a stylish MessyWeekend sticker and a hard case for safe storage and transport enabling all your hurtling-down-a-mountain needs.

ACHTON

The name ACHTON originates from the Danish arctic explorer: Achton Friis who was one of the original trailblazers on the Denmark Expedition to Northeast Greenland in the early 20th century.

In comparison to the FLOAT II, the ACHTON lenses are cylindrically shaped which provides a greatly enhanced peripheral field overview. The shape of the lenses improves the individuals’ field of view by 18% compared to the FLOAT II and most other snow goggles.

The lenses are available in three different colour variations: XE2 Green Revo, XE2 Silver and the newest update XEp photochromic.

The Float II has similar features as the ACHTON frame – covered with the same lightweight thermoplastic polyurethane foam.

All of the same exciting additional extras are provided with the ACHTON.

Further in-depth information about MW goggle lenses

Messy Weekend XE2 goggle lenses

The XE2 dual-pane lenses ensure that there is minimal space between the panes which are filled with air-pockets that provide insulation from the cold, outside air and the body heat from inside.

The lenses are made from the highest Grade 1 polycarbonate optical quality which contributes to the practicality, durability and lightweight feel of the goggles.

THE XE2 lenses offer a purple base and with a high-contrast view. These different kinds of contrast maintain a higher visibility under all circumstances meaning sight in different weather conditions is a challenge the XE2 can handle with flawless ease, especially when it comes to snow activities.

The inside of the XE2 lenses has an anti-fog coating that provides clear eye vision in wetter conditions. When combined with the ventilation system; picturesque views are promised, even when it gets a little steamy.
The outside is also coated with a nano-coating to maximize scratch resistance and a superhydrophobic coating brings valuable water repellency and in turn, an easy clean.

The Revo variation and the mirror surface coating technology were developed by NASA – it is the same technology astronauts use for solar protection – ensuring astronomical levels of protection.

Besides all the cool features they of course also block harmful blue light and cover the regular protection of full UV400 (UVA+UVB).

Messy Weekend XEp goggle lenses

The XEp lenses adapt to whatever weather conditions Mother Nature can throw at you and allow great sight on the mountain. The XEp lenses provide upgraded and enhanced versions of the same features as the XE2 lenses and therefore make them practically unbreakable.

The difference from the XE2 lenses is that the photochromic molecules included in the lenses are constantly adapting and recalibrating to light stimuli.

The photochromic molecules contain patented photochromic dyes which enable them to fully darken the lenses in under 25 seconds when introduced to powerful solar rays.

Even during that transition, a full UV400 protection can be guaranteed.

THE XEp is produced with a patented molded-in film technology that ensures perfect sight, uniformed color change and heavy weather resistance. Even with encountering a change in lighting, the tint of the goggles adapts perfectly.

Clean Oceans Initiative

We especially love that this forward-thinking European eyewear company give back to the environment with every sale.

MessyWeekend partnered with the NGO 4THEPLANET to found the project “ORIGINES.”

The initiative is determined to design a sustainable method for the clean up of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. For every pair of MessyWeekend sunglasses and snow goggles sold, 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of trash is collected.

Use our exclusive Messy Weekend discount promo code

I’m excited to let you know we have a 15% discount code for you to use to obtain a great sale price on your Messy Weekend snow goggles order! Just include the promo code   “LETSGOMUM15” at checkout!

Go to the Messy Weekend website to browse the different ski goggles range here.

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Beautiful Mammoth Lakes is a bustling little ski town with its own airport, and a whole mountain of family snow-fun!

Just an hour’s flight away from LAX, a trip to Mammoth is an easy Disneyland holiday add-on – or wonderful California winter holiday in its own right.

The surrounding scenery of Mammoth Mountain is breathtaking – huge, snowy mountains covered with majestic trees and unique wildlife. It’s not unusual to spot an American black bear wandering through the town of Mammoth Lakes!

From beach holiday to snowy mountains just doesn’t get any easier or more convenient than this!

Beginner snowboarding and skiing lessons

If you’re a beginner skier, Mammoth Mountain is a great place to learn how to ski. It’s a very easy process to hire all of your ski gear at the Mammoth Main Lodge and organise ski lessons.

Watch our Mammoth Mountain YouTube

To see what skiing Mammoth Mountain is really like, watch our YouTube video.

