Latest news with #skiresorts
ABC News
10-08-2025
- Business
- ABC News
High-altitude investment soars as snow businesses bet big on the future
It's snowtime in Australia's ski resorts, with bumper falls and plenty of visitors. Despite two poor seasons and increased competition from Japan and New Zealand, local resorts are making substantial investments that signal a belief in decades of future fun. "This is about as good as it gets," Perisher's resort services director Andrew King says, surveying the scene as beginner snowboarders and families play at the base of the mountain. "We've got a great snow base, some fresh snow, we're interconnected [by snow trails] between the four resorts. "We've got 44 lifts open out of 45 … so it's been fantastic. This snow season has been strong for the industry and it's set to continue into the September school holidays. Australian resorts have suffered two tough snow seasons (and before that, COVID restrictions in 2020 and 2021) as well as the reality that climate change is reducing natural snowfall. In recent years, the future of the snowfields has looked less than assured. Enter money. Lots of it. Alpine operators are making substantial investments in infrastructure, accommodation and hospitality venues, betting on a growing population, increasingly diverse snow-lovers and improved snowmaking technology that is extending seasons. "If you look at New South Wales alone, it's in excess of $80 million of investment in the last five years," says Josh Elliott, chief executive of peak body Ski Resorts Australia. In the past few years, Thredbo has put in a new gondola and a 1.5km "coaster" — a kind of suspended toboggan run — as other resorts have upgraded accommodation, transport and hospitality options. This season, the most expensive new item has been Perisher's six-seater high-speed chairlift, which can deliver 3,000 people an hour to the top of the resort more than 2,000 metres above sea level. "We've really moved upmarket with latest technology," says Mr King. "It halves the time to get up there and increases the volume of people we can get to the top of the mountain, Australia's highest lifting point. So it's a good bit of kit." But it's not the only big bet. On top of Mt Buffalo, in the Victorian High Country, a giant is slowly waking. For more than a century, the Mt Buffalo Chalet has sat on the edge of a precipitous drop, offering comfort and luxury to thousands who enjoy the beauty of the mountain, about 300 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. Built in 1910, the chalet operated for almost a century before its doors shut in 2006, leaving more than 100 rooms to sit empty since. "This is a building that needs people in it," says Richard Thornton, chief executive of Belgravia Outdoor Education. A café will open by summer, before completion of a two-stage, $10-million redevelopment to accommodate about 300 students and teachers. "There's so much to do on the plateau," says Mr Thornton. "There's caving, climbing, abseiling, canoeing. You can bushwalk from here for three days and barely see another person, all from the front door of this building." Private company Belgravia Leisure runs more than 250 sports facilities across Australia, including large aquatic centres from Devonport in Tasmania up to Palmerston in the Northern Territory. The investment will take decades to recoup. But the company sees value not just in the financials but in young people experiencing the High Country. "We've taken a 40-year lease on the chalet," says Mr Thornton. "We're absolutely all-in to delivering, getting this place open and getting it full. So yes, it's a long lease and, yes, there's a commitment to that. We're confident." In Jindabyne, the lakeside gateway town to NSW ski resorts, the confidence that comes from substantial investment is clear. Australia's ski season is underway, but new figures show a 30 per cent drop in skier visits since before the pandemic — as rising costs and overseas competition put pressure on the $2.1 billion industry. Businesswoman Kerin Jarvis isn't in the snow game — she runs a business that supports tradies with their administration – but she sees how areas like Jindabyne rise and fall. Her home, about 150 kilometres south-west of Canberra, is filled with stores and hospitality venues catering to snow-seeking tourists. "The visitor economy is so important to our town," she says. A member of the town's chamber of commerce, Ms Jarvis says the "buzz" of the town on winter weekends is something you can feel. "Businesses in our town rely on that seasonal winter trade to support them through the quieter times through the year, and they've had five years of very challenging business experience." Other areas aren't as fortunate. Operators were sought for two of Victoria's smallest ski areas — Mt Baw Baw and Lake Mountain — in a government tender last year. But Jindabyne is revelling in recent investments. As the gateway for travel from Sydney and Canberra to the NSW resorts — so much so that a "Big Chairlift" sits on the lake's edge for people to take photos on — the summer installation of Perisher's new chairlift has the town buoyed that resort operators are committed. "A lot of people say, 'Oh, there won't be any snow left because of climate change,'" she says. "But then they install a chairlift like that and spend that sort of money … [it shows the company has] got the confidence that they're going to be using that chair for a long time."
