best place for a snow trip

[me217]

Hey all
just wanting to know the best place to take the family to see decent snow. Not really interested in skiing. Just wanting a budget snowy holiday. The problem I've found is when a search for it it comes up with skiing straight away and the prices go through the roof. I didn't buy a camper trailer to then spend almost the same again on accommodation. Of coarse I'm not planning on camping in the snow. I'm not that keen.

[scarpsD40]

Where are you based? NSW or Vic?

[me217]

Qld. In the heat. Hence the want to go check out some snow. Also budget accommodation. As the trip will be pretty pricey. Planning on driving.

[scarpsD40]

Try Canberra, Cooma or Adaminaby as possible options.

[pauljygrant]

Can highly recommend Bright, VIC.  Beautiful town with cycle path; local micro brewery and plenty cafés and restaurants; several campsites ( highly recommend Bright Holiday Park - not only permits camp fires all year round but also gives you details of local fire wood supplier who delivers ute load direct to your pitch); and just over hours drive up to either Falls Creek or Mt Hotham.
Best compromise of being close to the snow, great camping spot, and not having to actually camp in the snow.
Also camped at Jindabyne which is close to Thredbo.

[coops]

We go to mount buffalo a couple of times a year. Just hire some toboggans and its free to access the mount. The snow is a bit hit and miss. Some great places to stay in bright which is under 1 hr away

[Palmer]

Central Highlands in Tassie, but the boat trip might be a bit expensive for some...

[evolution]

Another option is albury wodonga.
You can camp with the camper at a powered sites so you can run a few heaters ( trust me you will need them) and during ski season Paul's ski shop ( wodonga)  does bus trips up to falls Creek. You can hire ski gear and toboggans and have a blast.
If you can brave an Aldi mayhem, they always have ski gear at the start of every season. It is definitely cheaper to buy there than hire if you go more than once.


Falls Creek is awesome,  there is an iga supermarket so you can get hot pies etc without having to spend a fortune. 
One of the main reasons we still live here is that during ski season I probably go snowboarding twice a week.
I drive up for the day and drive home that afternoon. 
About 2 hours round trip (depending on traffic. )

I will probably be running another snow trip this year as I can't see much snowboarding in my future this year with how my legs are
Was a bit of a bust last time due to not much snow, however the swaggers who attended made it a fantastic weekend.

If you want any help with it mate, feel free to pm me and I can give you my number.

Cheers
Evo

[dales133]

Porkpunka (s? ) is a good area in Vic. ..good campground and good forestry tracks for a bit of an explore and all in close proximity of plenty of ski fields and or just snow and great scenery.
We didn't go to ski just for a look around but was a great weekend

[Redcherokee]

Staying in NSW will reduce your travel just a bit. 

Accomodation gets cheaper the further away from the snow you are.  So Jindabyne is cheaper than Thredbo or Perisher, Berridale is cheaper agin, and Cooma is cheaper still.  I can't recommend Adaminaby for what you want to do, as the only resort it is close to is Mt Selwyn, so it is just less convenient for seeing the area.

Seriously consider camping at either Jindabyne or Cooma caravan parks.  With power to run an electric heater, electric blankets etc and warm clothing you will be OK.  People do it in those little pop up tents.  However, if you do this you are likely to have a few nights where it is too cold to cook and end up spending more on eating out. Swings and roundabouts.

If you don't bring the camper, then a unit is the way to go.  Once again, check out the caravan parks, or somewhere a bit out of town like The Station Resort.   With a unit you can do all your own meals and save money that way.  Look at realestate agents rentals as well as the main ski accomodation sites.  You will find most of them are cheaper when you go for a week deal with checkin/out on their choice of day (typically Sunday).

Do you have any choice about when you come?  Peak season is always dearer, but if you just want to play and not ski, then edge seasons may work out better.

From any of those areas you can do day trips to places like Tom Groggin, depending on weather.  In the wrong weather even bitumen roads are closed.  But there is always somewhere to explore.

[Bird]

Woods Point Pub...

