15-07-2025
Furious Aussies left waiting for HOURS after ski lift froze over at popular resort
Skiers are eagerly awaiting the end of school holidays following two weeks of overcrowded slopes and hour-long queues.
Dozens of Aussies visiting ski resorts in NSW and Victoria have taken to social media to vent following a busy fortnight at the popular winter holiday destinations.
Several visitors complained of waiting for over an hour to use the ski lift after paying up to $264 for a ski lift pass at Perisher or $177 at Falls Creek.
Many skiers also face hefty travel and accommodation costs to visit the Snowy Mountains, with hotels near the slopes going for hundreds of dollars per night.
However, it wasn't just large crowds causing repeated delays across the mountains.
The first week of school holidays, which typically sees a jump in visitors, coincided with a cold front moving through the region - causing chaotic snowstorm conditions.
While it was good news for skiers, it spelt disaster for resort operators.
Frustrations boiled over last week when the ski lifts at Falls Creek were delayed due to the system freezing shut.
'We're sorry for the delays getting lifts open this morning,' the resort said.
'Our full team has been working hard since the early hours to de-ice and get things moving. With a big snowstorm on the way, there may be more delays tomorrow. We'll keep doing everything we can to get lifts spinning as soon as conditions allow.
'Thanks for your patience.'
While some visitors were understanding of the situation, others were unimpressed.
'I was here and it felt like it took hours,' one wrote under a TikTok video of Falls Creek.
'I took one look and went back to bed,' another said.
'Took me 40 minutes to get to the top,' a third commented.
Several others expressed frustration at the high cost of skiing in Australia, compared to the price and quality of skiing overseas.
'Cheaper to fly to Japan and ski there! Best snow,' one person wrote.
'It costs almost the same to fly to New Zealand and ski there,' another said.
More frequent visitors shared their advice on how to avoid large crowds in the area.
'It's only like that until 10am,' one person said.
'Once people filter out on the mountain there's no line.'
