How to decide between Thredbo or Falls Creek ski resorts | The Canberra Times
Both boast blockbuster Alpine attractions, from the vertical drops of Thredbo to the ski-in, ski-out village of Falls Creek, but which winter wonderland should you visit? Our dueling experts help you decide.
Amy Cooper: “Thredbo’s shaky terrain offers unique thrills on black runs like Cannonball, Funnel Web and Michael’s Mistake, and bad runs known as Balls to the Wall, which will leave you feeling terrified.”
Have our Australian Alps ever been this seductive? While the rest of the world is in a panic, we are the only place where the positive outcome of open talks is guaranteed.
No matter which slide you are on, all our ski spots promise the best games, away from the chilling effects of global unrest. But Thredbo is on top.
If you don’t believe me, buy the ones in the snow. Thredbo claimed Australia’s Best Ski Resort at the 2025 World Ski Awards, marking its ninth consecutive win at the skiing golden (snow) globes. The superstar of the Snowy Mountains thrives on the trio of adrenaline, altitude and apres in the Alps. It’s Australia’s highest snow country and has its longest, steepest runs, with 52 kilometers of slopes and 14 lifts in the stunning 940-hectare Kosciuszko National Park.
The country’s longest run, the Thredbo Supertrail winds a total of 5.9km from summit to base. Would you like a drop? Thredbo has a vertical drop of 672 metres, which is much steeper than other Aussie ski resorts and over 300 meters steeper than the gentle slopes of Falls Creek.
Thredbo’s shaky terrain offers unique thrills on black runs such as Cannonball, Funnel Web and Michael’s Mistake, as well as a treacherous course known as Balls to the Wall that will scare you.
The 2037-metre summit of Thredbo’s Karels T-Bar lift was the highest lift at any Australian ski resort until neighboring Perisher’s new chairlift raised it by five meters last year. It’s still a spectacular place to take in the views of Mount Kosciuszko, and the view from nearby Eagles Nest, Australia’s highest restaurant, is equally spectacular.
Thredbo excels in thrills for non-skiers, boasting the adventures of a theme park; all boasting the biggest, best, fastest or highest qualifications. You can zip down a challenging 1.5km track on the southern hemisphere’s only Alpine roller coaster, fly to Merritts Chalet for a hot chocolate on Australia’s only Alpine gondola, or plummet down the waterslide at Thredbo Leisure Centre.
There are more than 30 bars and restaurants around the village and on the slopes, so you can stay on the slopes for days without skiing. Thredbo’s Apres Club stages the southern hemisphere’s biggest free winter live music series throughout the season, with epic parties in the village’s outdoor Alpine Bar.
For an even higher mood, speed by snowcat to Europe’s bustling Kareela Hutte for vodka and caviar, or sip schnapps at Australia’s top distillery, Wildbrumby Distillery, where Aussies and Austrians happily mingle after a few drinks.
This season, Thredbo’s new FlixBus bus will run direct between Sydney and Thredbo daily and from Canberra at weekends. It’s the promise of making it snow for as little as $74.99, requires no driving or fuel costs, and is the final proof that Thredbo is the king of the hill in this snowfall.
Mal Chenu: “Twilight is when the truly spiritual side of the snow holiday emerges. While the devout gather for drinks, let’s have apres.”
At the Winter Olympics in February, slalom skiers descended near-steep mountains at speeds of 140 km per hour. Well done Gustav! To you, swashbuckling Brunhilde!
The last time I tried to push, I stuck my face in so badly that I left my gloves, skis, poles, and half my clothes on the mountain. It looked like I was having a yard sale.
That’s why getting away from the snow is a more enjoyable task for me these days. Call me a snowflake, but I want to end the day at the bar/restaurant, not in a hospital bed. Being legless is better than having a broken leg.
Dusk is when the truly spiritual aspect of the snow holiday emerges. When the devout gather to drink, let’s go.
In this regard, the village of Falls Creek is simply magnificent, with 30-odd bars, restaurants and cafés ready to refuel you with cozy wine and fireplace energy and fabulous fine dining.
Or wood-fired pizza and beer, if that’s your belief. In this mountain resort, you can reach drinks and dinner with a short drive along picturesque snowy roads.
It’s a ski-in and ski-out resort, so everything is nearby and accessible. You can sleep in in the morning, ski from your front door to the ski lifts, and return home again at the end of the day.
Thredbo, on the other hand, is like a new career; You should start from the bottom.
All these fluoro ducklings follow their “mother duck” trainers in single file, their legs akimbo down shallow slopes, proud of their newly emerged snowplows.
The secret of children learning quickly is that their center of gravity is low and they do not feel fear. They’ve never heard of Sonny Bono or Michael Schumacher.
The Falls is renowned for its “perfect pacing” terrain, which provides comfortable ascents that allow you to hone your skills on 90 snow-covered trails.
You can start with the gentle 2.4km Wombat’s Ramble, Australia’s longest green run, and steadily progress until you’re ready to tackle black runs with names you can’t say you’re not warned about, like The Maze and Widow Maker.
The cross-country run at Falls Creek is as big as a gold medalist’s quadriceps and features over 40 miles of groomed trails across gorgeous mountain plains. The annual Kangaroo Hoppet race is held here in August as part of the Worldloppet tour, which includes 19 of the largest cross-country marathons on the planet.
When it comes to wintering in the snow, Falls Creek is a winter wonderland runway The resilience of Australian ski resorts.
