Campervan Snow Holiday Tips

Hiring a campervan truly is a great option for a snow holiday in Australia. A motorhome offers the versatility of staying in a range of different places, while also giving you the freedom to spend quality time with your family and friends.

If you are thinking of hiring a campervan for your next ski holiday, there are a few things you will need to keep in mind. Take a read of my useful snow holiday tips and start planning your next campervan holiday now!

Taking Care of Yourself

Don't forget the sunscreen! The glare of the snow often tricks many, so be sure to lather up and wear your sun glasses or ski goggles. Your eyes cannot tell you that they are getting sun burnt or wind burnt until it's too late.

Eat well and drink plenty of fluids (water of course) all the time. It's cold and you are very active on the slopes and tend not to drink.

Budget

Plan your budget correctly ' A skiing holiday is fantastic but is expensive. Planning correctly and budgeting correctly will set your mind at ease and will allow you to enjoy your holiday more. Remember to work ski hire/clothing/ ski passes into your budget. Even buying warm clothes before you leave home will need to be included. Other essentials include eating out, fuel, National Parks fees, chain hire, taxi fare, camping fees and the souvineers.

Packing

A reminder that you can always wash and dry your clothes as and when you need them. An important point which we overlooked. We packed far too much and carried this excess with us all the time.

Ski Equipment/ Ski Passes

Seek professional assistance with fitting and hiring your equipment. Skis and snow boards have to be measured according to your weight and height. Snow shoes (walking shoes) are important to keep your feet dry. Walking boots look like gumboots but are rubber and go to just past the ankles. They tend to be soft/padded andwater proof. The inside has artificial sheepskin to keep your feet warm. Cold and wet feet are very unpleasant and make you cold.

Gloves are a requirement to keep your hands warm and dry. Ski pants are also a must. Ski pants are waterproof pants that you can wear over your jeans or long johns. Save some money and bring your own jackets/gloves/beenies.

Remember water proof ' water proof- water proof! That goes for shoes, pants and outer layer of jacket gloves. On some days we were extremely warm with too many layers. A good outer jacket to keep the chill out and a thin long sleeve top worked well. HOWEVER if the wind blows and starts to howl then 5 layers never seem to be enough. Keep the ears covered. Safety gear is also very important even though it is not 'cool to wear'. A helmet and wrist guards may just come in handy. Sun glasses or goggles are essential.

If the boots hurt you, go back and change them. This can be very off-putting if your feet get very sore as you won't want to try skiing again. Ski Lift passes are a must or you're going to have a very long walk up the slopes. If you have never skied before lessons are a requirement, as trying to teach yourself will be time consuming and frustrating. Buy 1 lesson and give it a bash. The cost difference between buying a lift pass and including a lesson is usually only a $20 difference. Well worth it!

National Parks

Both ski areas are located in Kosciuszko National Park and a pass is needed to enter the park. You can either buy a daily pass for 2/3 or 4 days etc. However if you are buying a daily pass they do prefer that you pay cash rather than EFTPOS or credit card. The Rangers do check periodically if you have a pass and if not you are fined.

Visit the National Parks website to find out more.

Snow Chains

Snow chains are a must when travelling in your campervan. The RTA do random road blocks to check if you have snow chains. These have to be carried in the vehicle at all times when entering the National Park. The chains can be hired from fuel stations or any outlet that hires our snow equipment.

However due to size of the wheels on the campervan we had to hire the chains from the BP garage. A hefty $300.00 fine is issued if you do not have the snow chains in the vehicle.

Free Camping in the Ski Resorts

You are not permitted to stop during the hours of 12 midnight and 7am in the parking areas. Therefore you have to stay in a camping ground. There are a couple of camping grounds in Jindabyne.

Lori Raasch

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