Escaping Singapore’s perpetual heat doesn’t have to mean waiting until year-end for a winter getaway in Europe. Unknown to many, there are a few winter destinations in Australia, with some under 6 hours from Singapore.
Picture yourself skiing in Perisher Valley or experiencing the ethereal Southern Lights in Hobart. Ready to swap your slippers for snow boots? It’s time to pack your bags to explore these winter destinations in Australia.
Unlike places in the Northern Hemisphere, such as Europe and North America, the seasons are the opposite in the land down under. Winter in Australia runs from early June to the end of August. It’s not too late if you want to plan for your next long weekend: National Day.
While Australia is known for its sunny beaches and lush hinterland, it snows in several states – namely New South Wales (NSW), Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria. The temperatures dip to 0°C at night.
Temperatures vary depending on the region and time of the year. The coldest destination in Australia, though, is Canberra. Being inland, it experiences cold winters with temperatures dropping below freezing. Average lows in winter can range from -1°C to -4°C.
Tasmania is also known for its chilly temperatures. Average lows in winter range from 3°C-5°C, and it’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop below freezing at night. In Melbourne, average lows are between 6°C and 7°C, but temperatures can drop to around 2°C on colder nights.
Before heading off for your adventure, remember to double-check the temperatures in the city you’re going to and pack accordingly. We’d recommend investing in some good base layers – we’re looking at you, HEATTECH – and a trusty jacket. Don’t forget to pack some shawls, beanies, and gloves as well.
Image credit: @suhao906 via Instagram
One of the best places for skiing in Australia is the Perisher Valley. It’s part of the Australian Alps, which spans over 1.6 million hectares of land in 11 national parks and nature reserves across Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.
For the best experience, plan your visit between June and September, when prices are more affordable and the winter wonderland truly comes alive, especially in July.
Image credit: @corroboreelodge via Instagram
As the largest alpine resort in the Southern Hemisphere, Perisher Valley is home to over 60 lodges. Among them, Corroboree Ski Lodge stands out for its ideal ski-in ski-out location near the Perisher Valley Express Quad chair. After a day on the slopes, unwind in the private guest lounge or enjoy games like pool or darts in the vibrant bar area, complete with cosy open fires and stunning views.
Image credit: @corroboreelodge via Instagram
Each guest room is equipped with central heating and private en suite bathrooms, ensuring a comfortable stay amidst the snowy scenery.
Getting there from Singapore: Fly to Canberra and take a 2-hour 40-minute bus ride to Bullocks Flat. Then, take the Skitube from Bullocks Flat.
Image credit: @mt.hotham.resort via Instagram
Mount Hotham in Victoria – Australia’s highest alpine village – sits 357km from Melbourne and maintains cold temperatures year-round, often dropping below freezing.
The Hotham Alpine Resort operates exclusively during the snow season, running from 8th June 8th to 6th October this year. It marks the highest point of Victoria’s scenic Great Alpine Road, stretching 339km through stunning landscapes.
Image credit: Mount Hotham
Ideal for skiing enthusiasts, Hotham Alpine Resort has 13 chair lifts, 3 terrain parks, and 35km of cross-country skiing trails. For the ultimate adventure, you can also embark on dog sledge tours and snowmobile rides.
There is plenty of accommodation at Mount Hotham, ranging from ski lodges like the Alberg Hotham to unique properties such as the Hypedome, which will make you feel like you’re in an igloo amid the alpine landscapes. The latter is a snowdome experience from AU$579 (S$524.47) for 2 people and includes activities such as a sunset snowshoe tour to a hidden eco-village.
Image credit: Hypedome
Inside, you’ll find all the comforts for a cosy stay: there’s a warm wood fire heater to ward off the chill, hand washing facilities with towels provided, and comfortable bedding including real mattresses, bed linen, pillows, faux fur blankets, fleece liners, and warm -10°C sleeping bags.
