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*** to insert image map with links of major ski areas and some specific tours ***
In winter, Australia normally has an extensive snow cover on the alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales and some small snow fields in Tasmania. A common quote is that Australia has more snow cover (in area) than found in Switzerland and while this claim sounds impressive, the reality is that the snow cover is patchy and unreliable. The snow depth can vary from almost nothing to several metres.
The ski season officially begins at the start of June but there is rarely any snow to ski on. From early July to mid-September is the best part of the season. For those who go ski touring, the seasons are usually longer as you can go where the snow is. In most years there is still good skiing until mid-November on the Kosciusko Main Range.
Some visitors ask about whether any guide books exist for ski
tours
in Australia - unfortunately the simple answer is no. One book 'Ski
Touring Australia' by John Siseman, Warren Peck and John Brownlie was
published in 1978 with a second edition in 1986 - that publisher has
since retired. Another book 'Ski-Touring Victoria and New South Wales'
by Ray Peace was published in 1993 and I collected a remaindered copy
(sold off cheap) a few years back. Neither of the books are available
today. While there is a small demand for a guide the problem is there
is insufficient demand to support a viable book print run.