Mountains vs Price
Hey BW,
This is some thing I struggle with every year its the heart wanting to ride every thing white I can find and the cost of the mountains in Australia. Mate and I were discussing the options and what we would like to ride and what would be a good move this year on the southern hemisphere. It’s always an interesting discussion and we have New Zealand a stones throw away.
Australian lift ticket prices and entry to mountain with the extra cost of travel and then the overpriced food which is absolute shit. It’s like a mental power struggle for me every year.
This is an older article from news.com.au, it gives you a good idea what is on offer.
In no way am I turning people off what they do every year and enjoy. I’m always a supporter of the local scene but it’s just getting too hard now. The discussion is always good. 
It is a good discussion and I honestly don’t know what my cut off point is!
I am in a unique position as I no longer pay for accom nor lift passes (at my ‘home’ mountain)
I think there is a lot of deals to be had. Like anywhere you need to shop around.
Package deals can be great, but you can also find better bargains sometimes piecing things together.
I honestly don’t think I would ever give up skiing in Australia. I know some people have. But knowing i can jump in the car and head down and be on snow in 6 hrs is too hard to pass up! Those who shun Aussie slopes amazes me. I love the white stuff too much!
It is a good discussion and I honestly don’t know what my cut off point is!
I am in a unique position as I no longer pay for accom nor lift passes (at my ‘home’ mountain)
I think there is a lot of deals to be had. Like anywhere you need to shop around.
Package deals can be great, but you can also find better bargains sometimes piecing things together.
I honestly don’t think I would ever give up skiing in Australia. I know some people have. But knowing i can jump in the car and head down and be on snow in 6 hrs is too hard to pass up! Those who shun Aussie slopes amazes me. I love the white stuff too much!
I love riding in Oz the bush surrounding you and I have been a wombat trekking through the snow. Amazing sight but I thought he/she should have been in bed.
I have a 4hr trip and I know you can get the hero pass for like $699 for the season. I usually only go twice a year in Oz so it’s not worth the value for me. You get free pass and accommodation! Score!
Shunning I can be very easy with the long cues and high prices on the lifts.
Shunning I can be very easy with the long cues
haha yeah I don’t have that problem either!
But I was having the discussion on the weekend actually with some older men folk…
They claim Mon - Fri out of school hols that the lines are shorter than they used to be.
They genuinely believe visitor numbers are down.
If you go mid week during the school term, you will have no issues with lines at all, unless maybe its a friday and good snow
It’s next to impossible to argue the fact that Australia gets the raw end of the deal when it comes to the snow
In comparison to Japan which admittedly I am in love with Australia loses out in most categories
Snow Quality - Most of the time you are riding on a thin layer of man made on slab of ice. 2.5m/season vs 15m and 3foot overnight dumps. I can’t really hold this against anyone though it’s the nature of the geography and weather (the continual overuse of the word powder shits me to no end though)
Lift Prices - Two to three times the cost for a much more limited experience, yeah it sucks
Lift Lines - Ergh probably my biggest pet peeve. I dread getting to the end of the run knowing it’s going to be a long wait. What annoys me even more is the lack of ettiquete in the lines so much pushing in/smoking/board taps/not filling chairs etc. Hate it!
Run Length - Short runs less than a fifth of the length combined with lift lines is a bad combo. But once again you can’t help geography.
Food - Shocking and this is actually something where they could up the game big time here. You just know you are getting overcharged for substandard unhealthy food because we have no other choice whilst on mountain. In Japan you have a large choice of delicious hot, healthy and filling meals all for under $10. Even if they upped there game on BYO options like places to sit and eat or reheat food.
Village/Accomodation - In terms of Perisher, there isn’t any! The charm of walking through snow covered villages with the smells of the many ramen restaurants or izakayas is incomparible. On top of that there’s many budget accommodation options. The fact that I’ll pay near as much to camp 40mins away from the slopes as I would for a on snow large room to myself with toilet/shower and hot breakfast included is laughable.
Now on the flip side what I can do here is regularly ride with mates which I’m absolutely looking forward to. For this reason you do crazy things like consider heading down for a weekend to ride on a 10cm base with two runs open and still look forward to it!
A freedom pass combined with camping/budget station style accommodation helps relieve some of the ongoing costs (petrol and food still add up though)
At this stage I still feel passionate enough about boarding that while finances permit I will continue to embrace the Aussie snow season as the alternate option of sitting at home being miserable about winter/life makes it a no brainer.
It’s next to impossible to argue the fact that Australia gets the raw end of the deal when it comes to the snow
In comparison to Japan which admittedly I am in love with Australia loses out in most categories
Snow Quality - Most of the time you are riding on a thin layer of man made on slab of ice. I can’t really hold this against anyone though it’s the nature of the geography and weather (the continual overuse of the word powder shits me to no end though)
Lift Prices - Two to three times the cost for a much more limited experience, yeah it sucks
Lift Lines - Ergh probably my biggest pet peeve. I dread getting to the end of the run knowing it’s going to be a long wait. What annoys me even more is the lack of ettiquete in the lines so much pushing in/smoking/board taps/not filling chairs etc. Hate it!