SBS Australia
06-06-2025
- Climate
- SBS Australia
Snow, polar winds, drought-easing rain: The wild weather in store for the long weekend
Australia's ski resorts are set to officially open this long weekend. Snow could fall for four days across southern Australia. Low temperatures and icy winds are also predicted. NSW and Victoria's ski slopes are forecast to receive a dump of snow, with poor conditions for snow sports, as they officially open this weekend, amid wet and icy weather hitting parts of southern and eastern Australia. Polar air from sub-Antarctic waters is expected to bring days of below-average temperatures for the country's south as many Australians mark the King's birthday long weekend. Snow is expected to fall for around four days in alpine regions and be widespread across central Victoria and NSW, potentially falling in the Blue Mountains, Orange, and Canberra as well. Patch Clapp, community information officer at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), said snowfall would start from Friday. "Over the course of Friday to Tuesday, at least 20 to 30 centimetres of snow should accumulate at the alpine resorts for the first weekend of the snow season, with snow possible generally every day from Friday to Tuesday," he said. "Weather conditions over the weekend will not be great for snow sports. Successive cold fronts and a low-pressure system will lead to a wet and windy long weekend," Clapp said. While Friday will feel chillier after a warm autumn, the main cold front is expected to arrive on Saturday night and sweep across parts of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and NSW, the BoM said. On Sunday, maximum temperatures are expected to remain in the single digits — Melbourne will reach a top of about 9 degrees, with high winds making the 'feels like' temperature even lower. After an exceptionally dry 12 months creating difficult drought conditions, south-west Victoria is forecast to receive between 25 and 50mm of rain between Saturday and Tuesday. Parts of southern South Australia can also expect rain after some of the driest conditions on record. Adelaide is expected to receive its heaviest rainfall since 2023, with up to 40mm potentially falling. The BoM has issued warnings for strong north-westerly winds ahead of the approaching cold front and could reissue warnings for areas of the coast and ranges when the storm moves up. Gusts could exceed 100km/h near the South Australia-Victoria border.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Sydney weather: Urgent warning issued
A series of cold fronts is moving across southeastern Australia this week, set to send temperatures tumbling and bring snow to alpine regions. Cold air will sweep through New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, with light snow expected in the high mountains. According to Weatherzone, the midweek chill will mark the unofficial opening of the ski season, with several days of fresh snowfall on the cards. 'Wednesday night and Thursday morning will be particularly cold, with minimum temperatures forecast to reach -5 to -7°C in the Vic and NSW Alps,' Weatherzone said. The real chill is expected to hit over the weekend, when two cold fronts are forecast to sweep across southeastern Australia, one on Saturday, followed by another on Sunday. This back-to-back system is expected to deliver a steady stream of cold air and snowfall, with snow likely each day from Saturday through at least Tuesday. The timing couldn't be better for ski resorts, with the King's Birthday long weekend approaching. 'Tuesday's front won't deliver a lot of natural snow,' Weatherzone said. 'But it will cause temperatures to drop and allow ski resorts to make plenty of artificial snow in the lead-up to the weekend.' The June long weekend typically signals the start of the ski season for most of Australia's main resorts. However, early June is often unreliable when it comes to natural snow, and in some years, there isn't enough coverage to open slopes this early. Weatherzone says this year looks more promising. 'Fortunately, Mother Nature will be kindly serving up several bursts of cold weather over the coming week, including a good bout of fresh natural snow over the long weekend and early next week,' they added. Perth meanwhile is set to receive its heaviest rainfall this year as a slow-moving low pressure system brings rainfall totals potentially exceeding 85mm over Tuesday and Wednesday. The extreme conditions in the first week of winter come after Australia enjoyed its fourth warmest autumn on record. The south-western regions of Western Australia will cop a soaking after a relatively dry start to 2025 with below-average rainfall in its capital. Check the forecast below for your capital city this week. Sydney Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 11 Max 16 Thursday: Sunny. Min 8 Max 17 Friday: Partly cloudly. Min 8 Max 18 Melbourne Wednesday: Showers. Min 8 Max 14 Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 6 Max 15 Friday: Shower or two. Min 7 Max 14 Brisbane Wednesday: Sunny. Min 14 Max 23 Thursday: Sunny. Min 11 Max 22 Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 11 Max 23 Perth Wednesday: Showers and storms. Min 13 Max 20 Thursday: Showers. Min 12 Max 20 Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 8 Max 19 Adelaide Wednesday: Sunny. Min 4 Max 16 Thursday: Shower or two. Min 5 Max 18 Friday: Showers. Min 9 Max 19 Hobart Wednesday: Cloudy. Min 4 Max 12 Thursday: Cloudy. Min 6 Max 13 Friday: Shower or two. Min 4 Max 14 Canberra Wednesday: Cloud clearing. Min 2 Max 12 Thursday: Morning frost, Sunny. Min -3 Max 13 Friday: Morning frost, cloudy. Min -3 Max 13 Darwin Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 22 Max 32 Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 22 Max 31 Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 21 Max 32
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
$1.2 Million Homes in Vermont, Arizona and Pennsylvania