There are excellent beginner runs on the lower slopes of Mammoth Mountain. Mammoth ski instructors will have you and/or your children off and skiing independently  in just one day!

Family-friendly skiing

My family loved skiing Mammoth together – even late in the ski season, this ski resort offers beautiful snow conditions. With 25 lifts and 150 trails spread over 3,500 acres, you can explore to your heart’s content!

Mammoth Mountain lift queues are fast, lift attendants are friendly and helpful, and the skiing can be as easy or challenging as you choose.

I’m an intermediate skier, and my girls are now handling blue intermediate runs quite well. We started off on green beginner slopes to get our ski legs back after our break over the Australian Summer.

After a couple of easy ski runs, we were ready to head up Mammoth Mountain in the main gondola to see more of Mammoth Mountain!

Mammoth Mountain Gondola

The Mammoth Mountain Gondola is a beautiful ride. Whilst skiers use it to access the upper mountain areas, you can also go a scenic ride to enjoy the amazing views.

We loved exploring the Mammoth Mountain upper trails, and followed trail after trail of gorgeous tree-lined runs with stunning mountain views. Mammoth is a truly spectacular Californian ski resort.

Snowboard half-pipe competitions

Back down the mountain, Mammoth also features a world-class snowboard half-pipe where freestyle skiers and snowboarders Grand Prix and World Cup competitions are held. We watched an event featuring USA Olympic champions – it was great entertainment to watch their amazing gravity-defying skills!

For a bit of extra daring ski fun of your own, at the bottom of the mountain there’s a small jumps trail which is perfect for both ski and snowboarders. My girls loved trying the mini-jumps!

Disabled skiing

Mammoth Mountain also have disabled skiing programs and support. This ski resort prides themselves on being inclusive, and disabled skiing lessons are also available.

Family Snow Fun

If you’re not a skier, or are looking for more variety in your snow holiday then never fear – there’s plenty more family fun on offer!

Snowmobiles are a great snow activity you can do together. With a parent driving, pop a child on the back and you’ve got a really fun way to explore and enjoy the stunning scenery together.

Tube rides, or “Tubing” is just that – climb aboard a big inflatable tube go for an exciting slide down a gentle slope. This activity will have you and the kids laughing with delight, and is suitable for both children and adults.

Dining options at Mammoth Lakes

Skiing is a hungry business, and there are many and varied dining and eatery options at Mammoth. We sampled a range of delicious restaurants during our stay.
The Yodler is located near the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. Straight off the ski slopes, it’s the perfect place for an amazing Bavarian style lunch.

At The Village in Mammoth Lakes you’ll find the cosy Campo Mammoth, specialising in delicious wood-fired Neopolitan Pizzas.

Also in the town is Toomeys in the Village, where you can enjoy a relaxed and hearty breakfast surrounded by sport-themed decor.

The Warming Hut is another Mammoth Lakes stand-out, with it’s unique log-cabin atmosphere.

Its rustic charm is reflected in the food, which is warm, comforting – and features absolutely massive servings to keep you going all day!

If you still have energy to burn after a long day’s snow fun, be sure to spend an evening at the Mammoth Rock ‘n’ Bowl. Here you can knock down a few pins (or practically none if you’re a member of our family!) and enjoy some delicious grazing, bowling-alley-side! Be prepared for great finger food with lots of bowling-fail laughs thrown in!

Whilst it can be very hard to pull yourselves away from the culinary fare on offer in the restaurants of Mammoth, don’t miss the opportunity to experience one of the great fun American dessert traditions – gather around an outdoor fire pit to make and eat S’mores! Find out more about making S’mores at The Village Lodge here.

Where to stay at Mammoth Mountain

Whilst at Mammoth Lakes, we stayed at The Village Lodge Mammoth – a luxurious hotel set in a beautiful village complex that boasts direct gondola access to the ski slopes – plus year-round entertainment and excellent shopping and dining options. There’s even an outdoor heated pool where you can swim and relax in hot tubs surrounded by snow!

Read all about our stay at The Village Lodge at Mammoth here.

Find out more about booking your Australian family holiday to Mammoth, California at Visit California

Read all about the three exciting California destinations we visited in 2020 here!

If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider giving us a Facebook “Like” or leaving a comment below!