Run Length - Short runs less than a fifth of the length combined with lift lines is a bad combo. But once again you can’t help geography.
Food - Shocking and this is actually something where they could up the game big time here. You just know you are getting overcharged for substandard unhealthy food because we have no other choice whilst on mountain. In Japan you have a large choice of delicious hot, healthy and filling meals all for under $10. Even if they upped there game on BYO options like places to sit and eat or reheat food.
Village/Accomodation - In terms of Perisher, there isn’t any! The charm of walking through snow covered villages with the smells of the many ramen restaurants or izakayas is incomparible. On top of that there’s many budget accommodation options. The fact that I’ll pay near as much to camp 40mins away from the slopes as I would for a on snow large room to myself with toilet/shower and hot breakfast included is laughable.
Now on the flip side what I can do here is regularly ride with mates which I’m absolutely looking forward to. For this reason you do crazy things like consider heading down for a weekend to ride on a 10cm base with two runs open and still look forward to it!
A freedom pass combined with camping/budget station style accommodation helps relieve some of the ongoing costs (petrol and food still add up though)
At this stage I still feel passionate enough about boarding that while finances permit I will continue to embrace the Aussie snow season as the alternate option of sitting at home being miserable about winter/life makes it a no brainer.
Very valid points.
The idea of going riding with mates is my only draw card to ride on the Australian mountains. It really does give you the activity and fun in the Aussie winter. Combined with the “deep pow” in Oz! hehe jking.
The food is hot dogs and chips, it’s like being at an amusement park. It’s a nice draw card for a family trip if they put in more BYO options. Ultimately its a great experience for young kids. For me I think might be time to just work harder in the winter and bail out to the North for a trip. NZ is another draw card and a new adventure.
Either way ride on! ... ride on! :D
Having never been anywhere but perisher.. I can’t comment on the snow quality etc..
but I can offer a few tips..
I get 4-5 in my car.. And I can get from Sydney to the skitube and back to accom on one tank.. Then fill up, another ski tube and them back to Sydney, (on a weekend trip..) usually around 130 all up.. With 4 in the car, that’s 32.50 each.. We just call it 30..
then we get 2 cars full of people.. 8-10 and rent a house. We are paying 65 a night for 2 nights weekend after the long weekend. And in August when we do 12 nights we are paying 50 a night… With 10 people.. Which keeps the cost down.. Usually I pack my own food.. Zip lock bags with lollies, like snakes etc. Are good when in the lift line or sitting for a few mins.. ( I keep these in a jacket pocket) also take a few fun sized chocolates (mars bars, milky ways etc) again good snack.. Keep up the energy..) also take the shelf ready twiggy/salami sticks.. They are individually wrapped..)
and a few times I’ve made wraps the night before, ham/chicken/salami, with cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato.. Wrapped in foil and kept in the outer pockets of the bag and they stay cool enough.. (if its going to be a warmer day I take an extra sandwich bag and put snow in it and put it in the pocket with the wraps) if I’m.cold I’ll buy hot chips or the usual sausage sandwich at bluecow!
I find travelling with more people makes it cheaper.. And buying food beforehand and taking some with us, I get all the half price shapes, fun sized share packs etc before we go when they are on special.. And I make breakfast and dinner most nights… When we have a house.. When we do a weekend.. (fri/sat for me) we usually get Italian from nuggets in jindy.. Pretty decent pizzas.. And we just share.. (I don’t feel like cooking after working 10/11 hours the day before, sleeping 4-5 hours that night.. Driving 6 hours boarding 8 hours.. ) we leave at 2am Friday mornings..
Also we avoid school holidays.. And during the week is definitely quieter.. We were doing side saddle into rollercoaster, and back up ridge.. And we would just board up to the chair pretty much.. Maybe wait for one chair infront.. And that was a Friday..
Having never been anywhere but perisher.. I can’t comment on the snow quality etc..
but I can offer a few tips..
