Savings snowball

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This was published 11 years ago

Savings snowball

Cool snaps... Falls Creek in Victoria.

Cool snaps... Falls Creek in Victoria.

Streamlined ticketing, well-priced packages and better snow cover are the season openers, writes Craig Tansley.

Victorian resorts are rolling out new radio-frequency technology. Thredbo and Perisher have significant savings available to those who book well ahead. Multi-day tickets are good value and stay/ski packages abound. Here's what's new on the mountains this year.

Mount Buller

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A great stash of tree-lined runs for skiers and boarders on the northern side of the mountain is now available courtesy of the Bonza chairlift. New beginner carpet tows have also been installed on northern slopes. B-TAG is rolled out this season, which enables guests to pre-purchase lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons, and load credit online for food, drinks and shopping. Mount Buller's new app has up-to-the-minute lift stats and snow conditions (it's available through the App Store).

Mount Buller has discounted tickets for children aged from kindergarten to year 12 and 20 per cent discounts on lift ticket prices and rentals for tertiary students. Every Tuesday, students can ski on half-price tickets ($54).

Guests will notice improvements to the village, too - Buller Community Centre is renovated and will serve as a meeting/arrivals place.

Tobogganing is fun on Mount Buller.

Tobogganing is fun on Mount Buller.Credit: Tony Harrington

See mtbuller.com.au.

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Perisher

All guests receive a free afternoon of lift access with three-day-plus lift tickets and beginner lift-and-lesson packages this season. There are also savings to be found in midweek peak season (July and August) packages. Five-day lift tickets can now be used over seven days (with the option of adding lessons to any day) and discounts (up to 30 per cent) on lift tickets, lessons and accommodation can be had if booked by the end of this month.

Snowboarding among the snowgums at Perisher Valley.

Snowboarding among the snowgums at Perisher Valley.

The latest equipment from Burton, K2, Salomon and Volkl is available to try at the new demo centre and more than $400,000 has been spent replacing rentals gear. Better snow cover on the Roller Coaster run at Blue Cow is available, with more than $600,000 of snow-making technology installed over summer.

See perisher.com.au.

Mount Hotham

A 2012 lift pass includes free access to Hotham's Kat Skiing Adventures; Sunday afternoon access (with a five-day or more lift pass starting on a Monday); selected guided mountain tours; and free first tracks (Wednesday to Sunday) on Heavenly Valley chairlift (weather and conditions permitting).

QantasLink is increasing the number of flights from Sydney to 100, starting with four return services a week - on selected Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays - rising to seven services a week in the August peak. Flights begin on June 29, until September 9. See qantas.com.au.

Hotham's new electronic point-of-sale and ticketing system is set to make mountain access easier and cheaper, with multi-day and discounted weekend tickets. Guests can purchase weekend-only tickets in peak season and peak-season multi-day tickets that have discounted lift prices. Children ski for free during "value" season and guests can save up to 50 per cent on the price of lift tickets, accommodation, hire gear and lessons during value season if a three-day-plus package is booked. Full-time tertiary students ski for half-price every Friday.

See mthotham.com.au.

Thredbo

New radio-frequency access gates have been added to every lift and T-Bar on the mountain. The first stage of RF technology was introduced last year; now, skiers won't be stopped for tickets anywhere in the resort.

All-season discounts apply to everyone buying lift tickets online through the Thredbo eStore. Save up to 15 per cent on lift passes for two-day-plus deals or lift-and-lesson packages. A bonus half-day of skiing is available to guests who buy multi-day lift tickets, which can be used on the afternoon before your ticket begins.

Thredbo's new MyMoney element is part of its MyThredbo pass. Load the pass and use the stored credit at shops, hotels (including Friday Flat Bistro, the Pub Bar & Bistro and Schuss Bar), on gear hire and at ticket outlets. Skiers and boarders hiring clothes and equipment may notice the resort has spent $350,000 on updating skis, snowboards and rental gear, including buying new freeride skis.

See thredbo.com.au.

Falls Creek

The resort's new radio-frequency ticketing system is being rolled out alongside deep savings on multi-day and weekend lift tickets, and lesson and rental prices. The ticketing system will streamline pre-purchases (lift tickets and lessons) and allow guests to organise rental gear and children's snow-sports programs well in advance.

Another key thing to note at Falls Creek this season is that the cost of three-day-plus lift tickets is below last year's: five-day-lift tickets ($482 last season) are $424 for adults. Weekend tickets have also been reduced, with two-day weekend tickets in peak season now $185 for adults, $157 for youths and $93 for children ($212, $180 and $106 respectively last year).

Falls Creek has launched a free iPad app of live snow reports, snow cams, lift status and the latest deals (available at the App Store). One of the resort's iconic night-time events, the performers and fireworks show each Thursday in July and August, is being upgraded. Meantime, snow-making technology installed on Wombats Ramble will ensure Falls Creek's renowned ski-in, ski-out accommodation areas will be covered all season.

See fallscreek.com.au.

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