Australia NSW - Thredbo

Vertical drop: 672 metres

Annual snowfall: 2 metres

Snowmaking: 120 hectares on key trails and high wear areas; full automated – best system in Australia

Longest run:  5.9 km (Karels T-bar to Friday Flat)

Number of lifts: 14

Parks/pipes: Three for mix of levels; well-regarded for features and maintenance.

Lift queues/efficiency rating: 8/10

Terrain: 480 hectares

Day ticket: $55-$99

When: June long weekend to early October.

Getting there from Sydney: Take the Hume Highway then turn on to the Federal Highway just south of Goulburn. Follow the signs to detour around Canberra and take the Monaro Highway to Cooma, then on to Jindabyne. From Jindabyne, turn on to the Alpine Way to get to Thredbo. The trip takes about five hours.

Getting there from Melbourne: Take the Hume Freeway to Wodonga then the Murray Valley Highway through Tallangatta and Corryong. A few kilometres out of Corryong, turn on to the Alpine Way, through Khancoban for the Snowy Mountains and Thredbo. All up about six and a half hours from Melbourne.

Airports/transport: The nearest airport is Cooma but the best-serviced is Canberra. Shuttles connections available from Cooma, Canberra and Jindabyne.

Chains: Must be carried by 2WDs from the Victorian side between Tom Groggin and Thredbo (last hire is in Khancoban but they may not be open late). Not compulsory between Jindabyne and Thredbo but may be required in heavy snow and can be hired in Jindabyne or Cooma.