A family ski holiday is one of those things we all want to do, but various issues can make us choose another destination, price obviously being one! However, that first family holiday to the snow is not necessarily out of reach, and can offer enough interest and variety to keep the non-skiers happy as well! What is needed is a family-friendly resort that understands that the needs of family skiers are different to those of others.

Mt Selwyn is a friendly ski resort that is ideal for a family ski holiday.  The Selwyn snowfields offer shorter, safer runs due to the gentle nature of the terrain, and the Chum Bowl is probably the best beginners area in the mountains. The ski programs cater to both adults and children, with toddlers as young as 18 months eligible to join the ski school.  I have very fond memories of skiing at Selwyn as nanny to 5 kids under the age of 8, and being comprehensively out-skiied by most of them (including the 4 year old) by the end of their first week on skis!

Of course the resort also offers lessons in the increasingly popular sport of snowboarding.  Other options include tobogganing, the snowtube parks, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing … or just making the world’s best snowman!  There are now has 11 lifts and a top of the range snow-making system that covers 80% of the resort – ensuring that lack of snow is never a problem.  You can hire clothing and skis in the resort, meaning that you don’t have to transport them, or purchase costly items that are rarely used.

The resort offers a variety of food and retail outlets and the facilities can cater for over 2000 people a day, ensuring that lift queues are kept to a minimum.

There is no accommodation right in the snowfields, but an option that suits many families is to enjoy skiing in Selwyn by day, while staying in Adaminaby or Old Adaminaby.

Adaminaby is one of those rare jewels to be found throughout Australia … there is so much on offer and all hidden under the façade of a laidback country town.  It has very close links to the early days of skiing in Australia, with the first fully documented Alpine Ski Carnival being held in nearby Kiandra in 1907.

There are a number of accommodation options in the area.  Why not try TakeABreak.com.au where you are bound to find something to suit your needs.

Adaminaby is in fact a new town, as the old one was swallowed up by Lake Eucumbene, which was completed in 1958 as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. This enormous undertaking created two artificial lakes (Eucumbene and Jindabyne) as well as a number of smaller lakes and ponds.  However, the Lake filled so slowly that the rooftops of old Adaminaby were visible until 1978 – and they still make an appearance in times of drought. More than 100 buildings were moved from the old town to the current site of Adaminaby.

The town has seen the start of skiing in Australia, enjoyed being part of the gold rush and offers some of the best trout fishing to be found. Around 40 minutes from Mount Selwyn are some of Australia's best caves, the Yarrangobilly Caves, five of which are open to the public with the most popular being the Glory Arch cave.

So for a family ski holiday that won’t break the bank and that also offers plenty for the non-skiers in the family, look no further than Mt Selwyn … it ticks all the boxes!

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