The June long weekend is traditionally a very cruisy time to be down in the Snowy Mountains. People hedge their bets as to whether there will be snow on the slopes and whether it's worth packing their ski or snowboard gear or just prepare to party and sleep in.
It's a really great weekend to load up on new ski or snowboard equipment and snow clothes for the season ahead by purchasing new helmets, skis or jackets from Thredbo stores or from the massive secondhand clothes sale in Jindabyne on the way through to Thredbo.
Many just like to head down for all the alternate activities?for the Snow Season Opening Weekend and to get in the vibe for the ski season ahead. Lots and lots of music on for the music lovers who like to have a drink and a bop. And accommodation tends to be good value for the weekend.
James Turrell Exhibition[/caption]
If you're heading south from Sydney or thinking of dropping into the National Art Gallery?in Canberra, there's an exhibition finishing up on June 8th you don't want to miss. North American artist James Turrell's current exhibition has previously enjoyed popularity at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Guggenheim in New York.
According to his site ?his 'work involves explorations in light and space that speak to viewers without words, impacting the eye, body, and mind to heighten awareness'. Open 10am till 5pm, drop in for a decent break enroute to Thredbo and come away enlightened. Phone the gallery for more info on 61 6240 64 11.
More than just a place to buy schnapps[/caption]
If you haven?t visited the?Wildbrumby Schnapps distillery because you?re thinking an alcoholic abode is not for young kids, don?t be deterred. The schnapps sales side of this establishment is just one such lure to what is otherwise a beautiful country property, surrounded by rolling Alpine hills and rollicking paddocks.
Get jackets and beanies on the kids and let them run wild around the extensive acreage, while you sip tea or coffee or enjoy breakfast or lunch. Carefully and thoughtfully placed items (a helicopter and weird and wacky sculptures) are scattered around the property. This is a great place to stop on your way to or from Thredbo to stretch the legs. Open 10am to 4pm daily 02 6457 1447 for more info.
Wall to wall skis, boards, boots and clothing.[/caption]
In the Memorial Hall in Jindabyne?over the long weekend there is a massive sale of ski and snowboard related equipment clothing and accessories. The sale is very well patronized for a good reason, you can pick up lots of great bargains and kit yourself out in ski wear for very low cost.
The hall is packed with equipment - anything from skis and boots to helmets and snow clothes. It's a good place for the locals to sell their clothes. And for people who like to ski or snowboard, but don't want to have to fork out for everything it's a big money saver. Visit the sale on the way to or from Thredbo on your way out of town.
Crackenback Farm restaurant.[/caption]
On the Alpine Way on the road to Thredbo is cute little Crackenback Farm turned into restaurant/ guest house. The June weekend is a lovely time to drop in for lunch or hot chocolate. The kids can run wild circling the property, jumping on dilapidated farm equipment, and see what the farm chicken is up to, or jump up on the cattle stocks. There may be a dusting of snow on the ground, it?s a fun experience for the ?out of towner? kids, more used to screen time than farm time.
Markets out in the open in beautiful surrounds.[/caption]
Farmers markets are held on the first Saturday of each month at Crackenback Cottage, opposite the Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery on the Alpine Way. Lots of coffee, fruit and vegetables, honey, gifts and more.
Ice on Show in Thredbo[/caption]
Right near the face painting venue within the village plaza will be renowned Japanese ice sculptor Kenji Ogawa. Japanese people are well known for their attention to detail in their arts and crafts and to watch Kenji sculpt some magic from large blocks of ice is no exception. The kids will be enthralled.
The Preatures will play the Village Square[/caption]
This is usually a massively fun weekend for students and party goers who just want to hang out in Thredbo relaxing away from studies or work and eating good food and good tunes. Always plenty of live music, acoustic and DJs around the various bars for adults.
This year Crooked Colours?(electronic music) who have been popular enough to play at Parklife, Wonderland and other festivals will be giving a free concert. As will the?Preatures (rock and soul) , certainly catering to a young adult crowd and the young at heart who favour getting their ski suits hot and steamy by jumping up and down in a crowd. A great time to grab a bunch of mates and make a fun weekend of it.