[me217]

thanks everyone for your suggestions. the trip probably wont be till next year so there will be a 4 year old and a 9 monthish old coming along for the trip. im liking the idea of the camper. how well would a 11fin oil heater work in a closed up 12ft soft floor tent. the only times i've used my camper so far its been stinking hot and humid. my main question with leaving the camper at the caravan park is security.

[Tim - Stratford]

Woods Point Pub...

Winter gathering???   

Tim

[rags]

Another option to consider  nearby jindabyne that we stay at is here
http://www.alpinevillage.com.au/
It is affordable and comfy, but as it is owned by the Adventist Church they have a few rules regarding alcohol but still good, they have both camping or cabin options.
Another spot if you are on a budget is to stay at Talbingo and head up to MT Selwyn ,but snow can be scarce at times.

[Bird]

Winter gathering???   

Tim

BOOK IT!

[fishfinder]

Bungle Bungle national park

[Redcherokee]

my main question with leaving the camper at the caravan park is security.

Just make sure you lock the real valuables (cameras, phones, electronics) in the car out of sight when you are away from the camper and don't stress about it.  We also prefer not to leave the fridge outside the tent as you hear of local kiddies going through looking for alcohol.  That said, there are heaps and heaps of times we have left it out and we have never had an issue.

[Beachman]

Last year we wanted to experience a Snow/Ski holiday with our kids and like you I was shocked by the quotes we were given to stay in some of the bigger well know resorts in both NSW & Vic.

I was given a recommendation of staying at a town called Adaminaby and doing a daily drive to Mt Selwyn which is located about 40 minutes away. At first I wasn't overly keen on driving that distance each day, but seeing I could get accommodation/ski package for 1/3 of what I've previously been quoted at the larger ski fields, we decided we could live with doing a daily drive.

We are also in QLD so we took 2 days to drive down and the house we booked in Adaminaby was fantastic and the 40 minute drive to the Ski Fields was spectacular as it went so fast due to the amazing scenery.

As for Mt Selwyn we were lucky as last year was their best snow season for over 30 years, so we had a fantastic time. This resort is basic and older and doesn't have the double diamond black runs etc, but what appealed to us is it does cater for kids and beginners which was perfect for us. So this means no one gets cranky when you fall over 10 times and best of all there aren't huge line ups waiting to get up the mountain. But the down side apart from is due to it's location it's one of the last resort to get snow and first to lose it. So when booking I asked what's your coldest 2 weeks of the year and booked one of them to increase our chances.

In saying that we are planning on returning next year seeing our first trip was so successful.

As for camping it's not something I could do because I'm a soft Queenslander and the Negative temperature of some of those mornings would have led to divorce.

[tk421]

Long way to go, not to ski. As said stay away from the resorts and prices are more reasonable.

Friends of ours have a 16ft Jayco. They tow it up to Jindabyne at the start of the season and leave it there and then tow it back at the end and then do the daily drive up to the Perisher from Perisher. You could just use the Toboggan and Snow Play area and not bother with Ski-ing at Perisher.

Another option if you are ever in Canberra over winter is to drive up to Corin Forest on the outskirts of the city. Its not huge, but when it snows they have a large area to play on, but they also have a snow machine so snow is guaranteed on that slope at least similar size to a footy pitch).

http://www.corin.com.au/

[chester ver2.0]

For the prices involved these days i avoid NSW and VIC and go straight with a package deal to New Zealand or even Japan

[Squalo]

Last year we wanted to experience a Snow/Ski holiday with our kids and like you I was shocked by the quotes we were given to stay in some of the bigger well know resorts in both NSW & Vic.

I was given a recommendation of staying at a town called Adaminaby and doing a daily drive to Mt Selwyn which is located about 40 minutes away. At first I wasn't overly keen on driving that distance each day, but seeing I could get accommodation/ski package for 1/3 of what I've previously been quoted at the larger ski fields, we decided we could live with doing a daily drive.

We are also in QLD so we took 2 days to drive down and the house we booked in Adaminaby was fantastic and the 40 minute drive to the Ski Fields was spectacular as it went so fast due to the amazing scenery.

