Selwyn Snowfields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Selwyn Snow Resort |
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The Township Triple Chair at Selwyn Snow Resort, winter 2011.
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| Location | Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nearest city | Canberra |
| Coordinates | 35°54′30″S 148°27′00″E / 35.90833°S 148.45000°E |
| Vertical | 122 metres (400 ft) |
| Top elevation | 1,614 metres (5,295 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1,492 metres (4,895 ft) |
| Skiable area | 45 hectares (110 acres) |
| Longest run | Long Arm Run, 800 metres (2,600 ft) |
| Lift system | 10 lifts |
| Terrain parks | Yes |
| Snowmaking | 35 hectares (86 acres) |
| Night skiing | No |
| Website | http://www.selwynsnow.com.au |
Selwyn Snow Resort is a fun ski resort found in the northern part of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. It is located within the Kosciuszko National Park. Selwyn Snow Resort is close to the town of Adaminaby and Cabramurra, which is the highest town in Australia.
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The History of Selwyn Snow Resort
Selwyn Snow Resort has a cool history that started in Kiandra. Skiing first began in Australia around 1861 in Kiandra. Because Selwyn usually had more snow, a portable rope tow was set up there in 1966.
Later, in 1978, all the ski equipment from Kiandra moved to Selwyn. This included Australia's very first T-Bar ski lift, which had been installed in Kiandra in 1957. In 2009, a new triple chairlift replaced the old T-Bars on the Township Run. Sadly, during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, the resort's buildings and equipment were badly damaged.
Fun Facts About the Resort
Selwyn Snow Resort is the most northern ski resort in Australia. Its base is at 1,492 meters (4,895 feet) high. The very top of the resort is 1,614 meters (5,295 feet) high. The longest ski run at Selwyn is called Long Arm Run, which is 800 meters (2,625 feet) long!
In 2009, Selwyn Snow Resort had 45 hectares (111 acres) of skiable area. It also had 11 different ski lifts, including chairlifts, pomas, T-bars, and a rope tow. There was even a special lift for snow tubing! The resort also has 45 kilometers (28 miles) of marked trails for cross-country skiing.
Selwyn is a great place for families and people learning to ski or snowboard. About 88% of its slopes are perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers. However, if you're an advanced skier, the Racecourse Run offers a steeper challenge. In 2007, some cool features for a terrain park were added to the Township run.
Because Selwyn is not super high up, it can sometimes have less natural snow early or late in the season. To fix this, the resort uses special snowmaking machines. They have a lot of water from Three Mile Dam. These machines cover 35 hectares (86 acres) with snow. Selwyn Snow Resort is often the first resort in New South Wales to open all its runs! The gentle, grassy slopes also help the resort open with less snow than other rockier places.
Where to Stay Near Selwyn
There isn't any public place to stay right at Selwyn Snow Resort. To get to the ski slopes in winter, you can drive on the Snowy Mountains Highway. You can come from Talbingo in the west or Adaminaby in the east.
Some guest rooms are available in nearby Cabramurra. The closest main place to find a holiday stay is at Providence Portal. This village is on Lake Eucumbene, between Adaminaby and Kiandra.
Wolgal Hut in Kiandra was opened again in 2012 for people to stay. This was part of a plan to make Kiandra popular again. The hut was built in the 1960s and is near the old Kiandra ski slopes. It is one of four old buildings from the gold rush town that have been fixed up.
The 2020 Bushfires
In January 2020, big bushfires in the area burned through the resort. Pictures showed that many of the resort's buildings were destroyed or badly damaged. Luckily, everyone at the resort had left safely before the fires, so no one was hurt.
