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Fresh snow, sharp air and a run down the mountain that makes the cold worth it. Skiing and snow experiences bring winter to the top of the to-do list. RedBalloon skiing and snow experiences suit first-timers finding their balance and regulars chasing their next run. Book a session for yourself, or gift it to someone who counts down to snow season every year.
Skiing or snowboarding is not the first activity you associate with Australia, but that's not to say there aren't great experiences here. Whether you want to strap your feet into skis or a snowboard, you can enjoy graded runs marked by difficulty, from gentle green slopes for beginners to steeper black runs for experienced riders, with a chairlift or tow doing the climbing so the descent is the only part left to you.
A snow day trip from Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra runs as one long day out: an early coach departure, several hours on the mountain at Thredbo, Perisher or Mount Buller, and a return trip home that evening. Closer to Canberra, Corin Forest offers a shorter option instead: snow play built around a toboggan run and an alpine slide, with no early start and no coach transfer needed.
The Thredbo Snow Tour with Sydney Transfers includes return coach travel from Sydney and gives you over seven hours on the mountain, built to work for beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders on the same bus. It's bookable for one person, so a solo skier doesn't need to round up a group to go. From Canberra, the Thredbo or Perisher Snow Trip From Canberra runs as a full day too, departing Civic Square early and returning by evening, with National Park entry fees included and a return transfer built into the price. Thredbo and Perisher both sit in the Snowy Mountains, so the main difference between the two trips is departure city rather than destination. Children under three years old aren't permitted on the Canberra departure, so it's worth checking each trip's own age policy rather than assuming they match.
The Full Day Mount Buller Snow Trip with Entry departs Melbourne and includes resort entry for the day, plus a 20% discount on any gear hired once you're there. It's open to all ages and experience levels, so a family trip and a group of mates both work off the same booking, and beginner lessons are available on-site for anyone yet to try skiing or snowboarding. The Lake Mountain Snow Play Tour also departs Melbourne and covers a different kind of day: snow play, tobogganing and cross-country skiing at Lake Mountain, with return transport included so nobody has to drive home after dark. Like the Mount Buller trip, it's bookable for a single traveller as well as a group.
A 1.2km alpine slide is the centrepiece of the Alpine Slide with Tow Pull at Corin Forest: a tow pulls you to the top, then you ride the descent back down at your own pace across a 60-minute session. The Canberra Snow Play, Clothing and Toboggan Hire session runs at the same location and covers the more traditional version of a snow day, with clothing and a toboggan provided so nothing needs to be packed in advance. Both can be booked instantly, work for one person or a larger group, and standalone rather than requiring a full day committed to one mountain.
A jacket gets a few wears and ends up at the back of the wardrobe. A day on the snow gets brought up again every time the weather turns cold.
A RedBalloon gift voucher lets them choose their own version of it: a coach trip to Thredbo, a family day at Mount Buller, or an afternoon on the alpine slide at Corin Forest. Buy a voucher and let the mountain be their choice, not yours.
Yes, on the Thredbo or Perisher Snow Trip From Canberra, children under three years old aren't permitted. Other trips in this category, such as the Full Day Mount Buller Snow Trip, are open to all ages and experience levels. Minimum ages are set per operator rather than across the category, so it's worth checking the specific trip's own age policy before you book.
No, most trips in this category welcome complete beginners. The Canberra Snow Play, Clothing and Toboggan Hire session needs no ski or snowboard skill at all, since clothing and a toboggan are provided and there's no chairlift or slope technique involved. The Thredbo Snow Tour with Sydney Transfers is built to work for beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders on the same bus, so a mixed-ability group can still book together.
The Lake Mountain Snow Play Tour is a full day departing Melbourne, with snow play, tobogganing and cross-country skiing all included at Lake Mountain, plus return transport so nobody has to drive home after dark. It suits a group that wants a mix of snow activities in one day rather than committing to a single format.
A guided day trip, like the Full Day Mount Buller Snow Trip or the Thredbo Snow Tour with Sydney Transfers, suits anyone who wants a full mountain day with transport included. A Corin Forest visit, built around the Alpine Slide with Tow Pull, is shorter and closer to Canberra, with no chairlift or full day required, which makes it a solid option for a first snow experience or a half-day out.
For more ways to spend a day outdoors, take a look at Days out and tours across Australia for guided trips further afield, or Scenic railways and cable cars for a different way to take in the view. Bushwalking and hiking tours and Mountain biking tours suit the warmer months, while Skating and skateboard lessons keeps things closer to home.