Thredbo — Australian Alps
In winter 2022 I was invited to explore the alpine ski resort of Thredbo in New South Wales, Australia. I was fresh off a month in New Zealand with my family experiencing some of the best snow the southern hemisphere has seen in decades. I was curious to see what Australia had to offer in terms of skiing and winter sports. As someone who was more accustomed to its tropical climate, it was hard to grasp the idea of the same heavy snowfall reaching these parts.
Somehow my imagination drafted to the vivid red dirt making way for snowy peaks. I was surprised, the resilient gumtrees still existed, albeit a smaller yet prettier version. And in the distance, the faintest dusting of snow-covered rolling mountains. I was pleasantly surprised and certainly not something I expected.
As we gradually left the meadows of the high country behind us with a slow and steady incline it almost felt a little too easy. Pulling off at a sign-posted intersection marked Thredbo, we could finely make out the ski lifts nestled among the trees.
— Snow groomers working through the night.
We’d woken from a stormy night. Fleeting showers of rain on the roof, followed by freezing sleet then eventually snow. The day passed exploring the local township, a population of 477 which attracts around 700,000 visitors every winter. With that many people making their way to enjoy the cold - the design & layout of such a small functioning village was something I’d never witnessed before. The smooth transition of ski in & out eatery’s, bars & hotels. This was so far removed from how I grew up snowboarding & spending time in the mountains - It left me smiling knowing how much I enjoyed eating homemade sandwiches out the back of our beat-up Ford Lazer car in a mountain car park vs the flashy restaurants & bars.
There’s something magical about a snowstorm. A nostalgic moment that is tied to a happy place in my life. Maybe it’s the lack of that leaves us wanting more. I almost turn into an excited little kid again —
The morning light was something to remember. The limited transition from twilight to sunrise happens with a blink of an eye & I swear blue-hour is not really much of a thin
Our ending point. To ski, snowboard and explore the Australian Alps. To enjoy snow in a country that until after this trip thought couldn’t be possible.