Let's get piste!

Australia

Falls Creek VIC

Get there
2.5 hours

Stay
Quay West Resort

Drink
Oishii-Go

The lowdown
With the finest alpine accommodation in Australia alongside the debut of night skiing, Falls Creek will be Victoria's winter playground of 2010.  

Eating & drinking
Falls Creek may seem like a small, intimate ski resort from the outside, but come nightfall, it's one of Australia's best après playgrounds. Once you drop off the gear at the resort (see below), hop across to tomdickandharrys for a beer or wine, before a light meal at ALTA next door. Then head up the hill to the very cool Silverski Lodge and its fun-filled restaurant and bar, Oishii-Go. With an array of sake, beer and Japanese-inspired cocktails alongside live entertainment most nights, you're guaranteed a great night out - but careful you don't have too many nips of sake as that walk down the hill can get a bit challenging. tomdickandharrysand ALTA, 17 Bogong High Plains Rd, Falls Creek 3699. (03 5732 8000); Oishii-Go,1 Sitzmark St, Falls Creek 3699. (03 5758 3375).

Where to ski & board
With the largest range of black runs in Australia, Falls Creek is undoubtedly a paradise for advanced skiers and boarders. However, the beauty of Falls Creek is it caters for all skill levels and an exciting new development this year is the launch of night skiing on Wombat's Ramble, the longest beginner run in Australia at 2.2km.

Where to stay
Alpine accommodation doesn't get any better thanQuay West Resort and Spa Falls Creek, named Australia's best alpine property in 2009 at the industry-leading HM Awards. Offering a range of apartments, from one-bedroom suites to a four-bedroom penthouse, the resort is located at the base of the Falls Express chairlift and features not only spacious rooms but outdoor spas adjacent to a number of them. Quay West Resort and Spa Falls Creek, 17 Bogong High Plains Rd, Falls Creek 3699. (03 5732 8000).

Getting there
QantasLink offers several daily, direct flights from Sydney to Albury. When you arrive, hire a rental car or take a shuttle bus to Falls Creek, about an hour's drive away.

Thredbo NSW

Get there
5.5 hours

Stay
Thredbo Alpine Hotel

Eat
Cascades

The lowdown
‘Thredders' has always been a favourite winter playground for Sydneysiders and that will be the case again in 2010, thanks to its array of accommodation, bars, restaurants and well-groomed long runs.

Eating & drinking
For après-ski, it doesn't get much better than Thredbo and in fact, it generally starts on the mountain well before sliding out of the boots. For a good meal-and-shot midday kicker, take the Snowgums Chairlift or Kosciuszko Express and ski down to Kareela, a hut you'll find hard to leave after a stew, some beer, red and of course schnapps - particularly when a snowstorm is brewing outside. When you get down the hill, swing into The Pub at the Alpine Hotel or make your way up to Après Bar at the Denman. Then for a great dinner (reservations are essential any night of the week), check out Cascades and Segreto at the Alpine Hotel for something hearty. Cascades, Segreto and the Pub, Thredbo Alpine Hotel, Thredbo 2065. (02 6459 4200); The Denman, Diggings Tce, Thredbo 2065. (02 6457 6222).

Where to ski & board
From the longest run in Australia, the Crackenback Supertrail, to High Noon, The Falls, Lenny's Leap and Playground, intermediate skiers will be in heaven on a powder day at Thredbo. Intermediate aside, Thredbo is also a great beginner resort, thanks to its range of tree-lined green runs taking away a bit of the fear of being too close to the edge. Advanced skiers will relish Funnel Web when it's in form, as they will with Little Beauty on a great day. If you want to try out some aerial tricks without the crash landings, give the new Monster Bagjump a try. It's a 20x20-metre, air-filled cushion located in front of a jump, perfect for trying out some flips and spins - if you dare.