This article is meant to inspired travel to California once it is safe to do to. The attractions and experiences featured in this article may be temporarily unavailable due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Please consult official travel resources and individual businesses to confirm future plans.

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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Planning a ski trip to the New South Wales Ski Fields can seem a bit like an organisational nightmare – but make it super-easy on yourself by catching a ride on the Skitube!

The Skitube is a swiss-style mountain passenger train which takes you from Bullocks Flat and climbs up through the mountains via a tunnel to the Perisher Ski Resort (and on to Mount Blue Cow).

Where is the Skitube Terminal located?

The Skitube Bullocks Flat Terminal is located on the Alpine Way, around 20 minutes drive and 20 kilometres from the town of Jindabyne, NSW.

How long does the Perisher Skitube take?

The Skitube takes ten minutes from Bullocks Flat to Perisher Valley. Most of the journey is spent in the tunnel.

Free parking, no snow chains – and no National Park Permit required

The Bullocks Flat Terminal, or station, is located below the snow line, and prior to the ticket-booth entrance to the Kosciuszko National Park. This means that you aren’t required to carry snow chains in your 2WD passenger car to get there, like you are once you enter the National Park during winter. You also don’t need to purchase a National Park permit, as this cost is included in your Skitube ticket. In addition you can park for free!

Where do I get Skitube tickets/timetable?

Currently (2020) Skitube tickets can only be purchased online on the Perisher Ski Resort website. Your ski lift tickets and Skitube journey can all be loaded onto the same card, which is reusable from year to year. If you don’t already have one you’ll need to either have it mailed out to you, or pick it up inside the Terminal prior to your journey.

Skitubes leave regularly from the Bullock’s Flat station from very early to late, around every twenty minutes-half an hour. Skitubes only run during the ski season, which normally runs Winter through to Spring.

How much do Skitube tickets cost?

Skitube tickets are available as add-ons to your Perisher lift tickets, however individual ride tickets are also available. Prices are as follows:

A one day Skitube return trip ticket is $58

A return Skitube ticket valid for use within a 14 day period is $101

A season pass valid for unlimited Skitube use during the whole 2021 winter season is $449

Where to get Skitube ride tickets the 2021 winter season

You can book your Ski tube tickets online and see the most recent Ski tube timetable at the Perisher Ski Resort website here.

How do I catch the Ski Tube?

Watch our Perisher Skitube  video to see how it all works

The basic steps to catching the Perisher Skitube are:

• Drive to the Bullocks Flat Skitube Terminal on Alpine Way
• Drop your passengers and luggage or ski gear off at the kerb near the main entrance. After you’ve unloaded, follow the signs to park your car in the free carpark – it’s a two minute walk back to the terminal from the overnight or day carpark.
• Hire a trolley cart if you have a lot of luggage and gear to manage. You can take the cart onboard the Skitube. In 2020 the cost was $4.
• Proceed into the terminal. Collect your tickets from the counter if you don’t already have them. Otherwise, simply proceed to the gates and swipe through with your Skitube ticket/pass.
• Board the Skitube. Take a seat! Make sure your gear or trolley is placed in a way that it can’t slide away from you as you ascend the mountain in the train, as it does slope up a little!
• Ten minutes later, depart the Skitube at the Perisher Terminal. A lift is available for your luggage cart, but unless your skis are in a ski bag, you’ll need to carry them up the stairs to the ground floor yourself.
• If you are staying at a ski lodge, proceed to the Hans Oversnow counter to arrange your trip to your ski lodge
• If you are going skiing as a daytrip, make your way outside and cross the bridge to the main Perisher Centre where you can hire gear, arrange ski lessons etc. and then catch a ski lift up the mountain – have fun!

Where to stay overnight at Perisher – with kids!

There’s a lot of advantages to staying at Perisher for your winter family holiday. Staying with kids in the NSW snowfields calls for a family-friendly ski lodge to keep everyone happy. Staying on snow at Perisher means that everyone gets to have fun skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and snowman-building! Plus you don’t want to miss the weekly Perisher fireworks show over the mountain – or the Perisher night skiing! Add to those benefits, the fact that there’s no commuting backwards and forwards each day with kids and ski gear, and you’re onto a snow holiday-winner!

Our favourite family ski lodge is The Matterhorn Lodge, located on-snow at Perisher.

For further details, go to our Matterhorn Lodge feature here .