Depending on your needs, 1 or 2 double beds are available. You’ll have access to drinking water and a solar-powered battery with USB ports for charging phones, ensuring you stay connected even in the wilderness. Extra blankets are also on hand for added comfort during your alpine adventure.
Getting there from Singapore: Fly into Melbourne. From there, it’s a 4.5-hour drive to Mount Hotham.
The Southern Lights from Mount Wellington.
Image credit: @leohuqiang via Instagram
Tasmania is stunning in winter, with landscapes that rival those of neighbouring New Zealand. If you’ve dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland or Norway, Hobart in Tasmania offers a closer alternative with its Southern Lights. These can be seen year-round, but winter is the ideal time, with peak visibility from May to August and around the spring equinox in September.
To catch the best views, it’s ideal to escape light pollution and obstructions like buildings and mountains. We recommend venturing just outside Hobart to Mount Nelson or Mount Wellington – a 12- and 30-minute drive respectively – for unblocked views of the natural phenomenon.
Dark Mofo Festival.
Image credit: @fifi_by_the_sea via Instagram
Landscapes aside, Hobart also hosts some of the most interesting winter events and festivals. Top of the mind is Dark Mofo, an annual mid-winter arts and culture festival by the Museum of Old and New Art that’s famous for its Winter Solstice Nude Swim. While it started with just a few hundred participants in 2013, it now sees around 3,000 people plunging into the Derwent River annually.
Image credit: Port Arthur Ghost Tours
If nude swimming isn’t your thing, check out the Winter Feast, featuring over 80 stalls serving up mouthwatering food. There’s also the Ghost Tours of Port Arthur, a 90-minute lantern-lit walking tour that takes you around the 19th-century site that used to be a convict settlement.
Getting there from Singapore: Connecting flights from Singapore to Hobart via Jetstar, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines.
Marion’s Lookout at Cradle Mountain.
Image credit: @cb0706 via Instagram
The Lord of the Rings may have been filmed in New Zealand, but the landscapes look pretty similar to those of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. With its striking peaks, glacial-carved lakes, grasslands, and rainforests, it stands out as one of the most beautiful winter destinations in Australia.
Image credit: @lora.outofoffice via Instagram
Perhaps the best place to appreciate its beauty is the Enchanted Walk, a 1.1km-long trail that takes you through a magical, snowy forest along a cascading creek. It’s an easy trail that’ll make you feel like you’re in Frozen – and you might even spot animals like pademelons and wombats. Alternatively, you can sign up for a Cradle Mountain National Park day tour.
Image credit: Cradle Country Adventures
Besides hiking, you can also choose to explore Cradle Mountain’s trails on a horse riding tour, which starts from AU$590 (S$534.60) for 4 hours, inclusive of helmets and lunch halfway through the tour. The ride will take you through diverse landscapes – from Alpine Eucalypt and Myrtle Forest to the button grass plains.
Getting there from Singapore: Connecting flights from Singapore to Hobart via Jetstar, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines. It’s then a 2-hour drive to Cradle Mountain
Closer to home is Albany in Western Australia. With flights to Perth taking less than 5 hours, it’s more convenient than other parts of Australia and perfect for a long weekend getaway. Though Western Australia isn’t typically known for its cold winters, temperatures in Albany can drop as low as 8°C. You can even see snow at the peak of Bluff Knoll, the only place in the state where it snows.
Albany County Farmers Market.
Image credit: @tess.tian via Instagram
If you’ve always wanted to experience the small-town winter vibes ala Netflix Christmas romcoms, then we’d recommend bookmarking winter in Albany. It hosts the Albany County Farmers Market on Sundays from July to September, where you can find everything from fresh farm produce and coffee to hand-made art by local vendors.
Image credit: @by_a_long_shot via Instagram
While you’re here, don’t miss whale season, which happens from June to October. Sign up for a whale-watching tour and experience the annual migration of humpback and southern right whales. For a more laid-back experience, grab a pair of binoculars and head to Ellen Cove Boardwalk, Discovery Bay, or Bald Head for shore-based whale watching.