I get 4-5 in my car.. And I can get from Sydney to the skitube and back to accom on one tank.. Then fill up, another ski tube and them back to Sydney, (on a weekend trip..) usually around 130 all up.. With 4 in the car, that’s 32.50 each.. We just call it 30..
then we get 2 cars full of people.. 8-10 and rent a house. We are paying 65 a night for 2 nights weekend after the long weekend. And in August when we do 12 nights we are paying 50 a night… With 10 people.. Which keeps the cost down.. Usually I pack my own food.. Zip lock bags with lollies, like snakes etc. Are good when in the lift line or sitting for a few mins.. ( I keep these in a jacket pocket) also take a few fun sized chocolates (mars bars, milky ways etc) again good snack.. Keep up the energy..) also take the shelf ready twiggy/salami sticks.. They are individually wrapped..)
and a few times I’ve made wraps the night before, ham/chicken/salami, with cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato.. Wrapped in foil and kept in the outer pockets of the bag and they stay cool enough.. (if its going to be a warmer day I take an extra sandwich bag and put snow in it and put it in the pocket with the wraps) if I’m.cold I’ll buy hot chips or the usual sausage sandwich at bluecow!I find travelling with more people makes it cheaper.. And buying food beforehand and taking some with us, I get all the half price shapes, fun sized share packs etc before we go when they are on special.. And I make breakfast and dinner most nights… When we have a house.. When we do a weekend.. (fri/sat for me) we usually get Italian from nuggets in jindy.. Pretty decent pizzas.. And we just share.. (I don’t feel like cooking after working 10/11 hours the day before, sleeping 4-5 hours that night.. Driving 6 hours boarding 8 hours.. ) we leave at 2am Friday mornings..
This is exactly what I would do if I had that many mates keen to head down. Usually it is just me, the gf and at best 2 mates.
Makes it more expensive.
Having never been anywhere but perisher.. I can’t comment on the snow quality etc..
but I can offer a few tips..
I get 4-5 in my car.. And I can get from Sydney to the skitube and back to accom on one tank.. Then fill up, another ski tube and them back to Sydney, (on a weekend trip..) usually around 130 all up.. With 4 in the car, that’s 32.50 each.. We just call it 30..
then we get 2 cars full of people.. 8-10 and rent a house. We are paying 65 a night for 2 nights weekend after the long weekend. And in August when we do 12 nights we are paying 50 a night… With 10 people.. Which keeps the cost down.. Usually I pack my own food.. Zip lock bags with lollies, like snakes etc. Are good when in the lift line or sitting for a few mins.. ( I keep these in a jacket pocket) also take a few fun sized chocolates (mars bars, milky ways etc) again good snack.. Keep up the energy..) also take the shelf ready twiggy/salami sticks.. They are individually wrapped..)
and a few times I’ve made wraps the night before, ham/chicken/salami, with cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomato.. Wrapped in foil and kept in the outer pockets of the bag and they stay cool enough.. (if its going to be a warmer day I take an extra sandwich bag and put snow in it and put it in the pocket with the wraps) if I’m.cold I’ll buy hot chips or the usual sausage sandwich at bluecow!I find travelling with more people makes it cheaper.. And buying food beforehand and taking some with us, I get all the half price shapes, fun sized share packs etc before we go when they are on special.. And I make breakfast and dinner most nights… When we have a house.. When we do a weekend.. (fri/sat for me) we usually get Italian from nuggets in jindy.. Pretty decent pizzas.. And we just share.. (I don’t feel like cooking after working 10/11 hours the day before, sleeping 4-5 hours that night.. Driving 6 hours boarding 8 hours.. ) we leave at 2am Friday mornings..
This is exactly what I would do if I had that many mates keen to head down. Usually it is just me, the gf and at best 2 mates.
Makes it more expensive.
Yeah I have the same issue usually just me and a mate. Two homies on the road.
It’s easy for us to do day trips living in Canberra. Finding we were going more and more we ended up opting for season passes this yr. Financially a better decision since we are going more and more. But for day trips I will be packing lunch now. Last year we had lunch that consisted of two powerades, two chocolate bars and two schnitzel rolls = $49. RIDICULOUS!!!
Yeah pack lunch is the way to go!
I have been doing it for close to 10yrs.
I am a bit of a princess about it and must have baked fresh bread. I am not joking!
I buy par bake rolls and every morning I bake them in the oven!
Yeah pack lunch is the way to go!
Yeah I’m going to have to consider doing that this season. I’m not interested in lugging junk food around with me so might have look into some form of sandwich/wrap option.
Main thing I’d need to look into is where I’d store the stuff. I sometimes ride with a pack but not always and last time I rode with a banana in there it ended in tears 
I’ve also been hesitant in the past as all the areas to sit down and grab a drink usually have signs up saying no BYO food.
Edit: I’ve just had an idea, I’ve always wanted to try some of Kims cooking so on days I’m riding just make doubles and carry it around with you all day and I’ll fix you up for a delicious healthy lunch! 
If you park your car up the mountain just leave it in the car, yes you have to go back to the car but it’s a small price to pay specially if you park at Smigs as it’s not far to walk from the lifts.
If you park your car up the mountain just leave it in the car
Unfortunately I can’t/don’t hense sometimes wearing the pack for water/layers :(
I also tend to spend most my time at BC/Guthega so it’s a fair trek back.