An Insider's Guide to Spending a Weekend in Thredbo
Australian snowboarding champion and Olympic gold medallist Torah Bright’s career has taken her across the globe. But as the Thredbo Ambassador says, it’s always great to come home with her husband and infant son to the fairytale village in the NSW Snowy Mountains.
“Thredbo is the best,” she says. “It has the longest trails in Australia, the best after-ski scene… I just love the whole village and the vibe.”
Here Torah shares her top tips for spending a perfect weekend at Thredbo.
Best breakfast spots
“Eagles Nest is Australia’s highest restaurant and my favourite place for breakfast. I go up on the first lift, do a couple of runs, then stop for a big breakfast – I’m a scrambled eggs, avocado and bacon kind of girl. You don’t have to be on skis, though. On a clear day the light up there is amazing.
“In the village, Central Road 2625 is great for classic eggs and pancakes. They make a great latte with oat milk.”
Best ski spots
“I just love Supertrail. It’s Australia’s longest trail at almost six kilometres and there’s nothing better than hitting it first thing in the morning, the wind in your hair… it really wakes you up.
“Beginner areas at Thredbo take the stress out with magic carpets. They’re like little moving walkways that mean you don’t have to get on a lift or t-bar. You’ll find one at Friday Flat, with the perfect decline for people getting used to snowboards and skis.”
Best ski-in, ski-out lunch spot
“For lunch it’s hard to go past Kareela Hutte. It’s a ski-in, ski-out European-style restaurant on the Supertrail with gorgeous views of the slopes. You can just have a snack or do the whole three-course lunch: rich braises or a fantastic hamburger, pretzel doughnuts for dessert with beer, wine or even schnapps.”
Best things to do
Ride a gondola
“For a great little adventure, take the Merritts Gondola. It’s Australia’s only alpine gondola and keeps you cocooned and warm as you go up from the village to the base of the Cruiser Area, which is the start of a lot of intermediate runs.”
“It’s also where you’ll find Merritts Mountain House, where you can ski-in, ski-out for a casual meal or head out to the deck to enjoy apres with a live DJ. You don’t have to be skiing; you can take newborns up there because it’s protected, so it allows the whole family to enjoy it regardless of age and ability. Just take the ride to enjoy the incredible mountain views.”
Let the kids run wild
“The Mini Shred event on July 9 brings kids of all ages together to learn new tricks on a specially designed freestyle park for all levels. It’s something I’ve done at Thredbo for the last six years and it really is one of my favourite days. If they want to learn to do jumps, here’s the place! I invite local legends and other Olympians like Jarryd Hughes and Tess Coady to come along and be a coach for a day.”
Celebrate life, snow-style
“Thredbo over the years has really lived up to its whole European village feel and created some wonderful parties for the whole family to enjoy. Kareela Hutte and Thredbo Alpine Hotel have great après parties with mulled wine, live music and fire pits. People really get into it and go all out with their retro ski gear.”
See some fireworks
“For a really unique on-mountain experience, make sure to book the Kareela Supper Club on Saturday nights. You take the gondola up Merritts and then a snowcat ride across the mountain to watch the iconic Thredbo Flare Run and Fireworks Show from the Kareela Hutte deck. It’s spectacular.”
Take a hike
“When you’re not on the mountain there are some beautiful walking trails to explore by the river. One of my favourite days last year was when I put my baby into his carrier and walked along the river in knee-deep snow. It was the most beautiful thing ever.”
Best places to stay
“The whole village looks across to the mountain opposite so there’s a big chance that you’ll wake up in the morning to that amazing sight, whether you’re staying in a hotel, apartment or a lodge. I really like Thredbo Alpine Hotel for its great sense of history﹣it was opened in the 1950s and has this lovely retro feel to it. It has a lounge bar, live music in the afternoons and a great buffet breakfast.”
