There are ski fields in Tasmania and Victoria, but the largest ski fields are in New South Wales on the boarder with Victoria state and actually the first ski club in the world in 1861 was established in Snowy Mountains in Australia. Who could thought Australia has such long history of skiing?
Two largest downhill ski resorts are located not far from highest peak (Mt Kosciuszko) in Australia.  Thredbo ski resort has longest ski run and Perisher ski resort has largest ski fields – 12 square kilometers (4.6 sq miles) and it calls itself as largest ski resort in Souther hemisphere.

Both resorts are located somewhere in the middle between Sydney and Melbourne and only ~60 kilometers (~40 miles) away from each other, so you can visit both on your trip to snowy mountains.

Here is comparison of these two resorts if you want to choose one of these resorts.

* you can go up to 2034 meters (6673 feet) elevation and then climb 20 meters (66 feet) to the nearest peak. Both picture bellow are done from that highest point.

** all prices are in Australian dollars. The price of lift pass and ski/snowboard rent shows how much you need to pay if you pay at the resort. You can get better deals by buying lift pass and hiring skies/snowboard online in advance. Or buy visiting resorts during low season. Check their websites for the deals.

My choice was Perisher, because by lift you can get up to 2034 meters (6673 feet) elevation and climb another 20 meters (66 feet) to the peak of Mt. Perisher for fantastic view.

I also need to note that you should carry snow chains as you may require to put it on in case of heavy snow in a ‘snow-ice’ risk section within the Kosciuszko National Park. Chains can be hired in Jindabyne and Khancoban or in Cooma if you are coming from Sydney/Canberra.

So enjoy the snow but be careful and don’t underestimate snow in Australia, as it happened to these cross-country skiers.

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You can see there over one million flowers in bloom in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park. The entry is free and it runs for 30 days from mid September to mid October.

It is very colorful festival and you can come and visit it from your ski trip to Australian Snowy Mountains if you are catching last snow in the mountains.

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As summer approaches, many people are thinking about where they want to spend their holiday this year. Battling with everybody else for a piece of beach, or pushing through crowds to see a city’s top attractions can turn what should have been a relaxing holiday into an experience you’ll need another break to recover from.

If you’re tired of going where everyone else is, there’s a multitude of other less well known but just as fascinating holiday destinations you could visit.

Calgary, Canada

Many people simply use Calgary as a base to reach other, more popular destinations like Jasper or Banff, but this city has a lot to offer in itself. Downtown you’ll find a plethora of bustling restaurants, cafes and bars as well as museums and other cultural centres. You can visit Calgary Zoo or relax in Devonian Gardens, which is one of the world’s biggest urban indoor gardens. Heading west of the city you’ll find the Heritage Historical Village and great shopping areas.

Canberra, Australia

Overshadowed by the popularity of Sydney, which is often also mistaken as Australia’s capital, Canberra is rich in culture and history. It’s home to some of the country’s best museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery, and is dotted with national monuments. It hosts a number of major festivals, like Stonefest and the National Folk Festival. It’s also a great place for those who love the outdoors, with fantastic parks, nature reserves and bushwalks.

Formentera, Spain

Many people think of holidays in Majorca when they want to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. This island does have it all, but so does the less well-known Formentera. The last of the Pine islands, Formentera is a small island south of Ibiza. It’s composed of stunning white sand beaches and ideal for water sports or a hike around the cliffs. Many regions are managed as national parkland and boardwalks through the sand dunes are an ideal way to observe the different species of flora and fauna.  For a little history there are a number of intriguing cultural attractions including megalithic sites, 18^th century watchtowers and castles.

Gdańsk, Poland

Rebuilt during the 50s and 60s after its heavy destruction during World War II, Gdańsk is an up-and-coming tourist destination. Walking around its streets you can admire some beautiful architecture, monuments and fountains. The Old Town is particularly interesting and contains the old city hall, Artus Court and the Golden and Green gates. It has all the charms of a coastal town and you can go sailing, take a canoe tour or simply have a dip in the sea.

Siena, Italy

Italy is a major tourist destination and many people come to float on a gondola in Venice or visit the Vatican in Rome. Siena is one of the more overlooked cities. However, its historic centre is particularly fascinating and has even been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It has a number of notable landmarks that include its 12^th century cathedral, and the Palazzo Pubblico, housed within the Piazza del Campo. The city is also renowned for its art, museums and delicious cuisine.

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There are not much fun when it is raining during your holidays. In Australia it rains too and sometimes it can last all week almost non stop.
In north of Australia rain probably won’t be so annoying. At least it is warm there year around. But depending on the season in Victoria or New South Wales it can be freezing. When it is wet and cold the beach won’t be in your mind. So what to do? If you stuck in Melbourne or Sydney and already saw all possible sightseeing go to Canberra. Not many tourists go there, but there are some really good museums and easy possible to spend couple days out there. Won’t be able to remember all of them:

• National Museum of Australia – place to learn more about Australian history and Australians
• Australian War Memorial – surprisingly Australians participated in almost all possible wars
• National Capital Exhibition – story of Australian capital
• National Archives of Australia – collection dating back to Federation
• Parliament House – it is not museum, but it possible to visit Parliament of Australia

If it happens to be in Canberra in October then visit Floriade – biggest flower festival in Australia – should be on your list. Even during rainy days it nice to go to Commonwealth Park to check beautiful flowers.

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