Watch our Matterhorn Ski Lodge, Perisher YouTube video here

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The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with the Matterhorn Lodge – Perisher Ski Resort in 2020. As always, all opinions are our own.

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This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

Perfect for a USA family ski holiday, the Mammoth Mountain ski resort is located  just one hour’s flight or a few hours drive from LAX, and offers excellent skiing plus a wide range of fun snow activities.

The accommodation choice for your ski trip is just as important as the destination, and recently we had the pleasure in staying at a luxurious ski lodge at Mammoth Lakes, California –  The Village Lodge at Mammoth.

No time to read? Watch our walk-through video here…

The Village Lodge Mammoth is a stunning hotel set in its own village complex, offering year-round entertainment and superior shopping and dining.

The Village also has a direct-access gondola to the skiing trails of Mammoth Mountain.

All of these features make The Village Lodge the perfect base for your snow holiday at Mammoth

Apartment accommodation

This decadent ski lodge offers secure, superior condo and hotel style accommodation that will have you feeling right at home.

There’s plenty of space for families to spread out, with large apartments featuring cosy open-plan lounge and kitchen areas, and large, comfortable bedrooms.

A full kitchen means you can choose to self-cater, making your own breakfast and other meals in your own lodging.

Alternatively, you can choose to work your way through a wide selection of excellent restaurants – all located just steps away from your accommodation!

Guests at The Village Lodge also enjoy free parking and free wifi.

Gondola to Mammoth Mountain ski resort

The Village features its own direct-access gondola to the ski trails of Mammoth Mountain. That means you’re on the mountain faster, and there’s no need for driving, parking or a shuttle service to the ski fields.

In-room ski boots & ski hire

The ultimate in convenience, you can be fitted for your ski hire gear right in your Village apartment. Then when you’re ready to ski, your gear will be waiting for you on-snow outside the hotel lobby!

An outdoor heated swimming pool surrounded by snow!

Surrounded by snow, the heated pool and hot tubs adds a really fun dimension to your ski holiday!

Put on your bikini, wrap yourself up in your hotel robe and head out to the pool. There’s something wonderful about sitting in a toasty warm spa, surrounded by snow. (Plus it’s a great opportunity to take a fabulous  Instagram shot!)

Restaurants & shopping

You’ll find the beautiful alpine-style The Village entertainment precinct just outside your door, and it’s here you’ll find some great shopping and eateries.

The main walkway is lined with enticing boutique stores, and a variety of high-quality restaurants and bars.

We enjoyed a great meal Campo Mammoth, well known for its relaxed apres-ski atmosphere and delectable pizzas! Also close by you’ll find several other Mammoth restaurant options.

Dotted around The Village are cosy fire pit areas which are perfect for an after-dinner drink or catch up with friends – and of course take part in that scrumptious American tradition – making s’mores!

How to make S’mores

If you don’t know how to make S’mores, or don’t have the ingredients, there’s no need to worry. Complete S’mores kits (and some good advice!) are available from The Village Lodge reception.

The kits contain everything you need for the perfect Smore. A long wooden stick, thick chocolate discs, large marshmallows and graham crackers (the Australian or UK equivalent is something like Digestive biscuits) are all included.

S’mores are as easy as toasting your marshmallow over the fire until it’s a bit gooey (the long sticks make it easy and safe for children to do) and then sandwiching the marshmallow and chocolate within two graham crackers. The result is a warm, chocolaty marshmallow treat with a combined taste that is out-of-this-world!

Staying at The Village is all about convenience and luxury – this beautiful hotel ticks all the family ski resort boxes.

Book your stay at The Village Lodge at Mammoth on Booking.com here

To stay or find out more, go to their official website here.

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Read more about our Mammoth Mountain skiing and activities here

Read all about the three exciting California destinations we visited in 2020 here!

This article is meant to inspire travel to California once it is safe to do to. The attractions and experiences featured in this article may be temporarily unavailable due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Please consult official travel resources and individual businesses to confirm future plans.

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

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We’ve just spent a week each at the two top NSW ski resorts – Thredbo and Perisher Ski Resorts. Social distancing measures have thankfully enabled the NSW 2020 ski season to go ahead during the Coronavirus pandemic, but it’s a very different experience on the ski and snowboard slopes this year.

