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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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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A trip to the Australian snowfields makes a great family holiday, but the thought of organising it all can seem a little overwhelming – especially if you’ve never been before! After all, you need to find somewhere family-budget friendly to stay, a way to feed everyone that doesn’t break the bank, waterproof clothes and snow gear for everyone, ski lessons and lift tickets…there’s so much to think about!

Actually, it’s a lot easier than it sounds – just follow our guide to the essentials for a parent-friendly, super-fun family trip to Falls Creek!

Planning your holiday

How long should we visit Falls Creek?

If you only plan on tobogganing or snow-shoeing and soaking up the general ski-life atmosphere in Falls Creek, a weekend away will be ample. But if you want you and/or the kids to learn how to ski or snowboard too, then five days to a week will have them (and you) flying down the slopes in no time!

How do I get to Falls Creek?

Traveling to Falls Creek from Melbourne

Driving by car is the most direct and cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Falls Creek, particularly for families. The drive from Melbourne will take you around four and a half hours. If you don’t want to drive, there is always the option of taking a coach.

A word about Snow chains

If you do decide to drive, you’ll need to hire some snow chains for your car – it’s mandatory to carry them with you in the Victorian snowfields in winter, and if you get caught without them you’ll be fined. They can be hired from most ski shops in Mount Beauty (and Bright), before you start the drive up the mountain. During busy periods they may run short of your wheel size, so it’s sensible to call ahead and book.

If it snows, you’ll need to fit the snow chains to the driving wheels of your car. Don’t worry, the hire shop will give you a quick lesson on how to fit your snow chains, and signs on the hill tell you exactly when and where to fit them if necessary.

Traveling to Falls Creek from Sydney or other interstate locations

Driving from Sydney to Falls Creek will take you nine hours, Canberra five and a half hours and Adelaide a considerable thirteen hours. Flying to Albury airport (located on the NSW and Victorian border) and then catching a bus will save a lot of driving time. For example, from Sydney to Falls Creek via air takes around three and a half hours all-up (including airport transfers).

Where is the best place for families to stay at Falls Creek?

Cheap Falls Creek family accommodation – Howmans Gap

YMCA Howmans Gap is the perfect base for families to stay at Falls Creek. Located just before the Falls Creek entrance gates, this large Alpine Centre accommodates singles, couples and families very comfortably. A convenient shuttle bus runs to and from Falls Creek Village and Windy Corner, which are just ten minutes away.

Howmans Gap offers budget-minded holiday-ers a range of well-priced accommodation options, include family bunk rooms and separate deluxe cabins in the woods. They also offer hot cooked meals in their communal dining room.

You can find out more about Howmans Gap accommodation in our special feature here.

Snow fun

Outfitting the family – what snow gear you should hire – & what you need to buy!

Before stepping onto that cold white fluffy stuff, you’re going to need to hire or buy wet weather gear for the family. Ski clothes (waterproof pants and jackets) can be hired at Mount Beauty (or Bright, if you’re coming from that direction) ski shops on the way, or from a few smaller shops dotted around Falls Creek.

No matter what you are doing at the snow, you will need to purchase your own ski goggles (sunglasses will do in fine weather), and also waterproof gloves. Don’t forget the sunscreen too – it’s very easy to burn up on the mountain with all that glaring white snow around!

Learning how to ski or snowboard (kids and/or adults)

Cross country ski hire and ski lessons

Learning to cross country ski, or going for a snow-shoe walk are beautiful ways to explore the Victorian snowfields without having to worry about a lift-ticket purchase. This is because you can “walk” or skate uphill on your skis! Making your own way around the numerous trails is a great way to appreciate the stunning snowy alpine flora and fauna of the area – and escape the downhill skiing crowded runs! You can find out more about the different types of cross country skiing here.

Cross Country Ski School and adult lessons

Falls Creek Cross Country at Windy Corner offer everything cross country, and can organise family-friendly cross country skiing lessons and cross country ski hire and ski school packages. Here you’ll also find a lovely warm and friendly café, the Windy Corner Café. If you need any help or information, the friendly staff at Windy Corner will be more than happy to assist you.

Downhill ski/snowboard hire and ski lessons

If you’d like to give downhill skiing or snowboarding a try, Falls Creek main village is the place to be. You’ll need a lift ticket and ski lesson package to get you started, plus you’ll need to outfit everyone in downhill boots, skis and poles and a helmet. You’ll find all of these at Homebase, which is located right at the front entrance to Falls Creek Village, next door to the QT hotel.

Downhill Ski School and Day Care

Ski school is held up on the mountain, which is accessed via the main Halley’s Comet chair lift at Falls Creek Village. Don’t be worried about catching a chair lift. You don’t have to ski onto it, and can walk on carrying any skis with you. Sit back, and enjoy the ride!

If you’re not skiing or don’t have a ski pass, catching Halley’s Comet chairlift is still no problem. Parents are allowed to catch the chair lift up for free to take their kids up to ski school, and of course to pick them up later.

Downhill or Snowboard Ski School for kids starts at 10am and goes to 3pm, leaving parents time to have their own adult ski lessons, or just go for a ski. Ski school provides a hot lunch for the kids too, so you really do get a few solid hours of me-time!

Ski School (or Junior Workshops, as they are also known) is expensive at around $250 per child per day (including hire gear), but is also a very fast way to teach the kids how to ski or snowboard. Half-day ski school is available for younger children.

For the littlies, (babies from 12 weeks old, up to 5yos) day care is also available, located at the bottom of the chair lift at Falls Creek Village.

Tobogganing and snow play

Windy Corner, Falls Creek is also the place for some traditional family snow fun. Located next door to Windy Corner is a large family snow-play area, so Toboggans and Apre Ski (waterproof rubber) boots can be hired here too.

Slide down the hill on your toboggan in the family fun area, build a snowman together – you can even have a good old-fashioned snowball fight! Sometimes the simple things in life make the best family memories!

You’re all set – time to get booking!

So there you have it! You’re now all set for an awesome family snow and skiing holiday. But a gentle heads-up –  the skiing bug does tend to bite hard, and you may find that you have a family of super-keen skiers on your hands. This first family ski trip may well be just the start of many fun family snow holidays together – have a wonderful time!

For more information on family Falls Creek ski accommodation, go to the Howmans Gap official website here.

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All information is correct as at September 2018 – please check the above website links for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices. Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of YMCA Howmans Gap, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever visited Falls Creek, or do you plan to go one day? Tell us in the comments below…

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