Where to stay
Surrounded by bars, nightclubs and shops and a short stroll from four chairlifts, including the Kosciuszko Express, the Thredbo Alpine Hotel commands the village's top spot. Featuring 65 rooms and suites, the property is not just Time Out's choice of Thredbo for its location, but also its facilities, which include several bars, restaurants, a nightclub, pub and swimming pool. Rates can get high during peak season, but it's worth the $500 price tag for convenience - there is no point in staying out of the village. Forget about Jindabyne right now. Thredbo Alpine Hotel, Thredbo 2065. (02 6459 4200).

Getting there
Thredbo is a six-hour drive from Sydney, or a three-hour drive from Canberra should you wish to cheat (we did) and fly to the nation's capital then rent a car. Cheap flights to Australia

Perisher NSW

Get there
6 hours

Stay
Perisher Valley Hotel

Eat
Snow Gums Restaurant

The lowdown
Family alert! Got the kids and want to take them skiing without getting tempted to go on a après-ski bar hop around town? Then Perisher, Australia's biggest resort where it's all about the action on the slopes, is the place for you.

Eating & drinking
If you're staying at the Perisher Valley Hotel(that's Time Out's recommendation) then you don't need to go too far to find a decent place to eat - Snow Gums Restaurant is located in the hotel and offers a good spread of good alpine fare. For an after-ski tipple or four, Curve on the upper level of the Perisher Centre is the place to go - and given it's in a debut year, it should be a popular spot indeed. Snow Gums Restaurant, Perisher 2624. (02 6459 4455); Curve, Perisher 2624. (02 6459 4494).

Where to ski & board
The resort where 2010 Winter Olympic snowboard halfpipe gold medallist Torah Bright honed her skills, Perisher features more than 100 runs from 47 chairlifts and is a mountain any skier or boarder would struggle to get bored on. Over the offseason, snowmaking facilities were extended and the resort now has the most extensive range of powder producing guns in the country. On its day, Mt Perisher is a great intermediate boarding spot, while Guthega offers something for all levels, particularly beginners looking for a challenge.

Where to stay
The resort has about 20 accommodation options and leading the way is the Perisher Valley Hotel, located at the lift base. Each of the rooms and suites feature Austar-enabled LCD TVs, along with DVD players and Wi-Fi should you need it. Convenience is the key here and the ability to practically ski from the doorstep is a huge plus. Perisher Valley Hotel, Perisher 2624. (02 6459 4455).

Getting there
Like Thredbo, Perisher is a six-hour drive from Sydney and a three-hour drive from Canberra.

More on Perisher

New Zealand

Queenstown South Island
Get there
3 hours

Stay
Sofitel Queenstown

Drink
Barmuda

The lowdown
The adventure capital of the Southern Hemisphere, Queenstown originally started to gain notoriety in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a ski town in the most picturesque setting - today it remains the adventure capital of NZ.

Eating & drinking
With more than 80 places to dine in Queenstown you won't be short of options when it comes to eating. Two top dining spots at present are The Cow, a pizza bar that has been on top of the locals' list for years and is worth the half hour wait, and Les Alpes, a French brasserie that opened its doors to much fanfare four months ago and serves up the town's best pâté. For drinks, Barmuda features a brilliant selection of spirits and open fireplace outside, while The Bunker's upstairs bar is one of Queenstown's more refined drinking holes. The Cow, Cow Ln, Queenstown, NZ. (+64 3 442 8588); Les Alpes, 16 Church St, Queenstown, NZ. (+64 3 442 6060); Barmuda, Searle Ln, Queenstown, NZ (+64 3 442 7300); The Bunker, Cow Ln, Queenstown, NZ. (+64 2 441 8030).

Where to ski & board
Queenstown is within easy reach of three ski resorts: Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are a half-hour drive away and Cardrona is further north near Wanaka. For a relaxing day skiing, definitely visit Coronet Peak, while those after an action-packed afternoon should definitely hit the Remarkables. For the extremists, Over the Top offer half- and full-day heli-skiing adventures in some amazing terrain.

