Thredbo Resort

Unusually for Australia, Thredbo is built as a true alpine village on the valley floor, with lifts rising straight from the pedestrian streets up the mountainside. That layout, all timber lodges and a rushing river, gives it an alpine-European character rare in the Southern Hemisphere. The terrain climbs high onto the flanks below Mount Kosciuszko, delivering the longest descents and greatest vertical drop in the country. It feels more serious and more sophisticated than its Snowy Mountains neighbours, with a sociable, energetic buzz. In summer the same village becomes a hub for the Kosciuszko summit walk and mountain biking.

Thredbo is for skiers who want the most vertical and the longest, most satisfying runs Australia can offer, wrapped in a genuine village atmosphere. Confident intermediates and advanced skiers get the most from its top-to-bottom descents, while the lively bars and restaurants make it the choice for those who want their evenings to match their days. It is the closest thing Australia has to an alpine ski town.

Through the austral winter the upper mountain, sitting in the shadow of the continent's highest peak, holds the best and longest-lasting snow in the Snowy Mountains, backed by strong snowmaking on the lower village runs. Conditions remain maritime and variable, with warm spells and wind part of the picture, but Thredbo's altitude and aspect give it an edge in cover and quality. The signature long descents ski at their finest after a good midwinter refresh.