If you?re still out and roaming about after 10pm head to the Keller bar for more music and drinks. The beauty of Thredbo village is that there is no need to bring the car and drive home. Stay within walking distance and avoid unsafe driving.
Check the Thredbo schedule for all the times of the music and kids activities.
Enjoy the firework display from your balcony[/caption]
Who doesn?t love fireworks? Whether it?s over a beach, the Sydney Harbour or in a park, the sight of spectacularly coloured fire firing into the night sky is a sight to behold and wonder at. If you haven?t experienced it before, fireworks over the snow is pretty spectacular with a backdrop of white.
Kids love it, and fireworks can be enjoyed from any balcony and most restaurants all over Thredbo village. The fireworks over the long weekend in Thredbo are very extensive because of their popularity and they don?t disappoint.
Get your Peak Music Festival ticket now.[/caption]
The Peak Music Festival is also on over the long weekend at Perisher, if you feel like a drive around the beautiful Kosciusko National Park to listen to other types of music. Even if you just want to check the region out, there?s Mahalia Barnes, Doug Williams, Soul Safari, Harry James Angus (from the Cat Empire) and many more artists.?Tickets are on sale now for last minute purchases. Click here for info.
Thredbo?is the best place to base yourself as an alternative to Jindabyne to experience the best of both worlds in regards to the Peak Festival and all the activities in Thredbo Village.?The Lantern Thredbo Apartments have an extensive range of self-contained apartments?that are well suited for taking the whole family, they all have kitchens for cooking breakfast and other meals and washing machines. Call Jill or Ian?on 02 6457 6600 for availability.
National Art Gallery Canberra
[caption id="attachment_8318" align="alignnone" width="275"]
James Turrell Exhibition[/caption]
If you're heading south from Sydney or thinking of dropping into the National Art Gallery?in Canberra, there's an exhibition finishing up on June 8th you don't want to miss. North American artist James Turrell's current exhibition has previously enjoyed popularity at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Guggenheim in New York.
According to his site ?his 'work involves explorations in light and space that speak to viewers without words, impacting the eye, body, and mind to heighten awareness'. Open 10am till 5pm, drop in for a decent break enroute to Thredbo and come away enlightened. Phone the gallery for more info on 61 6240 64 11.
Wildbrumby Distillery
[caption id="attachment_8319" align="alignnone" width="260"]
More than just a place to buy schnapps[/caption]
If you haven?t visited the?Wildbrumby Schnapps distillery because you?re thinking an alcoholic abode is not for young kids, don?t be deterred. The schnapps sales side of this establishment is just one such lure to what is otherwise a beautiful country property, surrounded by rolling Alpine hills and rollicking paddocks.
Get jackets and beanies on the kids and let them run wild around the extensive acreage, while you sip tea or coffee or enjoy breakfast or lunch. Carefully and thoughtfully placed items (a helicopter and weird and wacky sculptures) are scattered around the property. This is a great place to stop on your way to or from Thredbo to stretch the legs. Open 10am to 4pm daily 02 6457 1447 for more info.
Massive second hand ski sale
[caption id="attachment_8320" align="alignnone" width="259"]
Wall to wall skis, boards, boots and clothing.[/caption]
In the Memorial Hall in Jindabyne?over the long weekend there is a massive sale of ski and snowboard related equipment clothing and accessories. The sale is very well patronized for a good reason, you can pick up lots of great bargains and kit yourself out in ski wear for very low cost.
The hall is packed with equipment - anything from skis and boots to helmets and snow clothes. It's a good place for the locals to sell their clothes. And for people who like to ski or snowboard, but don't want to have to fork out for everything it's a big money saver. Visit the sale on the way to or from Thredbo on your way out of town.
Crackenback Farm
[caption id="attachment_6876" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Crackenback Farm restaurant.[/caption]
On the Alpine Way on the road to Thredbo is cute little Crackenback Farm turned into restaurant/ guest house. The June weekend is a lovely time to drop in for lunch or hot chocolate. The kids can run wild circling the property, jumping on dilapidated farm equipment, and see what the farm chicken is up to, or jump up on the cattle stocks. There may be a dusting of snow on the ground, it?s a fun experience for the ?out of towner? kids, more used to screen time than farm time.
