Perisher
Australia's largest ski resort with 4 linked areas, 113 runs and 1,245 hectares in the Snowy Mountains. Open June to October.
Season 2026
Opens
6 June 2026
Closes
25 Sept 2026
Days open
111
Annual snow
2.6m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Perisher is Australia's largest ski resort and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, spanning 1,245 hectares across four interconnected ski areas within Kosciuszko National Park in the NSW Snowy Mountains. The combined resort links Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega across seven peaks, serving 113 runs on terrain that rises from 1,699m to a summit of 2,054m atop Mt Perisher. The terrain breakdown skews firmly toward intermediates — 60% of runs are graded blue — though the resort's sheer scale means beginners, advanced skiers and freestylers each have dedicated zones across the mountain.
Access is via Australia's only underground rack railway, the Skitube Alpine Railway, a Swiss-designed train that departs Bullocks Flat on the Alpine Way and travels through a 6.3km tunnel — reaching 550m below the surface at its deepest point — to Perisher Valley, with a further connection to Blue Cow. Opened in 1987, the Skitube remains the defining feature of Perisher's access infrastructure and the most practical option for visitors wanting to avoid chains on the mountain road. Perisher is part of the Vail Resorts Epic Pass network, connecting the resort with Mt Hotham, Falls Creek and a global portfolio of ski destinations.
355m
Vertical
113
Runs
3,076 acres
Skiable
2.6m
Annual snow
Epic Pass
Pass
The Terrain
113 runs across 3,076 acres skiable
Perisher is the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, with about 1,245 hectares across four connected villages in Kosciuszko National Park: Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. It has 113 runs between 1,699 and 2,054 metres, a vertical of 355 metres, and a lift network of 45 lifts. The split is 22% beginner, 60% intermediate, 17% advanced and 1% expert, so this is firmly cruising country. The terrain is rolling and open, and covering it takes time, because the four areas are linked by a mix of lifts and traverses.
Smiggin Holes is the first-timer area, with gentle slopes and carpet-style lifts. Blue Cow, reached by Skitube, has long blue runs plus black runs such as Kamikaze and Show Boat. Guthega has quieter slopes served by the Freedom Chair, and Front Valley holds a large terrain park. Perisher Valley, also called Mount Perisher, offers the widest mix. Perisher suits families, groups of mixed ability and intermediates who want variety, with plenty of open, rolling pistes to explore over several days. Experts will find limited steeper terrain, so it works better as a groomed-run destination than a challenge.
Terrain split
113
runs
113 runs across 4 grades
Beginner25 runs · 22%
Intermediate68 runs · 60%
Advanced19 runs · 17%
Expert1 run · 1%
Time it right
When to visit Perisher
The 2026 season at Perisher runs from 6 June to 5 October, a four-month window that represents one of the longest seasons of any Australian ski resort. Average annual snowfall reaches 2.6 metres, and the resort's position above 1,699m ensures reliable natural snow coverage across the season's core months of July and August. Snowmaking infrastructure covers 4.4 square kilometres of terrain with 240 snow guns, providing early-season and shoulder-period coverage when natural falls are lighter.
The Queen's Birthday long weekend in June has historically marked the official season opener for the Snowy Mountains, with the Snowy Mountains of Music Festival running at Perisher Valley across that weekend each year. The back end of the season in September draws a more local crowd and is well regarded for quieter lifts and softening spring snow. Night skiing operates on selected evenings throughout the season, with the floodlit terrain park accessible under lights.
Season 2026
6 June 2026
Opens
25 Sept 2026
Closes
111
Days open
2.6 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Perisher
Daily snow reports at Perisher go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
40 cm
Snowiest day
26 June 2025
215 cm
This winter · 2026
so far
290 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Perisher, and where to stay
Perisher sits within Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains of southern New South Wales, approximately 30 minutes from the resort town of Jindabyne and 20 minutes from the Skitube's Bullocks Flat terminal at the Alpine Way. Canberra is the nearest major city, around two and a half hours by road via the Snowy Mountains Highway through Cooma and Jindabyne. Sydney is approximately five to six hours by car, while Melbourne is roughly seven hours. All vehicles entering Kosciuszko Road in winter conditions are required to carry snow chains.
Jindabyne is the primary accommodation and services base for Perisher visitors, offering a full range of accommodation, restaurants, ski hire and lift ticket outlets at lower cost than on-mountain lodging. On-snow accommodation is concentrated in Perisher Valley and is predominantly lodge and chalet style, with ski-in, ski-out access from most properties. The Skitube terminal at Bullocks Flat provides parking for up to 3,500 cars and 250 coaches, with ski hire, a ticket office and a snow school also operating from the terminal building.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Perisher, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
Winter has officially started in North America, and it is one blue run long. On Wednesday 28 October, Arapahoe Basin fired up the Black Mountain Express at around 10:30 am after a surprise announcement just hours earlier, becoming the first major North American resort open for 2026/27. Cold nights, a dusting of natural snow and a lot of snowmaking made it happen in the resort’s 80th winter. More terrain is promised as the snow guns keep running.
28 Oct 2026
Perisher Ski Trails
Downloadable Perisher trail map
Terrain split
113
runs
Beginner22%
Intermediate60%
Advanced17%
Expert1%
3,076 acres skiable1,245 hectares
Resort Stats
Elevation
Base1699m
Summit2054m
Annual snowfall
2.6m
Season
2026
6 June 2026 - 25 Sept 2026
Trail coverage
113 runs
3,076 acres (1,245 ha)
Perisher ski trails
Perisher offers 113 runs across a mix of difficulties. The terrain split and trail map here show how the mountain breaks down so you can plan a day that suits your group.
- • Match runs to your ability - the terrain split shows how much of Perisher is beginner, intermediate and advanced.
- • Check grooming and open-run status against the live conditions before committing to the upper mountain.
- • Early season and after fresh snow, favour the lifts serving your preferred grade to make the most of the day.
More Perisher intelligence: trail map, lift system, resort overview.