Perisher Ski Resort

Understand

Perisher is a ski resort that covers the areas of 1MISSING WIKILINK Perisher Valley, 2 Smiggin Holes and 3 Guthega, and the additional ski fields at 4 Blue Cow. There were originally four separate ski resorts at Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. It is now a single resort, sharing lift passes and the areas are all linked through a variety of lifts and the ski-tube railway. Perisher has a total of 47 lifts. It always pays to check snow conditions before you travel. It doesn't take long for the snow cover to become patchy, if there are a few warm days with rain - which can happen at any time of year.

Visitor information centre 5 Perisher Valley Office, 9914 Kosciuszko Road, Perisher Valley, ☏ +61 2 6457 4444, [email protected]. Winter (June to 1st week October): 8:30AM-4PM (closed 12:30-1PM); summer: M-F 8:30AM-4PM (closed noon-1PM). Sa Su all day.. The staff here are usually not just specialised into information about Perisher, but if you need any information with Charlotte Pass, this place generally won't hesitate to help. (updated Oct 2021)

Getting there

See the article on the Snowy Mountains for advice on how to access the general area. This article has specific advice on local access.

By car There is vehicle access to Perisher Valley, Smiggins Holes and Guthega. Roads are sealed and well maintained, and usually remain open in all but the most adverse weather conditions. Snow chains are required to be carried in winter, even if the road is clear and the weather is fine. If they are required to be fitted, there will be signs at the appropriate fitting bay. There can be extensive delays on the roads between Perisher and Jindabyne at peak times, and the traffic can come to a complete standstill in poor weather. Check the weather reports and road conditions on the web, or with the radio if you are coming from Jindabyne, and consider the Ski Tube as an alternative if the traffic reports are bad. Follow the signs and the Kosciuszko Road to Perisher from Jindabyne. Guthega turn is signposted to the right, and Smiggins is on the Perisher Road a few kilometres before Perisher Valley. Access to Blue Cow is only by skitube. Cars cannot be parked overnight at Perisher Valley or Smiggins and if you are staying overnight you need to park at Bullocks Flat and catch the skitube.

By skitube

The Skitube Alpine Railway runs from Bullocks Flat 21 km southwest of Jindabyne up through the national park and stops at both Perisher Valley and Blue Cow. To get to the skitube, follow the signs to Thredbo, and the entrance is on the right before the park entry. The ski-tube is $46 on top of the price of a lift-pass to get from Bullocks Flat to Perisher Valley. All lift-passes include the skitube between Perisher Valley and Blue Cow. If you aren't skiing, the ski-tube costs $84 return. Plenty of parking is available at Bullocks Flat. The tube itself can get crowded at peak times, especially when the road to Perisher is requiring chains to be fitted. When the road is open and clear, there is more room on the tube. Naturally i

Getting around

In the winter During the winter, you are likely to want to get between the ski areas of Perisher Valley, Smiggins Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. There are two skitube stops within the resort itself: Perisher Valley (close to lifts up Mount Perisher and Back Perisher Mountain) and Blue Cow. You can use the skitube to transfer between the two, included in the price of a lift pass. There is a shuttle bus that runs between Perisher Valley and the Smiggins Holes. You can get between all the areas within the resort on ski or snowboard, and by the lifts if you can ski at level 3, consult the maps and the home runs are well signposted. From Blue Cow to Perisher Valley, follow the Perisher Home Run from the top of the Pleasant Valley Quad at Blue Cow. From there the easiest way is on the Happy Valley run, to the bottom of the Home Rope Tow. Don't take the Liechardt T-bar (which loads next to the Home Rope Tow) unless you want to go the black way. From Perisher Valley to Blue Cow, take the Quad back to the top of Back Mount Perisher, and then it is a bit of traverse to Blue Cow. Guthega is a traverse from Blue Cow, from behind the top of the Blue Cow terminal. To get to Smiggins while avoiding traverses, best to go via Perisher Valley, head off down the left of Front Valley to the bottom of the Piper T-bar - an easy and quick trip.

In the summer The only options are to drive. Blue Cow is inaccessible in the summer, and there will be no one in the carparks at any of the other resorts to bother you. There is a link road between Guthega and Smiggins only open in the summer.

See

Skiing is Perisher's main attraction, however during the summer the area is open, and is great for hiking. Explore the Porcupine Walk, and walk through the massive granite boulders which open up on panoramic views of the Main Range and Valley. Take the 4-km Charlotte Pass trail and other mountain biking paths during summer.

Do

Skiing and snowboarding

The entire resort is open to both skiers and snowboarders. A single-day lift pass costs a whopping $216 for adults as of 2023, with minor discounts available if you book multiple days or opt for a morning/afternoon-only pass. Factor in gear rental and a family of four will fork out over $1000 per day. Lifts start to open around 8:30AM, and start to close at 4:30PM. You can ski the front valley the whole duration. The front valley at Perisher Valley tends to be the busiest area. It is open first, closed last, has the most snowmaking equipment and a greater concentration and capacity of lifts. Smiggins Holes is a great place to begin skiing, especially for kids. It has short J-bar and a short chair lift green runs. A Perisher front valley you really are stuck on the conveyor belt magic carpet until you can manage the heights of the front valley eight chair. One you can ride a chairlift without a problem, Blue Cow is the next place to head to. The long pleasant valley run is the best green run in the area, and probably the least crowded green run in the area. The width gives lots of interest and variety even if repeating the same run. Once you can manage this without a problem, then you really can ski between Perisher, Smiggins, and Blue Cow, and get all the skiing you can handle for the day.

Lessons Perisher offers skiing and snowboarding lessons. There are five grades of lessons ranging from complete beginner to parallel turns (skiers) and intermediate terrain (snowboarders) together with a special advanced class covering advanced runs (skiers) and half pipes (snowboarders). Classes run three times a day from Perisher, Smiggins Holes and Blue Cow bases. Adults and children have separate classes with about 15 students per class for 2½ hours. Private or small group lessons that run from 1 to 2 hours are available on a pre-booked or walk-in basis.

Children Perisher has a few ways to keep the children busy and