Crackenback Cottage Markets
[caption id="attachment_8321" align="alignnone" width="246"]
Markets out in the open in beautiful surrounds.[/caption]
Farmers markets are held on the first Saturday of each month at Crackenback Cottage, opposite the Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery on the Alpine Way. Lots of coffee, fruit and vegetables, honey, gifts and more.
Thredbo
When you get to Thredbo there will be no shortage of things to do since it's the Snow Season Opening Weekend, and it?s a perfect all-agers holiday spot if your family consists of teenagers, young adults and toddlers and bubs. There is always a big focus on kids having fun around the village with child-centred activities such as music, dance and face painting, as well as interesting things to look at, such as the flare run down the mountain. This year?s kids dancing will be Twinkle Toes dance sessions in the Townsend Room where the kids will get to learn dance routines. Face painting is in the village square next to the Central Road cafe.Ice Sculpture
[caption id="attachment_8298" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Ice on Show in Thredbo[/caption]
Right near the face painting venue within the village plaza will be renowned Japanese ice sculptor Kenji Ogawa. Japanese people are well known for their attention to detail in their arts and crafts and to watch Kenji sculpt some magic from large blocks of ice is no exception. The kids will be enthralled.
Big Kids (the Adults)
[caption id="attachment_8297" align="alignnone" width="300"]
The Preatures will play the Village Square[/caption]
This is usually a massively fun weekend for students and party goers who just want to hang out in Thredbo relaxing away from studies or work and eating good food and good tunes. Always plenty of live music, acoustic and DJs around the various bars for adults.
This year Crooked Colours?(electronic music) who have been popular enough to play at Parklife, Wonderland and other festivals will be giving a free concert. As will the?Preatures (rock and soul) , certainly catering to a young adult crowd and the young at heart who favour getting their ski suits hot and steamy by jumping up and down in a crowd. A great time to grab a bunch of mates and make a fun weekend of it.
If you?re still out and roaming about after 10pm head to the Keller bar for more music and drinks. The beauty of Thredbo village is that there is no need to bring the car and drive home. Stay within walking distance and avoid unsafe driving.
Check the Thredbo schedule for all the times of the music and kids activities.
Fireworks
[caption id="attachment_7673" align="alignnone" width="225"]
Enjoy the firework display from your balcony[/caption]
Who doesn?t love fireworks? Whether it?s over a beach, the Sydney Harbour or in a park, the sight of spectacularly coloured fire firing into the night sky is a sight to behold and wonder at. If you haven?t experienced it before, fireworks over the snow is pretty spectacular with a backdrop of white.
Kids love it, and fireworks can be enjoyed from any balcony and most restaurants all over Thredbo village. The fireworks over the long weekend in Thredbo are very extensive because of their popularity and they don?t disappoint.
Kids Ski Free
Thredbo has Kids Ski Free specials for June, on 3-5 day products for under 18s. In addition, if you purchase 7 days ahead online you receive 20% discount. Fingers crossed for the snow falling over the long weekend.Peak Music Festival
[caption id="attachment_8322" align="alignnone" width="283"]
Get your Peak Music Festival ticket now.[/caption]
The Peak Music Festival is also on over the long weekend at Perisher, if you feel like a drive around the beautiful Kosciusko National Park to listen to other types of music. Even if you just want to check the region out, there?s Mahalia Barnes, Doug Williams, Soul Safari, Harry James Angus (from the Cat Empire) and many more artists.?Tickets are on sale now for last minute purchases. Click here for info.
Thredbo?is the best place to base yourself as an alternative to Jindabyne to experience the best of both worlds in regards to the Peak Festival and all the activities in Thredbo Village.?The Lantern Thredbo Apartments have an extensive range of self-contained apartments?that are well suited for taking the whole family, they all have kitchens for cooking breakfast and other meals and washing machines. Call Jill or Ian?on 02 6457 6600 for availability.