Thredbo is the best ski resort in Australia as an all-rounder. It’s not our favourite place to ski in Australia, but it’s the combination of the diversity of terrain, good lifts, world class facilities, on-mountain dining, ease of access, and the village with its shops, restaurants and bars that puts Thredbo out on top overall.

The terrain has some huge pros, and for us, it was far more preferable to Perisher terrain. The consistent pitch of the mountain is impressive, and whilst there aren’t any sustained super steeps, the skiers’ right of the mountain in particular has plenty of fun terrain. Thredbo prides itself on its long runs, but we were left wishing that these runs were shorter because of the variable snow quality as we neared mid-mountain. We were in no-mans-land and wanted somewhere easier to bail out.

The long groomers with the nice continuous pitch were remarkable, although the resort was a bit stingy with the grooming, possibly because it was early season with not enough people to warrant the spend on grooming lots of runs.

The village is a huge plus for Thredbo, especially when you compare it to Perisher, but on this visit, it wasn’t the same vibrant village I remembered. Some businesses were not open, the place looked barren and not at all European-esque, and many of the buildings around the Village Square were looking very tired.

The upside of visiting just before school holidays was that the slopes were uncrowded, we could easily get fresh tracks after new snow, and we didn’t have to fight the masses to grab a coffee or lunch. From the scuttlebutt on socials it seems that the peak 2022 season it set to be absolutely crazy, with accommodation sold out well in advance despite sky rocketing tariffs, and ski school spots considered as valuable as gold. It’s nice to see that demand for skiing and snowboarding in Australia is at an all-time high, although perhaps this may diminish once more people return to skiing OS.

You can see our thoughts on the pros and cons of Thredbo on the overview page, and also see how we rate it on various factors versus other Australian ski resorts here.
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I'm experienced skier, I've been in many ski resorts around the world but this is the worst skiing experience so far! Terrible muddy slopes, only a few chairlifts, poor connection between slopes, mostly unfriendly staff with few exceptions, some slopes are so bad due to poor maintenance/ condition that people get injured. The last thing I could say to people - run away, they are better places to have snow experience, don't spent any money here!
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If one swaps out the eucalypts & replaces them with pines & larch, Thredbo is the most European ski resort in Australia. The decent skiable vertical, world class piste trails, vibrant village, easy drive (on the NSW side) & new gondola are all seriously good aspects in this ski area.

Aside from the usual issues with Australian skiing (i.e. excessive cost, crowds, temperatures), the resort is mainly let down by the variable snow quality from the top down to the low base, limited advanced groomers & old lift infrastructure in its high alpine zone.

The village at Thredbo is a delight if there is snow on the ground. In style, vibe & function it is the complete opposite of the ghastly Perisher village.

All in all though, a quality intermediates paradise with some tasty off-piste & slackcountry terrain for anyone that cares to look.
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Great resort, visit at every year. Really well thought-out layout of chairlifts, great runs of all types. Good terrain park with a dedicated t-bar.
The food available is good quality, would definitely recommend checking out the hot chocolate at Merits.
Thredbo has heaps of events all year round with live music and heaps of fun contests through the winter season.
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Firstly, we are talking Australia here. As noted opening weekend is hit and miss. This year was a miss, last year was a hit.

Thredbo is a beautiful place and has great vertical relief. Friday Flats is awesome to learn but busy. Charlottes Pass remains the best in Australia to start because of the terrain and no ques.

I think the locals sum this place up very well. When on, its as good as anywhere in the world. The question is "when will it be on" because the rest of the time you get about 4 types of snow and weather from rain to sleet to snow dependent on elevation.

The long runs are the best thing here. There are also some really cool restaurants and lodges. Biggest drawback apart from the snow is in fact the parking. Most lodges don't have it and you have to park about 10 minutes away which is a real pain at night.

While we love the village we hate the parking issues and the snow. And of course, you need to book 6 months in advance, it's pricey (as are all Australian resorts) and it's a lottery as to the quality of snow.
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Thredbo and Perisher refuse to acknowledge reality and move this weekend on a week or two, to a time when there is actual snow on the ground. In the seven years that I have lived in Canberra there has NEVER been natural snow on the ground in the first week of July. And to add insult to injury, Thredbo has now even refused to offer the fake snow and toboggan rides which drew families to it. Oh, and they waited until a week before the day to announce that.

