Thredbo is often considered one of Australia’s top ski destinations, and a new review from PeakRankings took a look at what makes the New South Wales resort stand out. Based on their experience, Thredbo’s best feature is its roughly 2,200 foot vertical drop, the largest in the country.
The substantial vertical provides some of the longest runs in Australia and gives Thredbo a unique mountain experience, providing terrain for beginners through advanced skiers and riders. However, PeakRankings notes that beginners could face some challenges getting back to the base area.
Strong Intermediate Terrain and Modern Lifts
PeakRankings identifies intermediate skiing as one of Thredbo’s biggest strengths. Long blue runs stretch from the upper mountain toward the valley, creating some of Australia’s longest cruising terrain. The resort also features three terrain parks with rails, boxes and jumps, along with a quarter pipe when conditions allow. Advanced skiers can find steep groomers, moguls and open bowls, while the resort’s snow gum glades provide a distinctive Australian experience.
Snow Remains Thredbo’s Biggest Challenge
Despite its impressive vertical and infrastructure, Thredbo faces the same snow reliability issues that affect much of Australian skiing. Seasonal snowfall is highly variable, and the resort rarely receives more than 250 centimeters, or around 98 inches, of snow in a season.
Lower mountain terrain can suffer from thin coverage, making snowmaking particularly important. Strong storms can also bring damaging winds that result in frequent upper mountain wind holds. The ski area can also see some crowding during peak periods, especially around the Gunbarrel lift and Cruiser chair.
PeakRankings Gives Thredbo a 56 Overall Score
After evaluating 10 categories, PeakRankings awarded Thredbo an overall score of 56. The resort ranked particularly strong for its facilities, earning an eight, while its lift system scored seven. Its overall scores included a six for size, six for terrain diversity, five for challenge, six for crowd flow, six for navigation and six for mountain aesthetics. Snow and resiliency each received scores of three.
The final result placed Thredbo at the top of PeakRankings’ Australian ski resort rankings. While the resort cannot escape Australia’s challenging snow climate, PeakRankings concludes that its combination of vertical, modern infrastructure, terrain variety and extensive on mountain amenities makes it one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most compelling ski destinations.
