That said, I bought my multiple year pass for $190 to all parks and resorts online. How much is a year fee for all ViC resorts combined?
It’s an older model, 2004 I think but would have to check. Cruising on the freeway 500kms is fine. But once in the mountains and using overdrive in the auto it definitely sucks up the fuel.
Change to drive mode nanna once the gauge gets to 3/4 gone (which is actually 1/2 gone) & you’ll get the full 550km out of the tank. Ours is 05 I think, only use 91 ish fuel in it.
Yep, that's an all resort parking and access pass. I didn't get one, or look at it too hard, but the Falls Creek link for the earlybird says $556: https://www.fallscreek.com.au/allresorts/
I could be supremely optimistic and hope that the new orgssnidation of resort management boards might lead to a saner approach to multi-resort entry passes.
it's bloody expensive, but not a rort. the vic resort management organisations have to be self-funding. they charge what they need to cover their costs, not make a profit. you can argue that they are inefficient or do stuff that isn't necessary, but it is not a rort
Thredbo runs its own water, roads, rubbish, sewerage. Perisher's sewerage is paid for out of park fees (lucky Thredbo! its customers pay for Perisher's poo!). Thredbo makes money through tickets, food, drinks, hire, and subleasing. All properties in Thredbo pay a sublease fee to Thredbo's head company (roughly similar to rates) based on bed numbers in the premises.
That doesn’t add up. How can Vic justify that price? I recall a number of years back NSW increased the entry fee for Alpine parks quite significantly but it’s still pretty affordable.
Vic national parks are free. In some you might have to parking. It's the resorts that cost. They are not part of national parks, except Buffalo (and Donna Buang) IIRC. They may be enclosed by national park but they are excised from the parks.
Not robbery. Justification is that this is what it takes to fund the operation of the resorts without government subsidy (other than the odd special purpose grant). I suspect that the beneficiaries are the lift companies. They don't have to fund the resort operations to the same extent as NSW but can get away with charging the same as NSW for lift tickets. Also worth noting that NSW parks charge entry all year. For regular skiers that is probably irrelevant because you have an annual pass. However it must still be a significant contributor to revenue.
Looking forward to this trip next weekend, but reading up reports from weekends just gone and parking sounds like a shambles (and zero comms on it too looking at Thredbo FB). Full by 7:30am!? How worried do I really need to be about not being actually able to get on the mountain? Not something I am used to in Vic. Will be skiing Buller this weekend and don’t think I have ever heard the gate being closed until after 9am or so and then they run shuttle buses from the gate anyway so people can still access.
What’s early though? First lifts are at 8:30am yes? Normally in Vic I would be pulling car in to the car park at around 8am, get geared up and be on the chair by 8:30am no problems.
Not sure what this means sorry!? Sarcasm or serious!? Remember I am a complete NSW resort noob, so just not wanting to be caught out by doing what I would normally do in Vic and have never had problems.
But 0730 to be sure. The problem of recent weekends has been snow on the road and chain fitting turning a 25min trip into an hour long trip. Leaving jindy at 700 and struggling to make first lifts.
Okay, thanks. I thought in NSW 4WD’s didn’t have to fit chains? No chain fitting bays for 2WD’s to pull off in to do blocks up the road anyway?
They don’t There is It just seems to add time, mainly because you have to stop and you have to drive at 25kmh not 60 or 80.
There will be no chain fitting Fri, Saturday... Maybe Sunday. So no conga line traffic, plus more parks in the day park.
Alpine way is closed at Tom groggin between Thredbo and Khancoban, so if you’re planning to come through that way you’ll hit a road block.
The thing is, Vic national parks charge a lot for camping (last time I checked). E.g. Catani campground at Buffalo being $60 dollars a night for a spot. Whereas, NSW camping is often free, once you're through the park gates. I still think NSW is far ahead. Island Bend & the Diggings campgrounds are the biggest bargains in Australian skiing (which is saying something, not too many actual bargains around) $190 annually for unlimited camping 15 minutes away from Perisher or Thredbo. Which is why the Diggings is having overcrowding and bad behaviour problems now. Island Bend seems to avoid those issues probably because it's a bit more isolated and a bit more bush.
I wouldn’t say over crowded, still only 1/3 of what is there during Easter holidays. I’m sorry about my bad behaviour but it is who I am.
You do realise that Melbourne water rates payers are ALSO funding Parks Vic through annual fees as well yeah? So not only did we used to have to pay around $80 per year fees to parks via our water bill but then we were stung with astronomical fees to use the parks as well. I do believe the Vic parks payment system is a rort. I firmly advocate user pays for this kind of stuff but the Victorian costs are outrageous.
Off on this adventure tomorrow night. Thanks for all the tips for this NSW newbie. Planning on camping at Geehi Flats tomorrow night. Assuming can have a fire? Planning on BYOing some dry wood. Looking like a warmish weekend on the slopes.
