Perisher
Perisher Valley, commonly called Perisher, is a valley formed below Mount Perisher, a mountain that is located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia.
Located in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council, the valley is the site of one of four resort bases of the Perisher Ski Resort, which also comprises Guthega, Blue Cow and Smiggin Holes. It is located within the Kosciuszko National Park between Jindabyne and Charlotte Pass on the Kosciuszko Road. Access to the Valley is via the Skitube Alpine Railway or by road. Although it is primarily a winter only resort village, year round accommodations are available, including great tours, and bush walks.[1]
At the 2011 census, Perisher Village had a population of 149 people.[2] In winter, the population is approximately 2,500 due to guests
With four resort areas and over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain all of which interlink, you will definitely want to get around all of them.
| Elevation | 2034m |
| Beginner Terrain | 22% |
| Intermediate Terrain | 60% |
| Advanced Terrain | 18% |
| Number of Lifts | 47% |
| Village Height | 2034m |
| Base Height | 1605m |
| Vertical Drop | 355m |
| Longest Downhill Run | 3km |
| Grooming Machines | 18 |
| Snowmaking | 53.4ha |
| Night Skiing | Tuesday (all season) and Saturday (July and August) evenings. |
Driving to the Snowy Mountains
If you’re driving from Sydney we suggest leaving between five and six hours to get here. If you’re coming from Melbourne it’s usually around a six hour drive.
If you’re driving to Perisher from Jindabyne it’s an easy half hour drive in good weather; keep in mind that you're legally required to carry properly fitting chains in any vehicle other than 4WD's within the National Park. All details about entering the National Parks can be found on their website.
There are a few things you need to be aware of when driving in the Snowy Mountains. Kangaroos and other wildlife are frequently seen, which is an amazing sight to see, but you don’t want to hit anything.
Flying to the Snowy Mountains
Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express (Rex), in partnership with Snowy Mountains Airport Corporation Pty Ltd (SMAC), has launched Regular Public Transport (RPT) services between Sydney and the Snowy Mountains (Cooma)
Snowy Mountains Airport Transfers
When flying to and from the Snowy Mountains, there are a variety of airport shuttle options taking you into Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Jindabyne. Click Here for more information
Canberra Airport
Canberra Airport is just a 2.5 hour drive from Perisher and a 40 minute flight from Sydney. Canberra is within a two hour flight from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In addition to these state capitals, daily flights also connect Canberra with Adelaide and Perth. Direct flights are also available to Newcastle, Singapore and Wellington, New Zealand. Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Virgin and Fly Pelican offer regular services to and from Canberra Airport. Canberra Airport is located 10 minutes from Canberra’s city centre.
Transport While You're Here
Skitube - Alpine Railway
Perisher's Skitube is a Swiss designed rack-rail train that takes passengers from Bullocks Flat Terminal on the Alpine Way through a tunnel in the Ramshead Range to the Perisher Resort. The first stop is the underground station at Perisher Valley and then continues on to Blue Cow through another tunnel through the Perisher Range.
When you arrive at Bullocks Flat Terminal, you'll find free day and overnight parking and because it is located below the snow fall levels, you generally won't require chains. You also don't need to purchase the National Parks entry fee.
Since the start of operations in 1987, Skitube has carried over four million passengers to Perisher in comfort and safety. To this day, the Skitube is the most efficient and practical way to help guests experience the very best of Perisher while also taking in some beautiful sights along the way.
Parking at Perisher
Three of our four resort areas have free parking!
- Perisher Valley has a large car park which is free for day use only
- Smiggins has free day parking and also has a free shuttle that goes to Perisher Valley between 7.30am - 6pm (longer during night skiing & boarding)
- Guthega has 60 parking spaces for day only and 50 overnight spaces - Be aware that snow conditions may affect this parking
Free Shuttle Service
A free shuttle service operates between Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes. The shuttle service runs from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Pick-ups are from the turning circle at Perisher Skitube Terminal and the metal bridge outside the Smiggins Hotel at Smiggin Holes. Shuttles depart approximately every 15 minutes.
Oversnow Transport
Staying on-snow? Hans Oversnow is located in the Perisher Skitube Terminal and provides transport for selected lodges in Perisher and Smiggins for a charge. If you're arriving after midnight bookings are essential and additional charges may apply. Hans Oversnow can be contacted 24 hours a day on 02 64575334 or 0418485144. Some lodges do provide their own transport service so it's best to confirm with them before you arrive.