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.
Season 2026
Opens
21 June 2026
Closes
13 Sept 2026
Days open
84
Annual snow
3m
The Overview
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
3m
Annual snow
The Terrain
24 runs across 124 acres skiable
Charlotte Pass spreads 24 runs across 124 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 38%, with 8 beginner runs to find your feet and 9 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
24
runs
24 runs across 4 grades
Beginner8 runs · 33%
Intermediate7 runs · 29%
Advanced9 runs · 38%
Expert0 runs · 0%
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
13 Sept 2026
Closes
84
Days open
3 m
Annual snow
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
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Charlotte Pass, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
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26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
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26 Aug 2026
Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business
Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.
25 Aug 2026
Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed
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23 Aug 2026
Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola
The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.
23 Aug 2026
Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire
The death toll from Thursday night's fire at Restaurant Beverin in Thusis, Switzerland, has begun to firm up. One Swiss outlet, citing Graubünden Cantonal Police, reports that two of the five people initially reported missing have now been confirmed dead, leaving three unaccounted for. The building's collapsed stairwell and structural instability have slowed recovery efforts throughout. Here's what's changed since the fire broke out, and what's still unconfirmed.
22 Aug 2026
Live webcams
4 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Charlotte Pass's live webcams
Check live conditions across Charlotte Pass with 4 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Kosciuszko Triple Chair1763m
- The Kosciuszko Triple Chair is the backbone of Charlotte Pass, and this Charlotte Pass webcam at 1763 meters looks directly up its line from the base - giving you an immediate read on snow conditions across the resort's central terrain. Updated every 10 minutes, it captures the full character of the mountain from the ground up. The natural starting point for your daily conditions check at Australia's highest ski resort.
- Pulpit T-Bar1760m
- Charlotte Pass rewards intermediate skiers who seek out its quieter slopes, and this Charlotte Pass snow cam at 1760 meters keeps watch over the Pulpit T-Bar and the popular runs it serves. Updated every 10 minutes, it shows snow texture and surface conditions on some of the resort's most consistently enjoyable terrain. A reliable reference point for anyone planning a day focused on the middle of the mountain.
- Village Cam1784m
- Perched at the heart of one of Australia's most intimate ski villages, this Charlotte Pass livecam at 1784 meters captures the base area where the whole resort begins and ends each day. Updated every 10 minutes, it reveals morning arrival energy, weather moving through the valley, and the unhurried atmosphere that makes this place so different from the larger resorts down the road. Check it the night before to see what kind of morning is waiting for you.
- Top of the World Cam1756m
- Looking out to the backside of the ski resort this Charlotte Pass webcam shows the towering range which expands behind the ski resort.
Charlotte Pass snow cams FAQ
How often do Charlotte Pass snow cams update?
All Charlotte Pass snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Charlotte Pass.
Which Charlotte Pass webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Village Cam webcam at 1,784m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Charlotte Pass webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Charlotte Pass lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Charlotte Pass snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Charlotte Pass snow cams?
Check Charlotte Pass webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Charlotte Pass lift tickets?
Use our Charlotte Pass webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Charlotte Pass webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Charlotte Pass snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Charlotte Pass intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.