Planning a ski trip in 2020 – even if it’s just for the day or weekend – now requires some essential prior arrangements. That said, it’s still absolutely possible to enjoy a great 2020 NSW ski holiday, and help support the snow businesses that are working to stay open and welcome you during these unprecedented Coronavirus times.

Here are our tips on what you need to know before you go – both in planning your ski holiday, and in following the ski resorts rules whilst you are there.

Allow for delays at both Thredbo & Perisher ski resorts

Expect delays as par for the course everywhere during your NSW ski fields holiday this year. From driving in and parking, to longer wait-times for shuttle buses or the Skitube, to lining up for the ski lifts or waiting to get into a restaurant. Patience is key. Whilst all the changes may seem confusing, or even annoying at first, it’s really no major hardship in the big scheme of things. After all, many snow-loving Victorians have no ski season at all this year due to Melbourne’s Stage 4 Coronavirus lockdowns. We NSW skiers and snowboarders are very lucky to have a 2020 ski season to enjoy.

No time to read? Watch our Perisher social distancing video to see how it all works

How Thredbo and Perisher social distancing affects your holiday

Perisher mandatory face coverings

The biggest difference between the two major NSW ski resorts this year, is that Perisher has a compulsory face covering requirement, and Thredbo doesn’t.

This rule means anyone over 12 years of age must wear a face mask, or have a scarf, neck warmer, balaclava or similar face covering pulled up over their nose and mouth at all times at the Perisher Ski Resort.

The face covering rule applies to all Perisher public areas, including all Skitube stations, riding on the Skitube, on shuttle buses, in the Perisher carpark, shops, all bars and restaurants (but not actually whilst you are eating), ski lift queues and skiing or snowboarding on the slopes.

This rule does not necessarily apply to inside private ski lodges or premises, and is dependent upon the individual lodge policy. It does also apply to The Station Resort in Jindabyne.

Ski lift tickets can only be booked online in 2020

The main booking concern this year isn’t securing accommodation as much as it is obtaining lift tickets. Both Thredbo and Perisher are only offering a few releases of ski lift tickets in 2020 which must be booked in advance, online. No walk-up ski lift tickets will be available in 2020

In the case of a reasonable snow fall more lifts progressively open, and the socially distanced capacity increases. This means more lift tickets can then be released for sale.

Once released by the ski resorts onto their website booking system, tickets are quickly snapped up and are usually booked out weeks in advance – particularly in the case of weekends.

As the ski season winds down in spring and the snow quality decreases, tickets should be in less demand.

Tickets are not transferable, so there are no resellers. No scenic or single lift rides, or multi day lift ticket discounts will be available in 2020 either.

The best chance of getting lift tickets for the dates that you want, is utilising a multi-pronged approach.

• Go to the official ski resort websites and sign up to their mailing lists – however don’t entirely rely upon them. Often the best tickets are sold out before the resorts even send out their email notification.
• Consider joining a Perisher or Thredbo Facebook group – members will usually spread the word quickly once a new ticket release is live.
• Keep a close eye on the ski resort website’s ticket pages – you may just be surprised with a new release of tickets!

Perisher’s most recent ticket release in mid-August immediately crashed their website for hours, however patience pays off – consistency is the key to getting the ski lift tickets you want – plus a bit of luck!

Avoid collecting your ski pass or renting gear the same day you ski

If you intend on picking up your lift pass or ski/snowboard rental gear at the resort, it’s best to plan to arrive the day prior to your first ski pass day – or prepare to lose precious time on the slopes.

Everything takes twice as long as usual at the ski resort centres. Social distancing slows things down and creates long queues due to limiting the number of people allowed inside at any one time. Thredbo in particular has extended delays at their small ticketing office. Perisher less-so, thanks to a larger office with more staff.

If you already have your lift pass (allow time for postage if you haven’t got one from the prior year) and have loaded it up ready to go online, and you have pre-arranged or own your own ski gear, you should be good to go the moment you hit the slopes.

Eating on the ski slopes at Thredbo and Perisher restaurants

Both major ski resorts have basically the same restaurant social distance systems in place.

Before entering any restaurant, you’ll be required to scan a barcode at the door with your smartphone camera. This generates a pop-up window on your phone which you tap to access an ID form to fill in. You can opt for your details to be remembered for next time – but only for that particular venue.

All restaurants require gloves to be removed and hand sanitiser to be applied upon entry.