So what can you expect? At Thredbo expect zero snow, paying top dollar for ski-lifts, mechanical sled rides food and drink, a sad snow sculpture melting in the heat, empty pubs where one or two bored people watch footy, over-heated coffee shops closing early, a DJ playing house music to which toddlers and pre-teens dance while their parents stand around sipping over-priced beer and wine. The fireworks were such a non-event that we didn’t even realise they had happened. At Perisher expect some man-made snow, a few better musos, but not much more. Don’t expect a magical, fun-filled snow weekend as advertised in the brochures.

Don’t waste your money, time and energy on this over-hyped, over-priced kids party. Snow open weekend offers you zero snow and zero fun at full season prices. Despite the fact that Threbo and Perisher no doubt know, after so many years of having no ACTUAL snow on this weekend, that it will be snowless, they continue to promote this weekend as a funtastic opening to the snow. Too much to expect snow on a weekend claiming (and priced) to be the “start of the snowy season”? Apparently it is. Even Perisher barely has any snow at this time of the year and the reason those photos look so filled with happy people on the snow is because everyone is trying to squeeze onto the few man-made patches of snow for their instagram moment.

Until both Thredbo and Perisher start admitting that they are artificially extending the snow season in order to rake in extra money, and stop charging like there is actual snow on the ground, do yourself a favour and don’t fall for their lies. Show them the contempt they deserve by boycotting them for these first two weeks of June and go when there is actual snow and you are getting what you pay for. I for one will not be paying snow fees for a zero snow weekend again. Fool me once.....
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Thredbo is the best Australian resort. There are nice long World Cup standard runs plus lots of off piste areas with epic powder to explore. The lift system here is also very efficient with more "Express Quads" and less wind hold than other resorts.
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I can't believe the arrogance and unhelpfulness of the staff and conditions of this mountain. I ski all around the world and this is the only place that does not refund ski hire or lift tickets if you return early. We bought a season pass and my son had an operation and couldn't ski for the season. They wouldn't honour a full refund. If you hire skis for 3 weeks and return after one they charge you for 3.
Name one rental company that does this. You book a car they charge you for time out not time booked.
They seem to think there is no competition but Perisher is going to smack these guys and Japan is a better option.
I now go to harros at lake crackenback.
Stop being so arrogant and start providing an experience.
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Thredbo for me is the number 1 ski resort in Australia we usually do about 10-12 days a year. It may not be the biggest resort but it has the best facilities. Great lifts that services the mountain, good on mountain food, majority of the runs are in-between big section of trees the runs don't get that wind blown. Good on mountain snow making, It also has the most vertical meters, great runs when the snow is pumping, down low can get a little too warm and tracked out during the day.

cons: Can get quiet expensive, Hard to book a weeks accommodation from a few months out (due to snow conditions)
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For an Australian ski resort, Thredbo caters well for all skiers and riders (except experts or extremists).

There are terrains for everyone from ploughing first timers at Friday Flat to serious off piste riders at the bowls. Intermediate will have loads of fun at the cruiser area and near the t-bars sitting above the treeline.

Snow quality above the treeline can be quite awesome and comparable to that of the high profile NZ resorts. Some of the best turns were found at the off piste area near the Karel's t-bar, and at Cannonball, near the old Crackenback chairlift. In contrast, the snow down the base - especially at the supertrail and High Noon, can easily turn into an absolute garbage as the day progresses. The vertical is reasonably long and this successfully reduces extra time spent on queing for the lifts.

Thredbo, being one of the newer resorts in the Great Dividing Range, has more express lifts (kozi, gunbarrel's, & cruiser) than others, which means the overall capacities of lifts are bigger. This is a huge advantage for skiiers as you don't have to spend half the day sitting on the lifts.

The village is quite nice and can be really vibrant at nights, especially during uni weeks. The bakery at the base of the kozi quad sells some of Australia's BEST PIES. Don't be tempted to purchase any drink on the slopes though, as they are freakin' expensive.

Thredbo, like other Aussie ski resorts isn't necessarily an ideal resort for serious powderhounds. However, if you are a casual skier, or bringing your whole family or friends, you'll have heaps of fun there, for sure.
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