Perisher Ski Resort

Perisher Ski Resort is the biggest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere. Situated in the heart of the Australian Snowy Mountains, this large resort consists of four distinct villages: Blue Cow, Guthega, Perisher Valley, and Smiggin Holes. Together, these communities and the related ski resorts cover a rather large area—about 12 square kilometers (5 square miles). The base elevation of the resort is 1,720 meters (5,640 feet) above sea level; its summit reaches 2,054 meters (6,739 feet) atop Mount Perisher.

The technological innovation of 240 snow guns improves a significant area, about 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 square miles). Artificial increase of natural snowfall depends on these snow guns, so ensuring a consistent and enjoyable skiing experience all season long. To increase its global presence, Vail Resorts of the United States bought Perisher for almost AU$177 million on March 30, 2015.

Road and the unique Skitube from Jindabyne, the only underground rack railway in Australia, make Perisher easily accessible. This accessibility makes it a handy location for guests from home as well as abroad. Usually spanning July to August, the main skiing season runs officially from the second weekend of June until the first weekend of October. This extended season helps to enable a wide range of winter sports and events.

The resort boasts an amazing total of 47 lifts, among which the eight-passenger Village Eight Express chairlift built in 2003. Two fast-moving detachable quad chairlifts, five fixed-grip quad chairlifts, three double chairlifts, two triple chairlifts, eighteen T-bars, two J-bars, two ski carpets, and two rope tows also abound. Having a run difficulty distribution of 42% beginner, 45% intermediate, and 12% advanced, this all-around lift system fits a range of skiing experiences.

Depending on the application of the 0 degrees Celsius or -3 degrees Celsius isotherm, Perisher’s climate is classified as either subantarctic (Köppen classification: Dfc) or subpolar oceanic (Köppen classification: Cfc). The area suffers cold winters and cool summers; high summits show an alpine temperature (ETH). As expected for a ski resort, a snowfall lasts for several months every year, sometimes reaching early summer. Still, the snowfall is less consistent than that of similar or lower elevations on the western side of the range because of its protected position. Snowfall comes annually on an average of 60.2 days.

Home to Perisher, the Snowy Mountains area has a rich Aboriginal history spanning almost twenty thousand years. There were large gatherings in the High Country for communal consumption of the bogong moth in the summer. Beginning in 1835, European exploration of the area began; by 1840 Edmund Strzelecki had climbed Mount Kosciuszko, naming it in honor of a Polish patriot. Stockmen then used the high country of the region for summer grazing, a period captured in Banjo Paterson’s famous poem “The Man from Snowy River.” The mountain cottages scattered over the area clearly reflect the legacy of these cattle graziers.

Perisher’s home Kosciuszko National Park has a rich historical background. First known as the National Chase Snowy Mountains on December 5, 1906, it was changed to Kosciuszko State Park in 1944 and then Kosciuszko National Park in 1967.

The four resort bases that make up Perisher each have unique histories as separate ski resorts, developed between 1939 and 1987. While the Snowy Mountains Scheme drove Perisher and Guthega’s development, Smiggin Holes started as a stop for travellers on route to Charlotte Pass. The last Snowy Mountains development was Blue Cow.

Perisher Smiggins and the Alpine Australia Group (Blue Cow/Guthega) merged notably in 1995 to create Perisher Blue. This combination combined all four resorts under the current Perisher name. Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes, and Guthega comprise four base village areas and 47 lifts covering 1,245 hectares as of 2009.