Discover why Thredbo shines in the off-season — from gentle valley walks and alpine hikes to quiet villages, relaxed mountain life and visitor essentials.
The quiet slopes of Thredbo outside ski season
Cutting through the otherwise thick carpet of eucalypts on the mountainside are several green strips. On a changeable January day, they’re empty. But come in July and they’d be teeming with skiers.
Thredbo is Australia’s most noted ski resort, which often comes as a surprise to those who assume Australia’s too hot and flat to get any snow. It pretty much lives for the ski season, and wouldn’t really exist without it.
Why summer at Thredbo works surprisingly well
But there are few things more underrated than a ski resort out of season. There will always be plenty of accommodation available and there will always be decent food as many of the good quality restaurants that cater to skier don’t shut down once the snow goes. But more to the point, you’ve also got the beautiful mountain setting and an inevitable plethora of hiking trails to enjoy.
This applies to pretty much any country in the world. In Australia, summer days at a ski town have a particularly strong appeal, given that temperatures can be approaching the ferociously roasting level at lower elevations. But turn up to Thredbo midweek in the summer months, and it can be mystifyingly quiet. Obviously, if you’ve come for après-ski, this is not ideal. But if you want peace, quiet and time to yourself in an environment of utter loveliness, then it’s close to heaven.
Hiking and Mount Kosciuszko from Thredbo
The vast majority of people coming this way in summer are doing so in order to tick off Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest mountain. That’s a relative doddle compared to the likes of Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua or Everest – you take a ski lift, then amble a 13 km round trip to a somewhat underwhelming peak. But warming up to an assault on the top of the continent is surprisingly idyllic.
The walks and hikes trail map available pretty much everywhere is the starting point, and after arriving mid-afternoon, the judicious approach is to start with the easy ones. The Pipeline Path heads along the river and past some semi-dammed ponds. It’s a rocky, gravelly track that’s not going to induce too much of a sweat, but showcases just how lovely summer in the mountains can be.
The track is lined with curiously non-native plants – thistles and dandelions seem bizarrely out of place – and graceful, bare-trunked native trees. Ducks float around on the ponds, and the river winds through the alpine meadow.
Valley walks and peaceful river tracks around Thredbo
It loops around to join the Thredbo Valley Track, which as the name suggests, heads through the Thredbo Valley. It’s a full 17.5 km one way to the Lake Crackenback Resort, but there are several intermediate points on the way, including the first bridge over the river around 1 km in. Here, there’s a touch of wildness, as the Thredbo river speeds up, bouncing over the rocks and creating rapids. It’s the first sign of anything remotely challenging in this peaceful, crowd-free slice of gentle happiness.
After a few hours, it’s possible to see why Mountain People – the people who like living in the mountains despite them being bogged in with snow half their lives – exist. Mountain country in the summer is something just a little bit special; it’s contentment in an easy snapshot.
Thredbo beyond hiking: village, amenities and all-season charm
Even out of ski season, Thredbo remains a functioning alpine village. According to the resort’s summer guide, from November onwards there are mountain-bike trails, guided hikes, family-friendly activities, good accommodation, and a lively village atmosphere with restaurants and other amenities.
That means you don’t need to come in winter to enjoy the mountains — summer offers a chance to see them at ease, without the crowds, snow or sense of rush. If you want peace, natural beauty and easy-going mountain life, Thredbo in summer can be close to perfect.
Useful visitor information for Thredbo summer visits
| When is Thredbo open in summer? | Resort facilities and summer activities run from November through to April (subject to lift & trail status). |
| What hiking trails are open in summer? | Popular summer walks include Pipeline Path (≈3 km), Meadows Nature Track, Thredbo River Track, and the Thredbo Valley Track, among others. |
| Do you need a park pass or entry fee? | Yes — the resort lies within Kosciuszko National Park. Outside winter surcharges, vehicle entry costs AUD $17 per day (or equivalent permit), valid 24 hrs. |
| How to reach Thredbo? | Drive via Alpine Way or Kosciuszko Road; follow signage to Friday Drive / Thredbo village. For valley-track biking or walking, parking and access points are available at village and trailheads. |
| Is parking available? | Yes — parking is available at Thredbo village and at trail access points; use designated areas, especially for valley-track access. |
| What else is there to do besides hiking? | Mountain-biking (lift-access MTB park), gondola/ chairlift rides, alpine coaster, village shops, restaurants and summer events — many amenities remain active outside ski season. |
More New South Wales travel
Other New South Wales travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- How to visit Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands.
- What to expect at the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary on the Central Coast.
- First time visitors’ guide to Symbio Wildlife Park near Wollongong.
- What first time visitors can expect at the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park.
- Why the Eden Killer Whale Museum is worth visiting.
