Contrary to popular belief, Australia has a thriving ski culture. The Australian Alps in New South Wales and Victoria receive more snow annually than the Swiss Alps. Resorts like Thredbo, Perisher, and Falls Creek become bustling villages. Yet, the Australian ski experience is unique: it is not uncommon to see gum trees (eucalyptus) standing sentinel over the ski runs, their white trarks contrasting starkly against the white snow—a visual that screams "Australia" louder than any beach postcard.
In Tasmania, winter is at its most serious. The island state embraces the cold with a rugged beauty. Snow dusts the peaks of Mount Wellington (kunanyi), and the nights are long and dark—perfect for the growing whisky distillery scene. It is here that you feel the connection to the roaring forties, the powerful westerly winds that batter the southern coast. winter in australie