Skiing in Tasmania
Tasmania lies to the south of mainland Australia, and is an island that is known for its impressive mountain ranges, of which eight stand higher than 1 500 meters above sea level. The peak that overshadows the other mountains is Mount Ossa, which stands proudly at 1 614 meters. Together with Victoria and New South Wales, Tasmania is amongst the most popular skiing destinations in Australia. The breathtaking Tasmanian Wilderness provides the ideal location for cross country skiing, while other resorts offer numerous winter sport activities.
Tasmania lies to the south of mainland Australia, and is an island that is known for its impressive mountain ranges, of which eight stand higher than 1 500 meters above sea level. The peak that overshadows the other mountains is Mount Ossa, which stands proudly at 1 614 meters. Together with Victoria and New South Wales, Tasmania is amongst the most popular skiing destinations in Australia. The breathtaking Tasmanian Wilderness provides the ideal location for cross country skiing, while other resorts offer numerous winter sport activities.
June to October are the most favorable months for skiing in Tasmania. Mount Mawson and Ben Lomond are the two main resorts on the island. Ben Lomond is located just outside of Launceston. Situated in the Ben Lomond National Park, skiers will not only enjoy exciting skiing conditions but the scenery will be memorable too. The village is nestled in the mountains at an elevation of 1 460 meters, with its mountain peak being at 1 570 meters. The resort is popular for Alpine skiing, and in 1929 the Northern Tasmanian Alpine Club was established here. Starting off as a small chalet, it soon developed into a successful resort that included visitor facilities, accommodation and ski lifts. A team to oversee the Skifield Development Area was founded in 1995, and the Department of Parks and Wildlife announced in 2010 that a project was underway to introduce snowmaking machines to the ski area and to develop a snowboard park.
Other downhill ski operations also exist in Tasmania, such as those at Mount Mawson, which is situated in the Mount Field National Park. There are two rope tows available for intermediate skiers and one rope tow for more experienced skiers, as it features steep terrain and limited accommodation is available at this resort facility.
When snowfall allows it, cross country skiing and Alpine skiing is available at Cradle Mountain, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness Area. In total, there are twenty-eight mountains in Tasmania and most of them are over 1 220 meters. So, for cross country skiing and backcountry locations, skiers are recommended to visit Ben Lomond National Park, Mount Field National Park and Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, with Mount Mawson and Ben Lomond offering picturesque downhill ski resorts.
