Celebrating Growth at Thredbo Resort

Nestled in New South Wales' Snowy Mountains in the heart of Kosciuszko National Park, Thredbo Resort has long been synonymous with winter sports in Australia, thanks to its long trails, vibrant village atmosphere, and beautiful snow-capped slopes. But as the resort approaches its 70th anniversary next year, it has successfully transformed itself into a premier, year-round destination with activities for adventurers and families alike.

The move to broaden the resort’s appeal and expand beyond its winter roots began in earnest in 1991, when Thredbo first offered lift access to mountain bikers. Nearly 35 years later, the decision to invest in summer recreation is viewed as a catalyst.

Today, Thredbo offers over 40 kilometers of biking trails and is Australia’s only lift-accessible mountain bike park. A mountain biking school caters to riders of all levels, while major events like the Cannonball MTB Festival and the Australian MTB Interschools attract thousands of visitors with racing, live music, and a celebratory atmosphere. 

Investments in mountain biking are also paying off, as the number of Australians participating in the sport has doubled over the past six years to 470,000 people, according to The Australian Sports Commission.

Mountain biking and skiing are far from the only draws, though. Thredbo offers a broad range of activities, including abseiling, disc golf, Saturday night fireworks, yoga, and a skate park. A robust year-round events calendar includes high-profile events such as the Thredbo Blues Festival, Taste of the Snowies Gourmet Food & Wine Festival, the Thredbo Music Series and Kids Summer Adventure Festivals. There’s even an artist-in-residence. (This year, it’s Zoe Young, an acclaimed painter who grew up nearby, in Thredbo Valley, and is known for her still life paintings, portraits, and vibrant mountain scenes.)

Fitness and adrenaline offerings target visitors of all skill levels as well. There is a bungee trampoline at the base of the Alpine Coaster that charges A$15 per ride, a gym with a pool and water slide, and a ‘Zero Gravity’ facility for elite acrobatic training. Trampolines, foam pits, and airbags allow athletes to fine tune the body movements required to perform inverted aerial maneuvers without risk of serious injury.

All-Weather Activities

Springtime and early summer are traditionally down times for ski resorts. Known as the “mud season” in many mountain towns, the ski season is over, while mountain biking has yet to begin. Thredbo has been investing in activities to bridge this gap. 

One of the most recent year-round additions is the 1.5-kilometer Thredbo Alpine Coaster. Manufactured by Germany’s Wiegand, the coaster has an all-weather track and overhead screens that provide weather protection for passengers. It is the Southern Hemisphere’s first year-round alpine coaster.

Immediately after leaving the valley station, riders navigate a 30-meter tunnel under the ski slope, followed by a lift to the top of the mountain. Riders reach speeds of up to 40 km/h, though they can hit the brakes as they navigate three circular sections, straightaways, bends, waves and jumps, all while enjoying stunning mountain views including bridge crossings up to 12 meters above the ground. 

"We are constantly looking for ways to strengthen Thredbo's year-round offering. Our brand-new Alpine Coaster is a testament to our commitment to provide world-class recreation for our guests," says Carroll. 

Visitors are clearly enjoying the ride—capacity is maxing out on weekends and there is a strong pattern of repeat visitation, with guests riding multiple times in a day and returning several weekends in a row. The coaster, which is wheelchair accessible, took nearly eight months to construct and was inspected by Germany’s TÜV Thüringen.

Investing in Success

Including the Alpine Coaster, Thredbo has completed seven major developments since 2022, including a high-speed gondola; Australia’s longest ski mover—Freddie’s Snowrunner, which looks like a travelator and traverses nearly 100 meters through a transparent tunnel that protects children from the elements; and an Easy Rider T-Bar, which increased rider capacity in the winter season by 35%.

The resort’s multi-million-dollar redevelopment is far from complete. A housing sub-division, most likely situated by the Thredbo Golf Course, is in the works. Applications to rebuild the Merritts Mountain House, which is known for its hot chocolate and large restaurant deck at 1,660 meters high, have been submitted to government regulators. New mountain biking trails, upgraded chairlifts, additional snowmaking guns and a zipline course are also planned.

While the expansion generates repeat visitation, it also provides a buffer from changing weather patterns. Thredbo’s ski slopes had to close early this year due to warm temperatures and rain, but the alpine coaster and other all-weather attractions continued to entertain visitors.

thredbo.com.au