Alpine resorts look back on a successful winter season

With Australia's winter resorts have now closed for 2022, with Charlotte Pass, Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Mt Hotham ending activities on Sunday while Perisher and Thredbo finished its season on Monday afternoon after a final day of activity to coincide with NSW's long weekend.

Resorts have looked back on a successful season, Mt Hotham celebrating “high visitation”, with 17 weeks of operations described as “one of the resort’s longest seasons in a long time”.

Thredbo Resort advised it had enjoyed an “incredibly successful winter with consistently strong snow conditions, its biggest ever events calendar and a series of exclusive on-mountain experiences.”

Returning to hear normal operations after the COVID disruptions and lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, the resorts benefitted from pent-up demand from Australian skiers and snowboarders to head back to the mountains.

Accommodation bookings were high during the season, with all resorts and nearby regional towns enjoying above average visitation.

At Mt Hotham nearly 210,000 guests stayed almost half a million nights, an increase of 89% visitation on the 10 year average.

Advising that businesses and service providers appreciated the support, Steve Belli, President of the Mt Hotham Chamber of Commerce, stated “winter season 2022 was one for the record books; record visitation by new visitors and the return of all our old friends from the past. It has certainly given the businesses a boost as we continue to navigate recovery from bushfires and COVID-19.”

Reflecting on the season, Thredbo General Manager, Stuart Diver was pleased to have seen the resort have such a strong winter season.

Diver declared “I am so proud of the community and what we have achieved this winter. From the many guests who came to visit our beautiful mountain to all of our amazing staff, we thank everyone involved in helping to make this season one of our best.”

Officially opened to skiers and snowboarders on 11th June, this winter saw Thredbo experience one of its best ever starts to the snow season following a massive 125cm snowfall in the lead-up.

The snow conditions were consistent from the start, with regular snowfall top-ups and enhanced snowmaking capabilities keeping the snowpack in great shape throughout June and July. Mother Nature took it up a notch in August with world-class powder days and snowfall down to the village, ensuring there was a strong base when September arrived.

Summer and 2023
The resort are now looking to summer, with the expectation that increased visitation will continue during this traditionally quieter period.

Mt Hotham Visitor Services Director, Katie Bowker stated “hiking, cycling, trail running, cool mountain air, spectacular views - there is so much to love about summer at Mt Hotham, and we’re keen to entice people up from the valleys, which are always very very busy during the warmer months.”

Mt Hotham’s summer season commences on Saturday 3rd December, when the walking and running trails will be refreshed and mountain hosts will be ready to welcome visitors. 

Meanwhile, Mt Buller has unveiled its season membership for 2023 offering members the option to bundle in an IKON Base Pass to “supercharge” their 2023 and 2024 snow seasons.

Images: Season action at Mt Hotham (top and below, credit: Toshi Pander). and June snowfall at Thredbo (middle).