NSW's ski season isn't over yet — why Perisher is still worth the trip

There's still plenty of fun on offer at Perisher — take this as your sign to squeeze in one last ski trip before the season ends.

I won't sugarcoat it. You've probably already seen the TikToks. This winter won't go down as the best snow season on record. Aside from a few solid dumps of fresh powder in the NSW Snowy Mountains a few weeks back, snowfall has been thin. But as one bloke in the chairlift queue ahead of me put it: "Yeah, some years have had better snow. But the sky's blue, the vibes are high, and everyone's having a blast." I couldn't have put it better myself.

Much like my colleague Winnie, who recently tried Perisher's brand-new women-only ski weekend, I hadn't hit the slopes in a long time — close to 20 years, I'd say. I went twice in primary school, once to Selwyn and once to Perisher. I was a little rusty clipping into my skis, but after a couple of warm-up runs in the kids' section, that familiar rush of excitement came flooding back, and I started to glide.

Over our three days, we soaked up the majestic scenery of Mount Perisher under a bluebird sky, laughed our way down Pretty Valley and enjoyed mochas topped with whipped cream. We whizzed past twisted snow gums, marvelled at the pros pulling aerial tricks, spotted groups knocking back Spritzes, and smiled at the fearless little kids bombing down the mountain at a million miles an hour.

Perisher, about a 5.5-hour drive from Sydney (or half that if you break it up with a night in Canberra), is the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with 114 runs across four interconnected resort areas. Some may say it's no Japan or New Zealand, but I reckon it's still pretty spectacular. After all, where else on Earth can you find lush rainforests, sparse red desert, golden beaches and snow-capped mountains all on one island?

There are plenty of reasons why now is still a great time to hit the slopes. For one, even without much natural snowfall, the cold overnight temperatures mean the resort can keep making snow, so there are plenty of runs to explore. You've also missed the July school-holiday rush, so while you may still queue for the popular lifts, the lines are far shorter than in peak season.

The days are growing longer and sunnier, which means more time on the slopes (depending on how long your legs can handle it). And travelling later in the season can save you money — keep an eye out for deals and mid-week offers. I'd still recommend checking the snow forecast before you go, but if you've been dreaming of a snow trip this year, there's still time.

Looking for a place to stay? I spent a couple of nights at Barrakee Ski Lodge, a cosy family-run lodge just outside the main village with excellent three-course meals (much appreciated after a day on the slopes), alpine views and warm hospitality. The team even runs a complimentary shuttle to and from the slopes, so everything is taken care of.

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