Whether you’re coming from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, or further afield, the Snowy Mountains won’t disappoint on the snow play and tobogganing front. They’re a winter wonderland. With our helpful guide, we’ll have you and your family beating the queues, geared up on a budget and, most importantly, loving the snow.
Who is Snowplay for?
Everyone, young and old, can enjoy tobogganning, but it’s most suited to those under 10 and people who simply want to experience the snow for the first time without the expense of learning to ski or snowboard. Snowplay is super affordable, accessible, and heaps of fun.
When can I go to the snow?
In general, the Snowy Mountains ski resorts are open from the June long weekend to the end of September/ early October. July and August are usually the best times for snow, but September and June offer the best value accommodation prices, so don't be afraid to watch the weather and make a snap trip to the snowies in the low season for a budget snow play holiday
How long should I expect to spend in the snow?
This is very much up to you. Most snow-goers will spend 2 - 4 hours on their toboggans however it depends where you go and who’s in your party. You may wish to do a couple of hours, stop for a hot chocolate, and then head back out. The weather will also play a factor too. If there’s lots of deep fluffy snow and the conditions are nice, you’ll probably want to make the most of it.
Make sure you factor in travel time, equipment hire, traffic and the fact the sometimes kids are hard to get out of bed early!
Where to go
Perisher is a popular choice for tobogganing however, Selwyn has emerged as a favourite for snow play and first-timers.
Selwyn
Selwyn may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of the Snowy Mountains, but it is our top pick for snow play. Located the same distance from Sydney and closer to Canberra than the more well-known resorts, it has its own toboggan park and heaps of fun to offer.
It is much quieter than Perisher, both in terms of on the mountain and the traffic getting there, and offers incredible value for money (toboggan rental is included in your snow play pass!).
If we want to entertain the kids for the day or experience snow for the first time, Selwyn is where we’d recommend heading.
Please note that Selwyn requires you to hire their toboggan for use within their park; there are also areas along the road to Selwyn where you can toboggan, but please exercise caution when parking along the highway
Cost: (2025)
$25 for day pass & toboggan rental (Or $99 for a family of 5)
Snowsuit & Boots Hire (Rhythm Cooma) $45 Kids / $65 Adults
Snowsuit & Boots Hire (Selwyn) $70 Kids / $78 Adults
From= $80 per child / $90 per adult
Perisher
Perisher has a small toboggan resort that is free of charge to use however, you do need to supply your own toboggan. As the roads tend to get very busy with skiers and boarders, we’d recommend the snow tube if you’re heading up to Perisher (booking in advance saves 10% over on the day bookings).
Cost:
Toboggan, boots & snowsuit hire (Rhythm Cooma)
$50 for Kids / $65 for Adults
$49 for child ski tube/ $90 for adult
Total = $99 per child
Charlotte Pass & Thredbo
Tobogganing is prohibited inside the resort. Whilst there might be locations close to the resort or just outside, we recommend you stick to Selwyn or Perisher who have dedicated areas for fun!
What to hire vs buy
Snow gear in general is not cheap, and it is quite bulky to have around the house and get in the car. Unless you’re a regular snowgoer, we’d recommend hiring your snowplay gear. Certain resorts, as mentioned above, will only allow their toboggans to be used.
For your snowplay day, we would recommend hiring:
- Snow boots
- Snow suit (or snow jacket and pants)
- Toboggan
Will also need to buy or bring:
- Warm socks
- A beanie or wooly hat
- Thermals (tops & leggings/ bottoms)
- Jumper/Fleece
- Eyeprotection (sunglasses or goggles)
The wind and snow can be intense and the weather variable, so being prepared in advance means you get the best bang for your buck.
Day trip vs stay over
A day at the snow is doable as a day trip from Canberra but from Sydney or Melbourne it would involve a very early start and late finish. The Snowy Mountains have a huge amount to offer, for all of the family, so if you can stay for a night we would highly recommend it. We promise you’ll be glad you did!
There is accommodation available at some of the ski resorts, but there are other great options down the mountain. Places like Jindabyne are simply beautiful and have lots of restaurants and places to enjoy, or you can take in the sights of the capital in Canberra and make a day trip from there. You are genuinely spoilt for choice.
Top tips
- Unless you’re planning to head up to the mountains very early, try Selwyn for your snowplay day. Perisher is a bigger resort for skiers and snowboarders, and there are usually queues - with the road being closed after a certain time due to being busy. Selwyn is a hidden gem for snowplay and new skiers/ snowboarders and is certainly much quieter.
- Hire your gear outside of the resorts (where possible) as it will be cheaper and there are likely to be fewer queues. As mentioned, you have to hire your toboggan from Selwyn which is included in your day pass, but all other gear can be hired from elsewhere. Our store in Cooma is open 24 hours a day in Winter and has all the snowplay gear you might desire!
- Book your gear hire and passes in advance - they’re often cheaper and will save you time on the day too! You can do this the week before or even the day before (see the next point)
- Check the weather and the snow cams to see what the conditions are like. As with a “normal” weather forecast, the snow forecast is best reviewed up to a week in advance. You’ll ideally one dry conditions with low wind. We also recommend having a look at the snow cams to make sure there’s plenty of the white fluffy stuff for you to enjoy.
- Don’t skip the snowsuit/ waterproofs. What the movies don’t show you is that snow is actually wet and cold if it gets into your clothes. Make sure you have a snowsuit or waterproof ski jacket and pants as you will inevitably at some point end up lying in the snow making snow angels, and there is nothing worse than getting cold on the mountain!
- If you can, go on a weekday outside of school holidays as it will be less busy
Posted by Rhythm Snowsports on
