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    New South Wales, Australia

    Charlotte Pass

    Australia's oldest and highest ski resort at 1,765m — snowbound in winter, car-free, and 8km from Perisher in Kosciuszko National Park.

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    Season 2026
    Opens
    21 June 2026
    Closes
    6 Sept 2026
    Days open
    77
    Annual snow
    2.5m
    Snow record
    472cm
    Last winter · 2026
    85% of a typical winter559cm
    Explore 2 winters of snowfall→
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Charlotte Pass holds two distinctions no other Australian ski resort can claim: it is both the oldest and the highest, with a village base elevation of 1,765m and a history stretching back to the original Kosciuszko Chalet, built in 1930. The resort is the only ski area in Australia to be completely snowbound in winter — there is no road access between June and October, and all visitors arrive by oversnow transport from Perisher. That enforced remoteness defines the experience: no cars, no crowds, no lift queues, and direct access to the Main Range of Kosciuszko National Park within walking distance of Australia's highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko at 2,228m.

    The ski area covers 124 acres across 24 runs between 1,765m and 1,964m, with a terrain mix that weights toward advanced and beginner skiers — 38% advanced and 33% beginner — served by five lifts. The compact bowl layout means the entire village is ski-in ski-out, and the low skier numbers relative to the terrain give Charlotte Pass a character genuinely unlike any other Australian resort. It is also the coldest location in Australia, recording a low of −23°C, with winter temperatures regularly dropping below −10°C.

    199m
    Vertical
    24
    Runs
    124 acres
    Skiable
    2.5m
    Annual snow
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    The Terrain

    24 runs across 124 acres skiable

    Charlotte Pass is a small resort of around 50 hectares on the main range in Kosciuszko National Park, with a base at 1,765 metres and a summit at 1,964 metres, a vertical of 199 metres. In winter there is no road access, so guests arrive by Skitube and an oversnow transfer, which keeps the village car-free and quiet. Its 24 runs divide almost evenly across the grades: 33% beginner, 29% intermediate and 38% advanced, with no expert category. That unusual balance gives a small mountain with more bite at the top end than its footprint suggests.

    A triple chair and a handful of T-bars and surface lifts cover the slopes, which are largely open. Guthrie's Chutes are steep, hike-access lines that hold snow longer, giving advanced skiers the most serious terrain, while the lower and wider runs suit newer skiers. Because the mountain is compact, the village sits close to the snow with ski-in, ski-out convenience. Charlotte Pass suits families who like a self-contained base, advanced skiers who enjoy short, steep lines and visitors wanting a small, remote resort rather than a large lift network. Those chasing variety should look at bigger neighbours.

    Terrain split
    24
    runs
    24 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner8 runs · 33%
    Intermediate7 runs · 29%
    Advanced9 runs · 38%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
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    Time it right

    When to visit Charlotte Pass

    The 2026 season at Charlotte Pass runs from 21 June to 13 September, a tighter window than Perisher or Thredbo reflecting the resort's compact size rather than any limitation in snow. At 1,765m base elevation, Charlotte Pass receives more consistent natural snowfall than any other resort in Australia — the higher altitude converts precipitation that falls as rain at lower resorts into snow, and the average annual accumulation of 2.5 metres holds well into September. The resort sits above the rain shadow that affects parts of the Snowy Mountains, and the Main Range elevation means late-season coverage is typically reliable.

    The DayTripper package — which bundles oversnow transport, a lift pass and lunch — is the standard entry point for first-time visitors coming across from Perisher for the day. Overnight guests staying at the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel or the resort's independent lodges access the slopes directly from their accommodation, with the village's ski-in ski-out layout meaning the mountain is literally outside the front door.

    Season 2026
    21 June 2026
    Opens
    6 Sept 2026
    Closes
    77
    Days open
    2.5 m
    Annual snow
    The record

    Historical snowfall at Charlotte Pass

    Daily snow reports at Charlotte Pass go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.

    30 cm
    Snowiest day
    26 June 2025
    472 cm
    This winter · 2026
    so far
    559 cm
    Typical winter
    average of complete seasons
    Explore historical snowfall →
    Winter totals
    cm
    Past wintersThis winter
    Getting there

    Getting to Charlotte Pass, and where to stay

    Charlotte Pass sits at the end of Kosciuszko Road in the heart of Kosciuszko National Park, 8km south-west of Perisher Valley and approximately 45 minutes from Jindabyne by road and oversnow transport combined. In winter, the road beyond Perisher closes and access is exclusively via the Charlotte Pass oversnow transport fleet, which departs from the main Perisher centre. Visitors reaching Perisher by car or Skitube from Bullocks Flat can connect directly to the Charlotte Pass shuttle.

    In summer, the resort is accessible by a sealed road — a 35-minute drive from Jindabyne — and serves as the trailhead for the 18.6km return walk to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko. Canberra is approximately 3.5 hours by road, Sydney around six hours. The resort's position on the Main Range places it closer to Australia's highest alpine terrain than any other lift-served ski area in the country.

    Where to stay

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    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches

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    31 Oct 2026
    Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street

    Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street

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    31 Oct 2026
    Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years

    Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years

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    30 Oct 2026
    What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass

    What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass

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    30 Oct 2026
    Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace

    Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace

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    30 Oct 2026
    Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing

    Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing

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    29 Oct 2026
    Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup

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    29 Oct 2026
    Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season

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    28 Oct 2026

    Charlotte Pass Lift System

    Five lifts serve Charlotte Pass's 124 acres, scaled appropriately for a resort where intimate atmosphere and uncrowded terrain are central to the experience. The Kosciuszko Triple Chair is the mountain's main lift, accessing the central runs from the village base at 1,763m. The Pulpit T-bar serves the intermediate terrain on the resort's western face, while the Guthries High Speed Poma accesses the more demanding eastern slopes including Guthrie's Chutes — the resort's most challenging in-bounds lines. The Basin Poma opens up additional terrain on the upper mountain, and a carpet lift handles the beginner zone at the base.

    The compact lift network, combined with low daily skier numbers, means lift queues are essentially non-existent at Charlotte Pass — a practical reality the resort has maintained throughout its history. With 210m of vertical, laps are quick, and the absence of waiting time means the effective amount of skiing per day compares favourably with larger resorts despite the modest trail count.

    5lifts across 3 types

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    1
    Triple Chair
    3
    T-Bars
    1
    Surface Lift
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    Charlotte Pass lift system

    Charlotte Pass is served by 5 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.

    More Charlotte Pass intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.