Charlotte Pass
Snowbound village at the foot of Kosciuszko
Charlotte Pass is Australia's highest and one of its oldest alpine villages, tucked beneath Mount Kosciuszko in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and reachable in winter only by oversnow transport.
- 1,750 m Base
- 1,928 m Top lift
- 178 m Vertical
- 23 Pistes mapped
- 5 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
Life centres on the village's historic lodges and the landmark chalet hotel, with cosy dining rather than a nightlife scene.
The resort
Charlotte Pass is a tiny, cocooned resort sitting higher than anywhere else in the country, ringed by the peaks of Kosciuszko National Park. What defines it is the access: the mountain road closes for winter, so guests leave their cars at Perisher and ride an oversnow vehicle in, which keeps crowds away and lends the place a quiet, old-fashioned intimacy. The terrain is gentle and confidence-building, making it a natural choice for families and learners rather than thrill-seekers. Being at the roof of the Australian Alps, it holds snow as well as anywhere in the country, though the maritime climate still means conditions swing from firm to soft. As a Southern-Hemisphere resort it runs through the austral winter, broadly June to September.
Snow & weather
Live conditions from the mountain, plus the average snow you can expect month by month.
- Feels like
- —
- Conditions
- —
- Wind
- —
- Fresh snow (3-day)
- —
Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Its position as the highest resort in Australia gives it comparatively dependable cover for the region, though the mild maritime climate means variable, sometimes wet snow.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face E — 57% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Gentle, sheltered slopes ideal for first-timers and children.
A handful of pleasant cruising runs to build on.
Limited pitch, but backcountry touring toward Kosciuszko rewards the fit.
Little lift-served challenge; the appeal is ski-touring the surrounding high country.
Oversnow arrival
With the road snowed shut, you reach the village aboard a tracked oversnow machine from Perisher, an approach that sets the tone for a genuinely secluded stay.
Main Range touring
The village is the classic launch point for backcountry ski tours across the Main Range toward Mount Kosciuszko, mainland Australia's highest summit.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay in Charlotte Pass
Accommodation is a small cluster of ski-in lodges and the historic chalet hotel in the village itself, so you stay right on the snow.
Lifts and pistes from the door — the point of a high, purpose-built resort.
Self-catering residences, the bulk of the beds and the flexible-budget option.
Catered and self-catered chalets for groups wanting the whole place.
From simple to high-end, with pools and spas to thaw out in.
How to get there
Canberra Airport is the practical gateway to the NSW Snowy Mountains; from there it is a road journey to Jindabyne and Perisher, where the oversnow transfer begins.
Drive to the Perisher terminal, then transfer by oversnow vehicle for the final leg into the village.
Best time: The austral winter, roughly June to September, with the most reliable cover typically from July into August.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Faces south © wanderingchina / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Cobungra Slope
- Vertical
- 21 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 1
- Lifts
- 1
Getting to Charlotte Pass
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Albury (ABX) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.