Cruising up the Alpine way late on a Friday night with tired eyes after the long drive yet brimming with excitement for the weekend ahead. The cars crammed with ski gear, mates and enough snacks to feed an army. You’ll arrive in Thredbo’s European style alpine village and immediately feel the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
Flat Whites & Fresh Tracks
With a bit of luck it’ll snow overnight (or at the very least blow in from the range on Thredbo’s famous north westerlies) and you’ll wake up Saturday morning, surrounded by Australian snow gums to see the orange pinkish/hue of a sunrise over the top of the mountains. Shake your buddies awake, sort out the mess of thermals, socks and gloves at the bottom of your ski bag and get going!
Sit down for a hearty breakfast at Central Road 2625 or grab a quick breakfast burrito and coffee from Avalanche in your bid to make first chair. With a full belly and caffeine levels topped up, head up to the Cruiser area to shake the cobwebs off and get your ski legs back on squatters bowl and walkabout.
If you’re new to the mountain or looking for some ski buddies make sure you're at the top of Gunbarrel Express at 11am for a free two hour mountain tour to find out how to make the most of over 480 hectares of classic Australian tree lined and open bowl terrain and multiple terrain parks.
On a bluebird day you can’t not come to Thredbo without catching Karels t-bar, to the highest lifted point in Australia, and ringing the bell at the top. Photos taken jump back onto your skis or board and feel the burn with the country’s longest ski run, the Super Trail at 5.9kms long and 672m of vertical or traverse across towards Dead horse gap and turn into to Golf Course Bowl for some epic drops, rollers and POW stashes. Just don't miss the exit run!
To Lunch or Not to Lunch?
When the skiing’s good and the stoke is high, lunch can often be a bit of an afterthought as you ferociously cram down muesli bars on the chairlift to maximise your time on the slopes!
However if snacks aren’t cutting it and you can feel your legs turning to jelly, Thredbo has plenty of on mountain dining options. Ski into Kareela hut and graze off a stacked platter board, champagne in hand. Or dive into a gourmet goulash while perusing their extensive wine list and sample the wide range of locally made Wild Brumby’s schnapps.
Speaking of schnapps! For the full après-ski experience gather some friends and tip back a shot-ski to the accompaniment of cheers and bell ringing from diners and staff alike. If you’re after something a bit faster head to Black Sallees for a hearty burger and invigorating hot chocolate (consider adding a shot of baileys or Crème de menthe) so you can jump back onto the slopes fully refreshed to make the most of the afternoon.
Après O’clock
Skiing done, head straight to the outside fire pits at the Mumm après lounge at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel. As the drinks start flowing get your après fix with a rocking free event calendar featuring Australia’s biggest and best bands and DJs from Client Liaison to The Rubens, Hayden James, Set-Mo and The Preachers who have all partied up a storm. Choose from the Corona Sunset live music events, cosy live gigs at the Denman (ski boots welcome…and encouraged!) and the Heineken Saturday village square concert series under a pumping night alpine sky.
Waking up Slope side
Rolling out of bed the next day with aches in places you didn’t even know could ache grab a pastry or brekky roll and a coffee at the Bakery and hustle down to first chair at Kosciuszko Express. A few fast groomer laps under the Kosci chair through the crisp morning air with the smell of eucalyptus and the headache from the previous night’s antics disappearing you’ll be ready to explore the rest of the mountain.
On one of Thredbo’s many bluebird days head up Anton’s t-bar for a glance out towards Mt Kosciuszko into the Main Range. If you’re feeling adventurous sign up for one of Thredbo’s guided Backcountry Adventures, where you’ll not only learn important backcountry safety skills but also ski and board some incredible and unique terrain. All levels of skiing and boarding ability welcome.
Goggle Tans & Park Laps
From the T-bars take the traverse over towards the cruiser area and drop into Waimea for some deep windblown POW stashes all the way down to Merritt’s for lunch. Steins of beer and giant pretzels in hand on the deck at Merritt’s you can work on your goggle tan and share tales of near misses, après antics and ski trips past.
Test your park skills with some Easy Rider T-bar laps or head over to Anton’s to watch some local groms or visiting pros hurl themselves off massive jumps and rails. Dart through the trees, leaping off rocks and wind lips on Michaels Mistake before hitting High Noon and cruising down to Friday flat with sore legs and wide grins.
Time to Hit the Road
The cinnamon donuts and hot chocolates at the Friday Flat hut are the perfect end of day treat and a much needed energy boost for the long drive down the hill and back to the city.
Boots off and skis, and snowboards thrown haphazardly in the back. Set off for home with the sun setting behind you, completely spent but stoked on life.
Spending 48hrs in Australia’s premier ski resort never gets old.
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