Perisher Blue Ski Resort

Perisher Blue Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere with the most lifts, and the most groomed slopes. There are four distinct areas - Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Guthega, and Smiggins Holes. There is a massive 1245 hectares of skiable terrain with four terrain parks. Perisher Blue is situated within the Kosciusko National Park in the state of New South Wales in Australia. In 2008 there will be 9.75 million dollars of new snowmaking equipment which will deliver a new sustainable water supply, an upgraded pump station, and 34 new automated snow guns. There are already 154 snow guns at Perisher Blue. The new snowmaking extensions will cover the area from the mid-station of the Forrester Quad Chair through Yabby Flat, down Goats Gully to Front Valley. A new Pisten Bully 600 is going to be added to the 18 groomers that flatten the pistes of Perisher Blue.

Perisher Blue for Kids

Kids are well catered for at Perisher Valley. There is a Snowy Daycare for six weeks to three year old children which is essentially a child minding service for parents who want to have a days skiing. Costs are approximately one hundred dollars per day for this childcare service. Penguin Privates is for two to three year old kids and is basically a lesson for your child at seventy nine dollars per hour. The best program for kids is the Junior Snow Kids which is for three to six year old kids. It includes skiing lessons, food and drinks, and childcare. For one day it will set you back about one hundred and twenty dollars per child. For six to fourteen year old kids who want to learn how to ski there are Children's Lesson Packages which include a lift pass and a two and a half hour lesson. These are held at Smiggin Holes and Blue Cow and start at 9:30am and 12:30pm. The cost for one day ranges from 78 to 90 dollars.

Perisher Blue Lessons

Adult skiing and snowboarding lessons for first time skiers are available in a reasonably priced package which includes a lift pass as well as a two and a half hour lesson. These cost from 107 to 131 dollars, depending on whether you want to use the skitube or not. Packages for all standard skiers and Snowboarders cost from 139 to 163 dollars per day. A cheaper rate is available for multiple days. For example a five day package costs about $365 and is a very reasonable price saving. Private lessons range from $120-145 per hour, depending upon the number of people in the group. The Three Day Women's Program allows women skiers to build confidence and skiing skills in a positive learning environment with other women and female instructors. The minimum ability for this program is a level four.

Get to Perisher Blue

Perisher Valley is 33 kilometers from Jindabyne and the skitube is twenty kilometers from Jindabyne. Jindabyne is 45 kilometers from the Cooma Snowy Mountains Airport. It will take about fify minutes to fly to Cooma from Sydney. REX airlines fly to Cooma daily in the winter from many Australian towns and cities. There is a shuttle bus which connects the airport to Jindabyne. Canberra International Airport is a 2.5 hour drive from Canberra to Perisher Valley. By car, Perisher Blue is a five to six hour drive from Sydney or seven hours from Melbourne. Two Wheel Drive cars will need snow chains if they go into the Kosciusko National Park. I would recommend parking at Bullocks Flat and catching the skitube. I hate putting on chains!

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