PERISHER NSW , AUSTRALIA .JULY 3,4,5, 2018

[Tony Crocker]

The gum trees are rather unique in my ski experience. Japan has deciduous forests, some like western cottonwoods, some probably more like the US Northeast.

[jamesdeluxe]

It's almost a year later and I finally clicked through a bunch of Patrick's Instagram links from this trip. Impressive photos of what looks like nice coverage. They seem to confirm Tony's perception that Patrick captured lightning in a bottle on a destination trip.

[Patrick]

It's almost a year later and I finally clicked through a bunch of Patrick's Instagram links from this trip. Impressive photos of what looks like nice coverage. They seem to confirm Tony's perception that Patrick captured lightning in a bottle on a destination trip.

I didn't book until 3 weeks prior to my departure for Australia. I knew that Australia was having a great season, best in two decades according to some locals. I managed my days around weather issues, but not as much as during my NZ like added an extra day off when I arrived in New South Wales and postponing my Thredbo day from Friday to Saturday even if I knew that weekends are a bit of a zoo.

[Tony Crocker]

In terms of snow reliability, perhaps massive closures of previously open terrain from rain/freeze are less likely in Australia than in the Northeast. I think the Aussie temperatures might be more like the SoCal locals, sort of a perpetual spring with random episodes of true winter.

So similar to here, in a good Aussie snow year when a healthy base is established, perhaps you can expect full operation will last awhile even though surface conditions may change on short notice. Unfortunately the last season like that in SoCal was 2009-10.

In terms of terrain quality, IMHO Australia fits between James' second and third tier definitions in the Northeast.