4 Steps to Shredding the Snowy Mountains on a Budget

Explorer Claire discovers you can ski/snowboard in Kosciuszko National Park for less – if you’re willing to earn your turns.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Wiradjuri, Wolgalu, Ngunnawal and Monaro Ngarigo peoples who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Does going to the snow this year feel out of reach? I don’t blame you.

It’s easy to feel like skiing or snowboarding in Australia is only for the cashed-up. The cost of a daily lift ticket at Aussie ski resorts has skyrocketed in recent years, now costing up to $200 or more. Accommodation on the slopes is extortionate, and you have to pay for transport, food, and gear hire, too.

After all of that, chances are, during peak season, you’ll spend more time in queues than on the slopes. It’s not surprising many Aussies are opting out of a domestic ski trip and putting the cash towards an international holiday (or, just… living) instead.

Last winter, I was keen to get to the slopes but didn’t want to part with my left kidney. Determined to find a cheaper way, my partner and I set off to Kosciuszko National Park, camped at a budget campground, strapped on some snowshoes, and hiked up the side of a mountain to enjoy one glorious run, for way less money and with way fewer crowds.

If you’re willing to earn your turns, here’s how you can shred the Snowy Mountains on a budget, in just four steps. And even if you skip a couple of steps, these tips will help you save money on your trip to the snow this year.

Please note! Although steps 1-3 can be done by almost anyone, the backcountry snowboarding and trekking mentioned in step 4 should only be attempted by experienced backcountry enthusiasts at an intermediate to advanced skiing or boarding level. The track is steep, so a reasonable level of fitness is required for the hike up, and it’s always a good idea to go with someone else who’s been in the backcountry before.

Read more: NPWS Alpine Safety 

It’s more of an adventure this way too!

Snowboarding the Snowy Mountains on a Budget

Step 1: Gear Up Without Breaking the Bank

Having your own equipment will help you to save big, and sourcing affordable ski gear might be easier than you think. Start by asking around to see if any mates have some dusty gear in the garage.

Read more: Packing List for Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding

Your next best bet is scouring Facebook Marketplace or your local op shops (anything you buy is basically free if you can resell it next season, right?). If that fails, hit up the Aldi ski sale for some middle-aisle bargains or rent equipment from a nearby town or ski resort.

Although you’re trying to save a pretty penny, this isn’t the time to skimp on quality. If you’re buying second-hand or cheap, make sure the gear is still up for the job before heading out. You don’t want to be caught in a storm with an oversized snow jacket that’s not pulling its weight.

We brought our own gear, but hired snowshoes for the day from Thredbo Ski Resort for $60 each.

Read more: Snowshoeing From Guthega to Schlink Hut

Approx. cost: $60-$500, depending on your Marketplace luck.

Snowshoes are a go

Step 2: Grab Some Mates and Get to Kosciuszko National Park

Spoiler: The key to more affordable transport to the snow is more mates.

It’s around a 5.5-6 hour drive to Kosciuszko National Park from Sydney, or 7 hours from Melbourne. According to an estimate by ChatGPT, petrol for a return trip in an average car will cost $149.12 from Sydney, or $192 from Melbourne. If you can squeeze four people in the car – that’s really not too pricey!

You can’t deny the beauty of this drive

Once you get to Kosciuszko National Park, you’ll need to pay the park entry fee. A single-day entry pass costs $29 per car, per 24-hour period (so you’ll save more by bringing a few mates along).

If you’re a regular NSW national park visitor, an annual pass, which costs $190, might work out cheaper.

Approx. cost: $45pp (if you can round up three friends to share fuel and park entry).

Hot tip! When planning a visit to Kosciuszko National Park, check for closures before heading out, as conditions can change quickly.

Everybody in the van!

Step 3: Set Up at a Bargain Basecamp

After a long drive, there’s no doubt you’ll be ready to hit the hay. But the reality of snow towns and resorts means that even the most basic accommodation can feel like it could be better spent on (or almost cover) a house deposit.

While it’s nowhere near an alpine chalet, the mountain views and peaceful river setting amongst the snow gums at Thredbo Diggings Campground are real value for money. There are no camping fees at this campground (at the moment); you just have to pay a $6 booking fee online. But you’ll have to get in early, this campground books out quickly during winter.

Read more: Essential Gear for a Snow Camping Trip

The sites are unpowered, so you’ll need to be comfortable with and well prepared for winter camping. Our below-zero-rated sleeping bags kept us nice and cosy in our rooftop tent for the night.

From the campground, it’s only a short drive to the ski fields at Thredbo Alpine Village and the ski tube to Perisher – it’s the perfect budget ski trip basecamp.

Approx. cost: $6, bargain!

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

Step 4: Earn Your Turns

This is the part where all the effort becomes worth it (well, after you trudge up a mountain for an hour). We drove 20 minutes from Thredbo Diggings Campground along Alpine Way, just past Thredbo Ski Resort, to reach the Dead Horse Gap walking track trailhead.

Please note: All 2WD vehicles need to carry snow chains along Alpine Way between the June long weekend and the October long weekend. Read up on safe snow driving before you leave.

In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are allowed along the 5km one-way trail, but the route isn’t marked, so a GPS or map and navigation skills are essential. Don’t forget to fill out a Trip Intention Form before heading out and check the forecast – you don’t want to be caught in a whiteout.

At the Dead Horse Gap car park, we strapped on our snowshoes, attached our snowboards to our backpacks, and began the hike up. If you’re not keen on backcountry skiing/snowboarding, you can still enjoy this track on snowshoes both ways. The track winds through a forest of beautiful snow gums, and the higher we climbed, the better the views we had of the Ramshead Range, Crackenback Mountain, and the Thredbo Valley.

Read more: Earn Your Turns

Up up up we go!

We hiked for around 45 minutes and eventually emerged from the trees. The scenery alone was worth every step. At the 2km mark, the clouds were closing in, and we figured we’d more than earned our reward, so we strapped in and descended through the snow gums. Those few minutes of riding made all the effort worth it. Having not snowboarded in Australia before, I just couldn’t believe this was really in our backyard!

Down in more ways than one

Approx. cost: Free

Hot tip! You can hire a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for free at Snowy Region Visitor Centre in Jindabyne, Perisher Valley Office, Tumut Visitor Centre or Khancoban Visitor Centre.

There you have it – four simple steps to getting in an Aussie snow adventure for as little as $111. That’s less than the price of a single lift ticket! Snowy Mountains on a budget? Done!

Plus all this to yourself!

Looking for More Snowy Mountains Adventures?

• We Slept in an Ice Cave on This Splitboarding Trip to the Snowy Mountains
• Cascade Hut Trails – A Historic Hut-to-Hut Hike Through the Snowy Mountains
• Mountain Bike Trails in the Snowy Mountains
• This Cosy Cabin is the Perfect Year-Round Snowy Mountains Recharge