Alpine resorts look back on a successful winter season

October 7, 2022

Recreation / Tourism /

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 11^th 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).

6th October 2022 - Australia’s Winter sports given $28 million funding boost

19th September 2022 - Mt Buller welcomes weekend of snow

12th September 2022 - Alpine Resorts Victoria appoints Amber Gardner as inaugural Chief Executive

1st September 2022 - Parks Victoria releases draft designs for Hotham Alpine Crossing track

26th August 2022 - New Snow Play and Activity Hub planned for Mount Hotham

11th August 2022 - Victorian Government appoints inaugural board for state’s alpine sector

4th August 2022 - Expressions of Interest now open for commercial operations at Mt Hotham’s snowplay activity zone

12th June 2022 - Snow delays construction work at Selwyn Resort

11th June 2022 - Heavy snowfalls mark commencement of Victoria’s winter sport season

8th June 2022 - Thredbo reports best start to winter season in over 20 years

1st June 2022 - Early winter snowfalls prompt early opening at Victoria’s Mt Buller

10th May 2022 - New Zealand’s ski fields preparing to open for the 2022 winter season

5th May 2022 - Snow flurries on Mt Kosciuszko a sign of approaching winter sports season

31st May 2022 - Encouraging snow falls welcome as Australian ski resorts prepare for opening

6th April 2022 - Mt Hotham Resort Management releases early entry permits

29th March 2022 - Thredbo Interschools Championships attracts its largest number of mountain bike riders

25th February 2022 - Thredbo Resort reveals winter 2022 offerings

16th September 2021 - Australia’s ski industry under threat after second winter of COVID-19 lockdowns

24th August 2021 - Lockdowns see closure of all ski resorts in Australia and New Zealand

10th August 2021 - Mt Buller reopens for snow lovers from regional Victoria

28th July 2021 - Falls Creek and Hotham resorts reopen and welcome guests back

4th March 2021 - Falls Creek announce early bird sale of 2021 Season Permits

4th June 2021 - Vail Resorts opens Perisher early for 2021 snow season

14th April 2020 - Construction advances on Thredbo’s new gondola

24th July 2018 - 10-year $10 million investment announced for Charlotte Pass ski area

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