Where for a short snowy break in NSW for the winter school holidays? (without the skiing)
July 1, 2010 8:42 PM Subscribe
I want to take the family somewhere snowy in NSW. We want to do any skiing, just somewhere white for three days or so in the school holidays. Reasonaly cheap (so the ski resorts are out), and preferably a place with a nice fireplace. Any suggestions? Just to be a little more specific, I don't particularly like Jindabyne, and anyway because of the proximity to the ski resorts it seems a bit expensive anyway. Any suggestions from the metafilter crowd?
The upper Blue Mountains usually have a few snow days over winter - maybe more this year because it's so unusually cold. If you're based in Sydney, you could wait until snow is forecast, then take the train out to Katoomba and try your luck.
If you want guaranteed snow, though, the snowfields may actually be your best option. Most of NSW is still in drought, and even though it's a cold winter, you won't get reliable snow in places where there's no water falling from the sky. Unless you're at a snowfield, where most of the snow on the lower slopes is made by snow machines.
I empathise with your dislike of Jindabyne, but the government-owned Jindabyne Sport and Rec is worth a look. It's a little way out of town, and offers comfortable self-contained cottages for less than you'd pay in the main resorts. Or, you could rent a holiday house somewhere more affordable, like Bega, and take day trips up to Thredbo.
If you actually want to be able to step out of your front door and into natural snow, that isn't going to happen in Australia outside of the expensive 'ski in, ski out' resorts. Your best bet there is to save up for a trip to somewhere colder, like New Zealand.
posted by embrangled at 9:46 PM on July 1, 2010
If you want guaranteed snow, though, the snowfields may actually be your best option. Most of NSW is still in drought, and even though it's a cold winter, you won't get reliable snow in places where there's no water falling from the sky. Unless you're at a snowfield, where most of the snow on the lower slopes is made by snow machines.
I empathise with your dislike of Jindabyne, but the government-owned Jindabyne Sport and Rec is worth a look. It's a little way out of town, and offers comfortable self-contained cottages for less than you'd pay in the main resorts. Or, you could rent a holiday house somewhere more affordable, like Bega, and take day trips up to Thredbo.
If you actually want to be able to step out of your front door and into natural snow, that isn't going to happen in Australia outside of the expensive 'ski in, ski out' resorts. Your best bet there is to save up for a trip to somewhere colder, like New Zealand.
posted by embrangled at 9:46 PM on July 1, 2010
What about Cooma? I haven't stayed there myself, but living in Canberra I drive through it occasionally and it seems to be a bit of a stopping-off spot for the snow and ski-fields. It's probably a lot cheaper than actually staying "at the snow", but I have no idea what is actually involved in getting from Cooma to the snow once you're there.
posted by damonism at 10:00 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by damonism at 10:00 PM on July 1, 2010
Orange. Bathurst. Mount Canobolas! Brrrrrrrrrr. Insert shivering here.
It doesn't snow often, only occasionally. But it's bloody freezing up here right now. (I'm in Mudgee. Although it may be too cold to snow at the moment, I kid you not).
If you check the weather forecast and you're able to throw the kids in the car with a day or two's notice, you might be lucky. I don't know how easy it would be to get accommodation, in school holidays at short notice.
We did Jindabyne a couple of winters ago... wasn't as bad as I expected, got a relatively cheap cabin on the lakefront, a LOT cheaper than the snowfields. Hiring 2 kids snowsuits and boots cost around $100, I bought gloves for maybe $15 a pair. We don't ski, I just wanted the kids to have the chance to play in the snow. We went to Thredbo one day and some other skifield the next, they played in the snow, got dripping wet, freezing cold, and had a ball. Worth every cent.
Blue Mountains weather might also help. (But I notice that neither of my links have snow forecast... embrangled might be onto something with the drought theory.)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:17 AM on July 4, 2010
It doesn't snow often, only occasionally. But it's bloody freezing up here right now. (I'm in Mudgee. Although it may be too cold to snow at the moment, I kid you not).
If you check the weather forecast and you're able to throw the kids in the car with a day or two's notice, you might be lucky. I don't know how easy it would be to get accommodation, in school holidays at short notice.
We did Jindabyne a couple of winters ago... wasn't as bad as I expected, got a relatively cheap cabin on the lakefront, a LOT cheaper than the snowfields. Hiring 2 kids snowsuits and boots cost around $100, I bought gloves for maybe $15 a pair. We don't ski, I just wanted the kids to have the chance to play in the snow. We went to Thredbo one day and some other skifield the next, they played in the snow, got dripping wet, freezing cold, and had a ball. Worth every cent.
Blue Mountains weather might also help. (But I notice that neither of my links have snow forecast... embrangled might be onto something with the drought theory.)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:17 AM on July 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Kerasia at 9:37 PM on July 1, 2010