Getting there from Singapore: Fly directly into Perth. You can either drive 5 hours to Albany, or hop on a 70-minute domestic flight.
The best thing about winter in Australia is that you can skip the snow if it’s not your thing. Denmark in Western Australia has comfortable temperatures during winter ranging from 6°C at night to 16°C during the day.
Image credit: @sparkyandalice via Instagram
Winter also marks the perfect time for hiking Denmark’s woods. The 6.2km-long Wilderness Ocean Walk is an approachable hike for beginners, traversing through the Wilson Head Reserve. If you’re lucky, you might even spot whales along the Clarence Coast. Those who cycle can also choose to explore this trail on 2 wheels.
Image credit: @hooked_on_troopin_ via Instagram
Another beautiful spot to visit in Denmark is William Bay National Park, which is home to the famous Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.
Getting there from Singapore: Fly directly into Perth. You can either drive 5 hours to Denmark, or hop on a 70-minute domestic flight.
Image credit: Blue Mountains Tours
The Blue Mountains, a mountain range in New South Wales, is one of the top natural wonders near Sydney. The rugged region is known for its dramatic scenery and steep cliffs. However, it’s an underrated winter destination in Australia. Having said that, we’d recommend checking the snow forecast since the area typically only gets 5 days of snow.
Blue Mountains National Park has one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. And what better time to experience it than in winter? Make the most out of your visit by heading to Scenic World, a family-owned tourist attraction. All you need is one pass – and you can take in views of the Jamison Valley from a cable car and access the skyway, which boasts views of the Katoomba Falls and Three Sisters.
Image credit: @djxclicks via Instagram
If you love counting stars, the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area is perfect for stargazing. There are stargazing tours (AU$85/adult, ~S$76.96) which include the use of state-of-the-art telescope to view celestial objects such as the moon, Saturn’s rings, the Orion Nebula, and even shooting stars.
Getting there from Singapore: Fly from Singapore to Sydney, then drive to the Blue Mountains which is ~1 hour away.
Those into winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing will be happy to know that Ben Lomond in Tasmania has an impressive ski field just for that. The mountain, located a 53-minute drive away from Launceston, is the highest visitable area in Tasmania at a 1,500m height.
Image credit: Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service
Once you’re done with the day’s activities, you can choose to go camping in Ben Lomond National Park or retreat into one of the lodges in the ski village. While a majority of the 25 lodges and mountain huts are for members only, there are some available for bookings such as Creek Cabins and Northern Tasmania Alpine Club.
Getting there from Singapore: Fly from Singapore to Launceston, then drive ~1 hour to Ben Lomond.
Cairns may not be top of mind when it comes to winter destinations in Australia, but hear us out. Winter marks one of the best times for diving and snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. Diving from June to November provides great underwater visibility, with plenty of sunlight that results in more vibrant colours in the reef.
But here’s the best part about visiting Cairns in Winter – there are higher chances to see the Dwarf Minke Whales, which make their annual migration to the northern Great Barrier Reef from Antarctica during this time.
If diving isn’t your thing, don’t worry. The dry and sunny weather also makes it perfect for other outdoor activities such as hiking and sailing.
With these 9 winter destinations in Australia, we hope we convinced you to book your next flight to the land Down Under. At 7.688 million kmsq, Australia is one of the biggest countries in the world – so you don’t have to limit yourself to just one destination. If you’re thinking of planning a road trip in Australia, rent a car so you can easily drive from one city to the next.
Alternatively, those who don’t drive can also sign up for various tours, which will take you from one destination to another. If you’ve fallen in love with the country and are considering migrating, we also have a guide to migrating to Australia for Singaporeans.
Cover image adapted from: @mt.hotham.resort & @by_a_long_shot via Instagram, Hypedome
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