Where to stay
If it is a luxury getaway you're after then consider Sofitel Queenstown, with its elegantly-appointed rooms, central location and French-inspired drinks and service. During snow time, the hotel offers a ‘ski concierge' service, which takes away the hassle of dragging boots and poles to lockers after a day on the slopes. Sofitel Queenstown, 8 Duke St, Queenstown, NZ. (+64 3 450 0045).

Getting there
Pacific Blue flies direct to Queenstown from Sydney. Shuttle buses and taxis then take 15 minutes from the airport to town.

Wanaka South Island

Get there
4.5 hours

Stay
Wyndham Wanaka

Eat
Botswana Butchery

The lowdown
Fly into Queenstown, drive for almost 1.5 hours north and you'll reach the town with the best skiing in New Zealand, Lake Wanaka.

Eating & drinking
The Central Otago region is well known for its meat and wine, and the best place to combine both is Botswana Butchery. Executive chef and owner Leungo Lippe has a focus on fine cut meat and organic food in a comfortable, wintery setting. For a cocktail or Champagne or two, head downstairs to Barluga or if it's a pint you're after, take a five-minute walk down the street to Speight's Ale House opposite the lake. Botswana Butchery, 33 Ardmore St, Wanaka, NZ. (+64 3 443 6745); Barluga, 33 Ardmore St, Wanaka, NZ. (+64 3 443 5400); Speight's Ale House, 155 Ardmore St, Wanaka, NZ. (+64 3 443 2920).

Where to ski & board
Wanaka offers three resorts within a 45-minute drive from the main town - Treble Cone, Cardrona and Snow Park. Time Out recommends heading straight for Treble Cone, an intermediate and advance snowriders' haven with some of the best runs in the Southern Hemisphere. Three good groomed runs of choice are Main Street, High Street and Expressway and for the thrill-seekers, try Solitude in the Matukituki Basin.

Where to stay
Priced from AUD$130 per night, Wyndham Wanakaoffers designer apartments in a warm, timber-style setting, along with a heated pool and spa to relax in after a day on the slopes. Before hitting the town, grab a beer or a glass of pinot noir at Rafters Bar in the main building. Wyndham Wanaka, 109 Mt Aspiring Rd, Lake Wanaka, NZ. (+64 3443 0025).

Getting there
Pacific Blue flies direct to Queenstown from Sydney. When you arrive, hire a rental car or take a shuttle bus to Wanaka, a 1.5 hour drive away.

Northern Fling

While the dollar's strong, size up these cool skiing and boarding destinations for a Northern Hemisphere escape.

Aspen, USA
Aspen is America's winter playground for the rich and famous for good reason - not only is the skiing world-class, but the Colorado town itself offers more than just challenging slopes. A plethora of shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels can be found in the town, meaning a day off the slopes is as good as a day on.
Getting there: United Airlines offers a one-stop service to Aspen via Los Angeles.

Kitzbuhel, Austria
The magical Austrian town of Kitzbuhel is not just famous for its picturesque village, but its World Cup downhill course that challenges the world's finest on an annual basis. Located 150km from Munich (Germany) airport, the train ride south through Bavaria is almost as good as the skiing itself.
Getting there: Emirates offers a one-stop service from Sydney via Dubai to Munich. Trains are then available to Kitzbuhel from Munich's city centre.

Les 3 Vallees, France
Over a 600km radius, France's Les 3 Vallees consisting of Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens, offer over 2,500 hectares of groomed runs available from 200 ski lifts. TGV trains can take you direct from Paris, but Time Out recommends flying into Geneva (Switzerland) and then catching a train south.
Getting there: Emirates offers a one-stop service to Geneva from Sydney via Dubai. Trains are then available to Les 3 Vallees.

Whistler Blackcomb, Canada
Home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Whistler Blackcomb  is Canada's most popular skiing and boarding destination thanks to its 200 trails over 8,100 acres of terrain. Arguably the best après-ski nightlife to be found anywhere in North America, Whistler also rocks as hard in the summer as it does in the winter.
Getting there: Air Canada flies direct from Sydney to Vancouver. Transfers are then available to Whistler, a three-hour drive away.

Book activities around Sydney through Time Out