Sydney Winter Experiences

Sydney winter experiences split into two camps: whale watching on the harbour from mid-May, and snow trips to the Snowy Mountains from June. The snow trips leave Sydney by coach overnight, so you spend the day in the mountains, and the whale cruises take a few hours, which makes them easy to fit into a winter weekend.

Snow day tours from Sydney to Thredbo and Perisher

The Thredbo Snow Tour from Sydney and the Perisher Valley Snow Tour from Sydney follow the same plan. A coach leaves Sydney Central Station or Parramatta Westfield late in the evening, stops at Cooma or Jindabyne around dawn for breakfast and gear hire, and reaches the resort at about 8am for roughly seven hours of free time.

National park admission and the return coach are included, along with discounted gear hire, but lift passes, lessons and meals are extra. The coach leaves the resort at 3pm and gets back to Sydney around 10pm, with a stop for dinner on the way. The Perisher Valley Snow Day Tour with Return Sydney Transfers adds coffee and biscuits at sunrise.

Learn to ski and snow play packages from Sydney

Packages that bundle the gear suit first-timers better. The Snowy Mountains Learn to Ski Adult Package includes a two-hour lesson at Blue Cow, ski jacket and pants, skis, boots, poles, a helmet, a beginner lift ticket and the Ski Tube. The Snowy Mountains Kids Learn to Ski Package does the same with a three-hour lesson at Perisher.

If nobody wants to ski, the Snowy Mountains Snow Play Tour from Sydney hands out a ski jacket, pants and après boots and sends you up on the Ski Tube to Perisher or Blue Cow for up to seven hours of snowmen, snowballs and mountain views.

Whale watching from Sydney in winter

Humpback whales pass Sydney from mid-May to early November, which covers the whole winter. The Sydney Whale Watching Cruise from Circular Quay uses a spacious catamaran, and the Sydney Whale Watching Cruise from Darling Harbour runs about three hours. More options sit on the Sydney whale watching page.

Frequently asked questions

When is the snow season for Sydney snow tours?

Sydney snow tours to Thredbo and Perisher run during the snow season, from June to September, and run on set dates rather than daily.

How long does the coach trip from Sydney to the snow take?

The overnight coach from Sydney reaches Cooma or Jindabyne around dawn and the Thredbo or Perisher resort at about 8am, with the return coach arriving back in Sydney around 10pm.

Do I need to bring my own ski gear on a Sydney snow tour?

No. The Thredbo and Perisher day tours offer discounted gear hire, which you pay for yourself, while the learn to ski and snow play packages include jackets, pants and boots.

Can kids learn to ski on a snow trip from Sydney?

Yes. The Snowy Mountains Kids Learn to Ski Package is designed for first-timers aged seven to 14 and includes a three-hour beginner lesson at Perisher.

When does whale watching start in Sydney?

Whale watching cruises in Sydney start in mid-May and run until early November.

Local tip: Snow tours leave late at night, so pack warm layers for the coach as well as the mountain, and keep a day free afterwards.

Pick your winter day above, the Thredbo coach trip or a whale watching cruise off the Heads, and rug up. All good days are waiting.