Charlotte Pass ski resort in the Snowy Mountains is Australia’s highest snow resort at 1,765 m, with five lifts, ski-in accommodation and a quiet, completely snowbound winter setting.
Resort ski map
Explore the ski area around Charlotte Pass before choosing where to stay. Use the resort view for lifts and pistes, or switch to the airport route view to see the transfer context.
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Charlotte Pass is Australia’s highest snow resort, sitting at 1,765 metres in the heart of Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. It is also the only Australian ski resort that is completely snowbound in winter, giving the village a distinctive car-free atmosphere once the snow season is underway.
The ski area is compact compared with Australia’s largest resorts, but that is part of its appeal. Charlotte Pass currently operates five lifts: the Kosciuszko Triple Chair, Kosi Carpet, Pulpit T-Bar, Basin Poma and the new Guthries Double Chair. The lift network serves beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain directly above the village, so most of the mountain is easy to understand even on a short stay.
Beginners are particularly well catered for. Kosi Carpet sits on gentle learning terrain beside the Kosciuszko Triple Chair and is the natural starting point for first-time skiers and snowboarders. Ski and snowboard lessons then progress riders from the carpet onto green runs and eventually towards blue terrain and the main lifts.
Intermediate skiers can use runs such as Pulpit Cornice, Peggy’s Lane, The Pass and Little Josh to move beyond the learning slopes. The mountain is small enough that mixed groups can split up for different runs and still regroup easily, which is one reason Charlotte Pass works well for families and less experienced skiers.
Advanced skiers have a smaller amount of terrain than at the biggest Australian resorts, but Charlotte Pass still has genuine black runs and steeper areas. Avalanche, Elliott’s Edge, The Equaliser and Over The Edge are among the advanced runs listed by the resort, while the Guthries area adds another important part of the mountain for stronger skiers.
The Guthries Double Chair is one of the most significant recent changes to the resort. It replaced the former Guthries High Speed Poma and opened for winter 2026, improving lift capacity and access to the Mount Guthrie terrain. For returning visitors, that makes the advanced side of Charlotte Pass easier to reach than in previous seasons.
Snowboarders have access to the same marked terrain as skiers, from Kosi Carpet learning slopes through to the stronger advanced runs. Charlotte Pass is not primarily a large terrain-park destination, so its appeal is more about natural mountain skiing, quiet pistes and the compact on-snow village.
The village is a major part of the experience. Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel remains the historic centre of Charlotte Pass, joined by Stillwell Hotel and a number of independent lodges. Because the resort is snowbound during winter, there is no normal road traffic moving through the village during the ski season.
Winter access is unusual by Australian standards. Visitors travel as far as Perisher Valley by road and then use Charlotte Pass Oversnow Transport for the final journey into the resort. The official service normally takes around 40 to 45 minutes in each direction. Overnight lift tickets do not include oversnow transport, while day visitors use DayTripper products that combine access and transport.
That access arrangement means Charlotte Pass suits travellers who are happy to stay on the mountain rather than drive between resorts each day. Once inside the village, lifts, accommodation, food and snow activities are all close together, making the destination particularly convenient for families and visitors who prefer a quieter snow holiday.
Charlotte Pass also has an important place in Australian skiing history. The first Kosciuszko Chalet was built in 1930, and the current Chalet opened in 1939 after the original building was destroyed by fire. The resort remains closely associated with the early development of organised skiing in the Snowy Mountains.
For travellers comparing Snowy Mountains resorts, Perisher ski resort offers a much larger lift network and broader terrain, while Thredbo ski resort combines long vertical descents with a larger alpine village. Selwyn Snow Resort is another New South Wales option with a strong beginner and family focus. Charlotte Pass stands apart through its altitude, snowbound access, compact mountain and quiet on-snow village.
The main compromise is scale. Skiers who want a huge network of lifts and pistes will find much more terrain at Perisher or Thredbo. Charlotte Pass instead works best for families, beginners, intermediates and travellers who value easy mountain access, a quieter atmosphere and the unusual experience of staying in Australia’s highest snow resort.
Australia’s highest snow resort; compact five-lift mountain; excellent beginner access; good family atmosphere; genuine advanced runs; ski-in accommodation and a unique snowbound village.
Much smaller ski area than Perisher or Thredbo; winter access requires oversnow transport from Perisher Valley; limited nightlife and less terrain for experts staying for a long trip.