ANGELA SAURINE checks out a Snowy Mountains hotel ideal for adventure-loving families
Thredbo Alpine Hotel - The lowdown
In the heart of the alpine village, Thredbo Alpine Hotel makes a great base for skiing and snowboarding in winter, or mountain biking and hiking in summer. Built in 1956, it has a vintage lodge feel, with wood panelling, stone walls and slate floors in the lobby. Parts of the three-storey building are heritage-listed, so there are no lifts, but if one of the friendly staff spots you with bags they will offer to help before you have a chance to ask. One of the big attractions is the large outside courtyard dotted with fire pits, which replaced the pool in 2019, allowing room for large events and festivals (in non-COVID times!) It also has a car park with 46 parking spots, and if it’s full, a valet will park your car in another secure area nearby.
The Thredbo Alpine Hotel is located right in the heart of the village of Thredbo!
It doesn’t get more convenient than this! The hotel is located just across the bridge from the Valley Terminal, surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars. There’s also a stop for shuttle buses to the beginner ski area, Friday Flat, around 150m from the door.
Thredbo Alpine Hotel accommodation provides guests with breathtaking mountain views, convenience, and comfort
There are 65 rooms decorated with vintage ski posters and artwork by local artist Brad Spalding, who also founded the Wildbrumby Distillery on Alpine Way. There are ten interconnecting rooms, with two quad rooms on the third floor offering mountain views, with an entranceway between them. There are also two suites with a double pullout sofa in the living room, and extra beds can be wheeled in. The loft on the top floor, formerly the general manager’s residence, has four bedrooms and a full kitchen, sleeping up to ten people.
Thredbo Alpine Hotel offers many fun activities for the whole family!
Thredbo is a year-round destination, offering Australia’s longest ski runs, the country’s first alpine gondola and a thriving après scene in its European-style village in winter, and a mountain bike park, bobsledding and great hiking trails in summer. You can also play a round of disc golf on the Thredbo Golf Course or visit Thredbo Leisure Centre, which has a pool, gym, squash, and a sports hall where you can play basketball or table tennis. To learn more about the resort’s history, pop into the charming Thredbo Museum, run by a passionate group of volunteers.
The Thredbo Alpine Hotel has a variety of wonderful dining alternatives to suit everyone's tastes
Thredbo Alpine Hotel has several restaurants to choose from, all offering kids’ menus, with other eateries located in the building and nearby. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Cascades Restaurant overlooks the mountains and offers fresh, modern cuisine. There’s also Italian noshery, Segreto (which means ‘secret’), and the more casual The Local Pub, which has the biggest balcony in town. Kids will love the donuts served at Avalanche Café at the base of the mountain, and the Donut & Coffee Hut at Friday Flat.
Explore Thredbo Village and its breathtaking surroundings
Catch the Kosciuszko Express chairlift to embark on the hike to Australia’s highest mountain, which sits at 2228m above sea level, admiring alpine wildflowers and views of the Snowy Mountains and Victorian High Country along the way. Thredbo Valley Horse Riding offers tours exploring the sub-alpine area for everyone from beginners through to accomplished riders. And be sure to book lunch at the character-filled Wildbrumby Distillery, which also has a sculpture walk and a playground. Mum and dad can even do a tasting and stock up on schnapps before they leave.
The writer was a guest of Thredbo.