Manchester, Vt. | $1.15 million This five-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom house, once an antiques store, could be used as a residence and commercial space. A bookstore, a Thai restaurant and an 18th-century tavern are all within a 10-minute walk. A park with an off-leash dog area, skateboarding facilities and a playground is five-minutes away by car. Parts of the Appalachian Trail are 15 minutes away, and a handful of ski resorts are within 30 minutes. Albany is an hour and 20 minutes away, the Berkshire region of Massachusetts is a 90-minute drive and New York City takes a little more than three hours. Size: 3,274 square feet Price per square foot: $351 Indoors: Steps lead from the front lawn to a covered porch, where a door opens to a foyer with floral-print wallpaper. Stairs with an original wood banister rise to the second level, and adjacent to the foyer is a parlor. At the back of the foyer is the living room, with original millwork and tall windows facing the rear and side yards. Original hardwood floors continue into a dining room with its own floral-print wallpaper. In the kitchen the floors are blue and white and the countertops are a mix of butcher block and stone. A pantry and a powder room are around the corner, and a back staircase also leads to the second floor. A laundry room and an enclosed porch are also off the kitchen. A first-floor bedroom, with wide-plank floors off the foyer, is the primary suite, which is big enough for a king-size bed. A full bathroom is attached, and a parlor, directly off the foyer, could also serve as a bedroom. At the top of the stairs a long hallway links four of the home's five bedrooms. A smaller room that could be a nursery or a study is attached, as is a bathroom with a tub and a separate shower. There's another en suite bedroom on this level as well as a shared bathroom. Outdoor space: Through the enclosed porch is the backyard, landscaped with grass and shaded by mature trees. A driveway alongside the house leads to a two-car detached garage and with an unfinished upper level. Taxes: $6,696 (estimated) Contact: Hayleyanne Van Der Kar, Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty, 802-367-9004 Tucson, Ariz. | $1.15 million This four-bedroom, three-bathroom house is about a mile from the main campus of the University of Arizona, it's football stadium and planetarium. A public elementary school is less than 10-minutes away on foot, as is a public park and a library. An independent movie theater is five minutes away by car, as is a Whole Foods. Downtown Tucson is a 10-minute drive, and Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is half an hour away. Mt. Lemmon, a popular ski destination, is 90 minutes away and reaching Phoenix takes two hours. Size: 2,548 square feet Price per square foot: $451 Indoors: From the street, a red brick walkway flanked by drought-tolerant landscaping leads to the front door. Inside is a foyer where the walls are covered in original wood paneling. Off one side of the foyer is the formal living room, with bookshelves, a decorative fireplace and wood beams running across the ceiling. Off the living room and foyer is a long sunroom with backyard-facing windows and brick floors that is now used as a family room and dining area. This space faces the updated kitchen, which has polished concrete floors and white quartz countertops. There's a garden window above the sink and room for a breakfast table. Three of the home's four bedrooms are reached through the sunroom, off the same hallway. The en suite primary bedroom has a backyard-facing window and a recently-redone bathroom with a walk-in shower and a floating vanity. A walk-in closet separates the bedroom and the bathroom. The bedrooms across the hall are both big enough for queen-size beds, and one has direct access to a full bathroom, also reachable from the foyer. The fourth bedroom, off the kitchen, has its own full bathroom and an exterior entrance. A laundry room is also on this side of the house. Outdoor space: Behind the house, through the kitchen, is a paved patio with colorful tile accents shaded by a wood pergola. Walking paths wind through the yard, which could accommodate a swimming pool or a guesthouse. A detached garage has two parking spots. Taxes: $3,744 (estimated) Contact: Rich Kenney, Long Realty, 520-907-3480 Philadelphia | $1.175 million This four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house is within easy walking distance of some of Philadelphia's busiest neighborhoods. Rittenhouse Square, the Italian Market and Schuylkill River Park are each roughly a mile away. A playground and a public elementary school are both within a five-minute walk, and pizza, bagels, and locally-brewed beer are all within a 10-minute walk. The 30th Street Station, a hub for Amtrak and regional rail, is about 20 minutes away by bus. The city's major sports teams all play at facilities 15 minutes away by car, and the airport is a 20-minute drive. Size: 2,730 square feet Price per square foot: $430 Indoors: Steps lead from the sidewalk to this home's arched front door, which opens into the living room. The floors here are white oak, and the railing along the staircase continues up to the second level and down to the basement. Behind the living room is a combined kitchen and dining area. The center island has a rounded edge and the cabinets are custom made. The stainless steel appliances include a range with a gas cooktop. Sliding-glass doors face an enclosed patio. A powder room with pale pink walls is off the kitchen. The second level has two bedrooms, both with ample closet space and one with sliding-glass doors that face a Juliet balcony. A bathroom with a soaking tub and a separate shower is also on this level. The entire third floor is a primary suite, with a bedroom, a walk-in closet and an additional room that could be an office or a library. The primary bathroom is configured as one large wet room, with a double vanity, a shower and a soaking tub. Stairs in the primary bedroom lead up to the top floor, where a sunny room with a wet bar has access to the roof deck. The basement includes a den, another queen-size bedroom and a full bathroom. Outdoor space: The roof deck has sweeping skyline views, with room for an outdoor lounge and has a plumbing in place for a hot tub. The patio on the main level, off the kitchen, could hold a grill and a dining table. Street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Taxes: $5,029 (estimated) Contact: Michael Garden, Compass, 215-500-2981