As for Mt Selwyn we were lucky as last year was their best snow season for over 30 years, so we had a fantastic time. This resort is basic and older and doesn't have the double diamond black runs etc, but what appealed to us is it does cater for kids and beginners which was perfect for us. So this means no one gets cranky when you fall over 10 times and best of all there aren't huge line ups waiting to get up the mountain. But the down side apart from is due to it's location it's one of the last resort to get snow and first to lose it. So when booking I asked what's your coldest 2 weeks of the year and booked one of them to increase our chances.

In saying that we are planning on returning next year seeing our first trip was so successful.

As for camping it's not something I could do because I'm a soft Queenslander and the Negative temperature of some of those mornings would have led to divorce.

Great advice. The drive from Adaminaby to Selwyns might be 40 minutes, but so is the drive from Jindy to either Thredbo or Perisher, and that doubles or triples most days due to the massive traffic volumes.

The drive to Selwyns is also very scenic with a few places to stop and have a look around - Kiandra, Providence Portal etc. It's worth a drive through to Cabramurra as well, interesting little town. It has its own slope with a poma, but it's not for beginners.

Definitely plan to ski - it's too far to go just to make a snowman and have a snowball fight. Hire your gear at Selwyns itself, this is because if you are on the slopes and have a gear problem it's a long way back to Adaminaby or Cooma to get it sorted.

Also if time permits try to see a bit of the Snowy Hydro scheme - Tumut 3 power station is worth a look, not sure if Tumut 2 (underground) is still open for tours. Tumut Pond Dam is awesome but inaccesible in winter, Eucumbene Dam is pretty impressive though. Yarangobilly Caves also worth a stop - Glory Hole cave is self-guided, and the thermal swimming pool is great even in winter - 27 degrees all year round.

[discoteddy]

Hey all
just wanting to know the best place to take the family to see decent snow. Not really interested in skiing. Just wanting a budget snowy holiday. The problem I've found is when a search for it it comes up with skiing straight away and the prices go through the roof. I didn't buy a camper trailer to then spend almost the same again on accommodation. Of coarse I'm not planning on camping in the snow. I'm not that keen.

our family takes the Trackabout down to the Discovery Park at Jindy for a long weekend every winter. we camp on an un powered site and just use the inverter for the leccy blankets before bed for an hour. Beds toasty and warm set up with flanalette sheets, a blanket and good doona. Coldest we had was minus 4.1 IN the camper as recorded on the digital thermometer! Never once were we cold IN bed, kids are 9 and 12.  Realistically its too cold to cook at the camper and the water freezes in the tank and lines anyway! The place has a awesome camp kitchen which we use and it also has a toasty fire to play board games and read books with the kids in front of. In four years we have never witnessed bad behaviour or had anything stolen.



Last year we had snow on the camper and on one day had a top of two degrees. If the family doesnt like cold then don't even consider camping , grab a cabin or similiar, our clan loves the experience. Perisher has a great snow play/taboggan area and its a pleasent and easy drive. Get to the mountain early if you want a good park. At all the resorts the food prices are frightening!


Cheers,

Disco teddy.

[Bird]

At all the resorts the food prices are frightening!

oxygen is frighteningly expensive at resorts!

[briann532]

Does your trip have to involve a caravan park?

There are plenty of places to free camp in some areas that are simply stunning.
You can combine some free camping with caravan parks to get laundry done etc etc.

Plenty to see and do around the snowy area and such diversity.
It need not cost a lot.
We did a trip a year ago and combined free camping with Bright caravan park and it was marvellous.

As far as heating goes............we just use thermals and have very good quality sleeping bags.
With the right clothing its not bad at all.
A small heater would be fine, but safety is obviously a concern. Just don't leave it unattended or in a position it can be knocked over.
Too much heat also causes lots of condensation in the camper which can get ugly.....

You may be best to consider camping in the warmer areas of NSW and doing a trip or overnighter to the snow.
Even consider staying in a resort to offset the free camping. Could get the best of both worlds then.

Whatever you decide, just go for it and have fun.

Brian

[Rodt]

For the prices involved these days i avoid NSW and VIC and go straight with a package deal to New Zealand or even Japan

Chester any recommendations for absolute beginners to go to NZ? The ads and google searching all say they are the best but always good to know from first hand advice

Rod