On Monday, October 6, the ski resorts of New South Wales closed their winter operations for the 2025 season amidst a public holiday. Skiers and snowboarders made the most of the last lifted runs at iconic locations like Perisher and Thredbo, as the season drew to a memorable close. This winter saw early snowfalls and slightly above average peak snow depth at Spencers Creek, with consistent snowfall at higher elevations opening lifts steadily through the season.
Desirable conditions drew visitors to major resorts, much to the relief of local business, however, peak snow depths experienced at lower elevations such as Deep Creek, compared poorly to the majority of seasons over the last 20 years.
PHOTO: Thredbo Resort revelled in the early season snowfall that continued throughout the season CREDIT: Thredbo Resort
The season kicked off with a significant snowstorm over the King’s Birthday Weekend in June, creating a strong foundation with snow depths reaching between 70 to 80 cm in parts of the major resorts. This early beginning set the stage for one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, surprising forecasters who had predicted warmer conditions this winter.
President of the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce, Olivier Kapetanakos said on the back of improved conditions up on the slopes, business in the region had a “good outcome, but not great.”
PHOTO: President of the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce, Olivier Kapetanakos CREDIT: Destination Southern NSW
“Accomodation providers did well over July and August, less so in June and September. The Hospitality industry did well, food had a great season mainly due to the observable increase in day visitors, however we won’t have the data for another two to three months.”
Perisher Ski Resort experienced “a winter worth remembering,” with highlights including a surprise 7cm snowfall in October and a snow base well over two metres. Every lift was operational, echoing the sentiment shared by the resort of winter 2025 being one to cherish.
PHOTO: Visitors enjoyed deep and often fresh turns during winter in 2025 CREDIT: Thredbo Resort
Thredbo Resort echoed similar success, where early-season snow and bluebird days led to an iconic winter. From deep turns to a vibrant après-ski scene, the atmosphere was electric. Events like the Thredbo Pondskim wrapped up the season, leaving the community and visitors with unforgettable memories.
TABLE: 2025/2024 Snowy depth chart for Spencers Creek CREDIT: Snowy Hydro
Statistically, the NSW season was slightly above average in terms of peak snow depth, with Spencers Creek recording 220.4 cm on September 1. This figure surpasses the historical average and goes hand-in-hand with the excellent conditions experienced at higher elevations.
TABLE: 2025/2024 Snowy depth chart for Deep Creek CREDIT: Snowy Hydro
In contrast to the positive news at higher elevations, Snowy Hydro data confirmed that lower elevations didn’t receive as much snow. Deep Creek at 1620m elevation is around 210m lower than Spencers Creek, and struggled to move past a peak depth of 50cm this season. Comparatively, the majority of seasons over last 20 years have seen higher peak depths. 2025 was however a better year than 2024 at Deep Creek.
The 2025 season on a whole, compared favourably to past years, standing out as one of the best in recent years for visitors, with business getting much needed relief. Despite rapid melting over the warm final weekend, snow depth on Monday remained around one metre, providing opportunities for dedicated enthusiasts to continue exploring the backcountry into November.
PHOTO: Thredbo Resort’s Pondskim is held each year on the closing weekend CREDIT: Thredbo Resort.