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
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Charlotte Pass 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.