Skiing & snowboarding tips for beginners

Plan ahead

Make more time for yourself to focus on those slopes by organising everything you need in advance. Buy your lift passes before you travel, especially if you’re planning to ski on peak weekends or during school holidays. There are day, week and season passes available at Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass and Selwyn Snow Resort. Find an option that works for you.

Kids having fun in the snow at Thredbo in Kosciuszko National Park, Snowy Mountains

Thredbo, Kosciuszko National Park

Accommodation choices include staying at a resort ‘on snow’, or at one of nearby snowy towns, which may better suit some budgets. Make sure you book early. If you’re skiing at Perisher or Charlotte Pass, remember to also book the Skitube which runs from Bullocks Flat to Perisher and Blue Cow. You can leave your car in the car park.

First day of Winter at Moonbah Huts in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains

Moonbah Huts, Jindabyne - Credit: Brett Smith

You will need to purchase a pass to access Kosciuszko National Park. An annual digital pass allows entry to all the national parks in NSW, and can be purchased from the National Parks website. Annual passes are not available for purchase at the park entry gates. Make sure to carry snow chains for your 2WD vehicle and read about driving in snow conditions.

Book a lesson

Lessons are the best way to learn and progress, no matter what your level. All resorts have their own snow schools, which offer private and group lessons. You’ll find plenty of ski school options at Thredbo, Perisher and Charlotte’s Pass. Book ahead to make sure you don’t miss out.

Young girl learning how to ski with an instructor at Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains

Thredbo, Snowy Mountains

Come prepared

You can hire everything you need at the resort or in the nearby alpine towns of Jindabyne, Cooma and Berridale. You will also need to bring goggles, ski gloves, ski socks and a beanie. Grab some snow boots for walking around off the snow, sunnies, lip balm and sunscreen.

Before you head out remember to:

Ensure you have good thermals that will keep you warm – like wool, fleece and down.
Check the forecast - remember that wind usually equates to being colder.
Keep a trail map in your pocket - and some emergency snacks such as energy bars.
Drink plenty of water through the day and head inside if it gets too cold.

People walking to the slopes in Thredbo, Snowy Mountains

Thredbo, Kosciuszko National Park - Credit: Snowy Mountains Tourism

Expert tip

If you’re staying off the mountain, you can hire a locker at the resort to store your gear, so you don’t need to carry skis, poles and boots to and from your accommodation each day. Another good tip is to pack a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker so you can label your skis or snowboard. This will help you quickly find yours among the hordes of identical ones stacked together in the racks outside resort facilities.

Family heading out for skiing at Thredbo in Kosciuszko National Park, Snowy Mountains

Thredbo, Kosciuszko National Park

Where to go

Thredbo is the whole package with a buzzing alpine village offering great events and fun après ski options, a dedicated beginners area as well as Australia’s longest ski runs and an alpine gondola.
Perisher and its four linked resorts make up the Southern Hemisphere's largest alpine resort. Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Blue Cow have terrain and activities to suit all skill levels.
Charlotte Pass is a charming and intimate resort, perfect for families and beginner skiers. Australia’s highest resort, Charlotte Pass is snowbound in winter, meaning no crowds, cars, or long queues to deal with.
Selwyn Snow Resort is a family-friendly resort, popular with beginners, offering gentle varied slopes and a snow park for tubing and tobogganing. The resort is set to reopen in 2022, after closing due to bushfire damage.