If you would like the sit inside, you are required order a meal (and not just a drink) at many of the on-mountain restaurants.

Tables are cleaned and sanitised between diners – some restaurants have more effective systems than others. For example the Perisher Mid Restaurant has an enforced check-in system, asks you to dispose of your own rubbish after your meal and allocates table signage indicating when you are finished, and your used table needs to be sanitised.

If you are buying takeaway or eating outside, you are not usually required to scan in, or even line up in some cases.

Night Skiing is limited or cancelled

Thredbo night skiing and snowboarding (apart from the flare run) are not available in 2020, however fireworks still happen on Saturday nights.

Perisher night skiing and snowboarding Tuesday nights have now finished, however Saturday night fireworks and night skiing are still going ahead into September. Pre-booking as far in advance as possible is the way to go, as people buying second or third release ski tickets are finding that due to the reduced number of night skiing tickets available, the first release ticket holders or annual pass holders are booking out the night skiing sessions far in advance.

No toboganning or snow play in 2020

Tobogganing, snow play and scenic ski lift rides are not allowed at either ski resort during the 2020 ski season. This is to help keep numbers in the resorts at a manageable level, but there are unfortunately some very disappointed kids and tourists this year. Hopefully things can return to normal next year.

Booking NSW Snow Accommodation in 2020

We stayed at two great family ski lodges at the snow this year, and can highly recommend them for offering safety etaining their excellent snowy mountains accommodation experience.

Perisher Ski Resort on-snow family friendly ski lodge

If you’re looking for Perisher family-friendly on-snow ski lodge accommodation, you really can’t go past the Matterhorn Ski Lodge at Perisher.

Rooms can accommodate from small to large families, and your stay includes hot breakfasts and three-course hot dinners. Accommodation also includes complimentary shuttles to and from the Skitube terminal to the lodge. The Matterhorn offers complimentary WIFI, a guest laundry, a public bar, large guest lounge and games room.

For further details, go to our Matterhorn Lodge feature here .

Watch our Matterhorn Ski Lodge, Perisher YouTube video

Thredbo Village budget friendly ski lodge for families

YHA Thredbo in Thredbo Village offers excellent value and a great family atmosphere.

Located centrally, this cosy ski lodge features family ensuite rooms, a large self-catering kitchen, ski drying room and comfortable lounge with panoramic views over the Thredbo ski slopes. The Thredbo YHA is the perfect accommodation for a skiing or snowboarding holiday.

For further details, go to the YHA official website .

Watch our Thredbo YHA Ski Lodge YouTube video

Even though all of the new social distancing measures are a lot to navigate, don’t be discouraged from visiting the NSW snowfields – a wonderful family snow holiday is just waiting for you – it’s time to go make some super-fun memories at the snow!

If you enjoyed reading this article or found it useful, please consider sharing it on Facebook, or leaving a comment below – thank you!

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The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with the Matterhorn Lodge – Perisher Ski Resort and YHA Thredbo Ski Lodge – Thredbo Resort for these famil trips.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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When we received an invitation to stay at the famous Matterhorn Lodge in Perisher during the 2019 Australian ski season, we were thrilled to visit – and learned that it more than lives up to its outstanding reputation for ski accommodation excellence.

On Snow Accommodation in Perisher

The Matterhorn Lodge is a stunning alpine lodge located right in the centre of Perisher Ski Resort in the NSW ski fields of Australia. It’s the perfect Perisher Valley base for on-snow stays. Whilst you can book for stays of any length, I’d recommend booking for as long a stay as possible – because when you get to the Matterhorn you’re not going to want to leave!

Driving and staying overnight at Perisher

Leave your car behind and catch the Skitube for a short underground ride right through the mountains to Perisher. The big bonus with using the Skitube is that you don’t need to worry about hiring or fitting snow chains to your car, as the Skitube carpark at Bullocks Flat Skitube Terminal is located below the snow line, plus parking your car at Bullocks Flat is free. Getting to Perisher via Skitube also includes your National Park entry fee.

How long does the Skitube take to Perisher?

The Skitube takes ten minute from Bullocks Flat to Perisher Valley. You can also take the Skitube between Perisher Valley and Mount Blue Cow for free.

