This was published 8 years ago
Australian ski season 2015: What does a ski holiday cost?
By Esther Han
The Mason family - dad Simon, mum Kim and sons Kyle, 7, and Kane ,3 - are ready to hit the slopes in Perisher.Credit: Anthony Johnson
Kim and Simon Mason, their sons Kyle, 7, and Kane, 3, are gearing up for their ski holiday to Perisher during the July school holidays. The trip will cost them about $7500, without hiring clothes, but they deem it a fair amount.
"It's one of the easiest holidays to enjoy. If you went on a beach holiday, you wake up in the morning and everyone says what do you want to do today? And then you have to go through negotiating," said Ms Mason, an agent with the TravelManagers network.
"If you go to the ski fields, it's already done and organised for you. You get up and you go. My kids are entertained all day long. If you look at it that way, the value for money is better."
The Mason's five night stay at an on-snow hotel accounts for more than half the full holiday cost. The other big ticket purchases were the lift pass, ski lesson and gear hire combos - $1542 for two adults and $1274 for two children.
Ms Mason said big savings can be made over time by buying ski clothes, rather than hiring them. Booking early and aiming for the low season are other common cost-saving measures.
They feel they've mastered something, learned a skill, and can progress.
Her top overseas ski destination is the Big White in Canada. Closer to home, Queenstown in New Zealand is always another option to weigh up.
Bar the flights, priced about $2600 in total with Jetstar, a family of four's holiday costs between the ski fields of NSW and New Zealand's South island are comparable.
"But Queenstown doesn't really have the option of on-snow accommodation. So the big difference for us with two young kids is the half hour shuttle bus ride up and down the slope," she said.
The cost of taking a family of four for a five-night holiday to Perisher Valley.
"So the children might have to endure being cold and wet. In Perisher, you can quickly go back to the room, redress and come back out."
Ms Mason said a week on the slopes were perfect for her sons, because at the end of the day they felt a sense of achievement.
"They feel they've mastered something, learned a skill, and can progress," she said.
The cost of taking a family of four for a five-night holiday to Queenstown.
"Kyle will ski with us, even doing the advanced blue runs. Kane has just mastered the beginner area and will be moving out of the protective slope. It's also very social."
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