Holidays with Kids – Perisher
Perish the Thought!
Can a family of beachgoers become snow bunnies within 48 hours? We send the Spicer family to Perisher to take the ultimate test.
The world is divided into two types of people: those who do snow holidays and those who prefer the beach.
While I’m too old and saggy to be described as a beach bunny (more like a jaded jackrabbit), our family has always preferred sand to snow.
It’s cold. It’s wet. It’s uncomfortable.
And unless you’re a size 8, those bulky layers make you look like the Michelin Man.
Deeply unflattering.
So there’s an inordinate amount of whining as we begin the six-hour drive from Sydney to Perisher – and that was just from my husband.
He’s a surfer dude. Anywhere without waves is not worth the trouble.
Personally, I’m enjoying the scenery.
The resort town of Jindabyne in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains is postcard pretty: a sun speckled lake decorated with waterskiiers and fishermen, surrounded by quaint cottages.
It’s cheaper to stay here and get the bus or Skitube up the mountain each morning, but with two small children and two large suitcases we decide to keep driving.
There’s something magical about the first time you see snow.
The kids squeal with delight as they spot the first flakes, unceremoniously ploughed to the roadside.
Like dollops of fresh cream, the mounds merge into a carpet of white, glistening in the winter sun.
This isn’t so bad after all.
In the car park of the Perisher Valley Hotel, Barney – one of the hilarious local characters – grabs our bags and escorts us to the room.
I feel like royalty: the glass-fronted, double-story apartment is at the bottom of the main run, with gold-medal-winning views.
As they say in Monty Python – loox-u-ry!
Suddenly, our children are whisked away to the Discovery Kids Club, which doubles as a ski school.
There’s also Snowy Daycare for infants to three-year-olds, Mum & Me private lessons, and Explorer Kids for eight to 14 years.
It’s like an Anne Geddes photo as Taj and Grace waddle off in their ski suits, red button noses the only flesh visible.
(Unless you’re regular skiiers it’s advisable to hire your gear, otherwise the kids grow out of it too quickly.)
We, too, are soon suited up and ready to go – Jason apprehensive as he looks from snowboard to mountain; myself, anxious to hit the slopes for the first time in twenty years.
In my youth, the only thing I was good at was après ski – drinking schnapps in the bar after tumbling inelegantly down the green runs.
Fortunately, it’s like riding a bike (only colder).
At Perisher, I manage to sneak into an “advanced beginners” class with an extremely good looking instructor (is there any other type?) called Bob.
Unfortunately, I fall into his lap while exiting the chairlift.
Sigh.
As well as being (did I mention?) extremely good looking, Bob is a brilliant instructor, and I’m paralleling in no time.
(Well, I thought I was paralleling, until I saw a photo in which it appeared I was squatting down doing a Number Two. Oh well.)
The feeling is addictive.
It’s a high, without the drugs.
I finish the lesson to find an equally delighted husband, able to snowboard after one lesson.
At the club, the kids are ruddy-faced and beaming, having finished one ski lesson, two hot chocolates and four biscuits.
There’s a plethora of skiing options at Perisher, with four interconnecting resorts (Perisher, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega) equalled by a diversity of dining.
You can refuel on everything from pizza, kebabs, curries, hamburgers and chips, to succulent steaks at Jax Bar & Chargrill and smoked salmon at the fancy Snow Gums restaurant.
After filling the gnawing hole in our bellies, we walk over to Tube Town to tear down the hill on red rubber tyres.
I’m not that keen on heights, so I get to the top and promptly refuse to go down.
Like a child.
Thankfully, my kids aren’t as childish as their mother, scooting down the track whooping with delight.
So, 48 hours later, are we converted?
Absolutely.
Each winter, instead of seeking the sun, we’ve become snow bunnies.
It’s exhilarating. Keeps you fit. And there are loads of hunky men to look at.
Isn’t that what holidays are all about, ladies?
Top Tips
- Get to the slopes early for the best conditions
- Take a lesson every day to improve your skills
- Use the Skitube rather than driving
- Book a massage at the hotel – mmm
- Hire your gear at Cooma
- Layer up!
Footnotes
Perisher Valley Hotel
(02) 6459 4455