If you’ve booked your Perisher ski lift tickets and Skitube tickets for the first time online, then you can pick them all up at the Skitube Terminal too. This means that once you arrive at Perisher Ski Tube station, if you have your own gear or have already hired your snow gear, you can start skiing and snowboarding straight away!

Skitube Tip! Carry your skis or snowboard in a travel bag so they can go in the Skitube Perisher Station luggage lift – then you don’t have to carry them up the stairs!

Matterhorn Accommodation includes free transfers

A complimentary over-snow transport service is included with your Matterhorn Accommodation with Hans Oversnow Transport. Yourself, your luggage, skis and snowboards are delivered from the Skitube via snow mobile right to the front door of the Matterhorn Lodge.

Ski from your accommodation to the chair lift

The Matterhorn Lodge and surrounds look like a scene straight off a Christmas card – it’s absolutely charming!

We were welcomed by the wonderful Jacqui and all the Matterhorn Lodge staff, and were soon checked in.

Watch our Matterhorn Ski Lodge, Perisher YouTube video

Our Matterhorn Lodge Accommodation

Our rooms were beautiful. We were located on the ground floor. We even had our own long veranda with wicker lounge chairs overlooking the snowy street, right down to Perisher Front Valley.

Warm and cosy, even our comfortable beds had beautiful views all-around of the alpine village and circling snowy mountains. There was a remote control flat screen TV in the corner, and a temperature-adjustable long radiator along one wall with hooks above it to hang any damp clothes.

The ensuite was fitted out with everything we needed, including a hot, strong shower, towels and bathroom toiletries all supplied.

Ski-out Perisher Valley accommodation

The snowy mountains were calling us, so soon after checking in we headed to the ski room to get our skis. Here you can store all your ski gear, including boots, skis and ski boards and helmets.

In mere minutes we were sat on the chair lift looking back at the Matterhorn Lodge – this on-snow accommodation is perfectly located, with an easy down-hill ski straight to all the front valley Perisher chair lifts.

The Matterhorn Lodge is also perfectly placed for night skiing, plus you can see the Perisher Valley fireworks from the Matterhorn’s front door!

After a fantastic day’s skiing the Perisher, Blue Cow, Guthega and Smiggins Holes runs, we headed back to the Matterhorn Lodge, worn out with fun – and very hungry!

We left our ski gear to dry in the ski room and headed into the dining room for a hot dinner. Three delicious courses followed for both adults and children. The tables were full of happy families, excitedly chatting about their day’s skiing and snowboarding adventures.

Three-course hot dinners are included

The Matterhorn Lodge menu was a delight – delicious, chef-crafted hot meals, served to your table by wait-staff. Menus change daily, with a different soup-starter each night, followed by a delectable main or popular kids-meal. Then to finish, a scrumptious desert.

By the end of our stay, we had learned to look forward to dinner – it became a highlight of our day!

Family friendly Après Ski Fun!

After dinner each night, we all loved to spend some time in the guest lounge, bar and games room.

The Matterhorn Bar is open from 4pm in the afternoon, and wine, Schnapps and beer are all available for your après-ski preference.

The Matterhorn Lodge also features a complimentary self-serve coffee and tea bar available 24/7. Or if you’re craving a barista-made coffee or espresso coffee, you can order one at the bar.

The guest lounge is a great place to relax during the day, or after dinner. Families, couples and solo snow guests wander in to relax on the comfy lounges, and unwind or chat together near the log fire. It’s also the perfect place to pull out your laptop, catch up on the news, or perhaps just watch one of the ski films continually playing on the big flat-screen TV.

Everybody loves to play in the games room, located just off the lounge. There’s a large variety of fun games, including electronic games, a ping pong table, table-soccer, air hockey, and coin-operated pool tables. Board games are also available.

It’s all device-free, good old-fashioned family fun. It’s really lovely to see all the children – from toddlers to teens – playing together.

The Matterhorn has a lovely happy family atmosphere, with welcoming, family-friendly staff putting everyone at ease.

After a lovely evening we headed back to our cosy rooms, snuggling under the quilts on our large, comfortable beds. It was time to recharge our batteries for another big day of skiing tomorrow!

If you’re a bit of a night owl, don’t worry – you won’t be locked out. Whilst the lodge front door is locked after hours, you’re are able to access the lodge via a pin pad on the front door.

Breakfast is included with your accommodation

In the morning we were ready to go skiing again, but not without a hearty Matterhorn Lodge breakfast first!

