Perisher, Australia’s largest ski resort, sets the bar higher with the new Mt Perisher 6 Chairlift, now officially the highest lifted point in Australia at 2,042 metres, writes Phil Osborn.
Perisher
Perisher’s $26 million dollar investment into the new Mt Perisher 6 lift is big news for Australian skiers and snowboarders. Affectionately known as Mt P6 lift, we headed down to test the new lift for the NSW Interschools competition with our daughter Sienna who was racing over the July 2025 school holidays. Our visit coincided with a bumper snow fall that dropped 40cm of fresh snow and brought high winds to the resort…the perfect conditions to test the new Mt P 6 ability to operate in higher winds.
In Australia you pretty much don’t get snow without loads of wind. So lifts going on wind hold is all part of the experience. Luckily Perisher has loads of t-bars that can shuffle you around while you wait for the wind to drop. We had our eye on the new Mt P 6 lift and luckily, we timed it with a drop in the wind to enable it to operate safely. Wind direction plays a key role in allowing lifts to spin during windy days, so we were in the right place at the right time, to jump on the new lift, with the surrounding terrain loaded with incredible snow conditions, as good as anything I’d experienced in Australia!
What actually is the new Mt P chairlift?
The new Mt P chairlift is the state of the art Doppelmayr detachable 6 seater. The ride up takes 5.5 minutes and is 44% faster than previous lifts on Mt Perisher. The new Mt P 6 will take you to the highest lift access point in Australia at 2,042 metres.
So what’s it like?
The new Mt P 6 lift seats are super comfy. Loading onto the lift is smooth. On our visit, with strong winds, the chairlift was stable, which was a pleasant surprise. Getting off the lift was effortless and easy to exit. It’s a 10/10 lift.
What’s the terrain like off the Mt P 6 lift?
The terrain off the Mt P 6 lift is some of the best resort terrain in Australia. On our visit, we had fresh powder. If you are an capable intermediate to advanced skier or snowboarder, you’ll love Mt Perisher. It really is a special part of Perisher Resort
Perisher Resort overview
Perisher is the largest resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with four resort areas, 44 lifts, over 100 trails and more than 3,000 acres of terrain.
Perisher’s four resort areas, Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes, and Guthega are all interlinked by ski and snowboard trails, forming Perisher Ski Resort.
New Epic Australia 4 Day Pass for 2025.
The 2025 Epic Australia 4-Day Pass is a great new offering from Vail Resorts and costs $629 for adults and $315 for children (5-17 years old). This pass provides four days of combined lift access at Perisher, Falls Creek, and Hotham, and can be used on any day of the 2025 season, either consecutively or spread out. You just need to book it well in advance prior to the season commencing.
Epic Australia Pass or Epic Pass?
If you plan to ski more than 4 days in Australia, then make sure you buy the Epic Australia Pass if you plan to ski mainly in Australia, with limited options in the northern hemisphere. Prices in 2025 were AUD $1,079 adult and $619 children (5-17 years). You pay a $49 deposit with the remainder due in March 2025. Or if you plan to ski more in the northern hemisphere, then check out the Epic Pass priced at USD $1,075 adult and child USD $548.
There are loads of benefits as well with each of the passes…so check these out for ski hire, accommodation, dining. You just need to be well planned in advance to take advantage of the various Epic Pass deals.
Where is Perisher?
Perisher Ski Resort is located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, nestled within the Kosciuszko National Park. The largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, Perisher is just a short drive from Jindabyne and approximately 5 hours south of Sydney, 2.5 hours south of Canberra, and 7 hours north-east of Melbourne.
How do you get there?
Skitube: We would recommend, for most people, to utilise the Skitube. If you use Google Maps, make sure you enter Skitube Bullocks Flat. If you just put in Skitube it can take you to the wrong end of the skitube! The skitube is a Swiss-designed, rack-rail train, that was designed to improve access to Perisher in winter. The trip takes 10 minutes and travels 8.5 kms. Parking is free at Bullocks Flat, and your skitube pass includes your National Park Pass. For pricing and timetables click the links.
Bus: Snowy Mountains Bus Service is a safe and convenient way to travel between Jindabyne and Perisher during winter. The service takes passengers from Jindabyne to Perisher 7 days per week during the ski season between June and October long weekends, with connecting services via East Jindabyne, Tyrolean Village and Cooma.
Car: Perisher’s parking is limited at the resort, so we recommend utilising the skitube and free parking at Bullocks Flat. On weekends and busy days, you most likely won’t be able to drive up to Perisher and be turned around. You need to purchase a National Parks Pass if you do drive to the resort. It takes 40 minutes from Jindy. And you’ll need to carry chains and be able to fit the chains and be capable of driving in snow conditions. So it’s best to go on the skitube.
Private bus, coach and airport transfers: If you are looking to catch a bus from Sydney, or fly in from Canberra or Cooma click here for a list of service providers.
Where did we stay?
We stayed at the Kooloora Lodge at Perisher Valley. We loved Kooloora Lodge for its warm atmosphere created by owners Rosemary and Eric. Eric collected us on his skidoo from the skitube, which was an exciitng way to arrive at Kooloora Lodge blasting through the snow. Rosemary and Eric are fantastic hosts, and immediately made us feel welcomed and helped us have a really special time at Kooloora Lodge. Breakfast and dinner are included and every meal we had was excellent. What we really enjoyed was how all the guests all interacted together. We made new friends and had a great time! We stayed in a quad room for 4 people. The beds were excellent, which helped us have great night sleep after spending all day out on the slopes. On the big snow days, we were really glad to be on the mountain to take the stress out of making our daughter’s early starts for her ski racing. To learn more about Kooloora Lodge click here for pricing and availability.
Verdict:
Perisher is the biggest ski resort in Australia and well worth experiencing. If you can plan in advance your stay, you’ll get the best value deals on lift passes and accommodation. We loved the new Mt P 6 chair. It’s a fantastic upgrade at the resort. We hope you get a chance to ride the new Mt P 6 lift soon at Perisher.