Both full and continental breakfasts are included with your accommodation. Hot breakfasts are available from 8am, with early-risers able to have a continental breakfast from 7:30am. Again, barista coffee is available to purchase.

After our first stay at the Matterhorn Lodge, we loved it so much we soon found ourselves returning for a second ski holiday during the 2019 ski season!

If you’re looking for a fabulously fun on-snow ski resort accommodation option for your family, you really can’t go past the Matterhorn Ski Lodge at Perisher!

Matterhorn Lodge Perisher useful info

Accommodation includes hot breakfasts and three-course hot dinners

Complimentary shuttle service from the Skitube

Complimentary WIFI

Guest Laundry with coin-operated washing machines and complimentary dryer

Public bar, guest lounge and games room

Guest dining room

Where is the Matterhorn Lodge?

Location:  Perisher Valley Ski Resort, NSW ski fields, Kosciuszko National Park, Australia

Phone:  02 6457 5299

Email:  bookings@matterhornlodge.com.au

Book your stay on Tripadvisor here

Go to the Matterhorn Lodge official website to find out more!

The Let’s Go Mum family were hosted guests of the Matterhorn Lodge. As always, all of our opinions are strictly our own.

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During our stay at Hoshino Resorts Tomamu ski resort, we were very excited to be given the opportunity to visit the world-famous Tomamu Ice Village. This amazing attraction is open during winter, and is a such a wonderful place to visit with the family.

No time to read? Watch the YouTube video of our Tomamu Ice Village, Japan visit here

Before you visit, be sure to rug-up and dress everyone in warm ski clothes. The temperature here has been known to reach as low as -30°C!

To get to the Ice Village is a quick shuttle bus ride from your accommodation at the Tomamu Risonare, then a short walk from the Hotel Alpha, or The Tower accommodation in Tomamu.

The entrance to the Ice Village is a spectacular ice archway. It leads you into a mystical path lined with glowing lanterns and light installations. As you crest a small hill covered with glowing totems, you can hear classical music playing softly. A gorgeous white and blue-lit village materialises as if by magic – however this is no mirage. It’s a real, working village made of ice!

An ice skating rink and ice chutes for the children to slide down are the first exciting activities you encounter. When you manage to drag your kids away from the ice slides, you can actually wander into the Ice Village and explore!

The Ice Village is made up of groups of individual ice and snow huts. Inside them is so much to discover!

One of the huts houses the Ice Hotel, a room containing an ice bed, ice furniture and even a chandelier. Incredibly, you can book to stay in the Ice Hotel overnight!

The Ice Village shops have real souvenirs for sale on their ice shelves. At first, it’s hard to realise that these places are operating stores – it’s all so other-worldly.

There’s a fascinating ski clothing store decorated with frozen clothes set in giant blocks of ice. You can’t help but wonder how they managed to make them!

Next door is the flower shop, decorated with beautiful flower displays – also frozen in huge blocks of ice! They need to be seen to be believed.

A domed church presides over the village. This is the Ice Chapel with a stunningly lit blue cross and spires.

Have fun in the “magic breath” exhibit, where you can breathe onto projected lights to make the displays visible in a beam of mist.

There are ice cafes where you can order special drinks and snacks – you can even toast marshmallows over the fire.

There is a room filled with incredible ice musical instruments – they look almost too delicate to exist!

Make some time to have a read at the Ice Book Café too. It is filled with shelves of books and ice seats to lounge on around a cosy fireplace. 

If you’d prefer a stronger drink, there’s always the Ice Bar which serves all kinds of cocktails – at the very least drop in for a look at it’s huge ice shelf display of bottles.

The Tomamu Ice Village is just another outstanding reason to visit Hoshino Resorts Tomamu. If you want to take your family to see something amazing they will always remember, then take them to see the Tomamu Ice Village.

Fast facts!

Where: Near Hoshino Resorts The Tower, Tomamu, Hokkaido, Japan

When: Winter – December to March

Time: 1700-2200 every night

Price: 500 yen per entrance ticket

Confirm the seasonal opening dates and times, plus find out more at the Hoshino Resorts Tomamu official website here.

Have you ever visited an amazing attraction in your travels, like the Ice Village? Tell us in the comments below…

All information and prices are correct as at April 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu including the Ice Village, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

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