Perisher Ski resort has been accused of pricing itself out of business as an Aussie woman exposes the astonishing cost of a day at the slopes.
Sydney woman Robin Moon and her family were so shocked at the prices in the southern NSW ski resort of Perisher that she took to Facebook to warn others.
The very high charges started when Ms Moon paid $297 for a one day ski pass and Perisher Skitube – the train that goes up and down the mountain – ticket.
‘It just went from worse to worse with all the prices,’ she told Daily Mail Australia, adding that she will go to New Zealand or Japan to ski in future.
‘We’ve got three daughters and we’re in our 60s and we’ve skied Perisher since the 1980s, and we’ve also skied overseas a lot.’
The Perisher ski resort has been accused of pricing itself out of business by keen skier Robin Moon (pictured)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/05/74544531-12427057-image-a-4_1692592921572.jpg)
![Snowfall across a popular Aussie ski resort has been so low, that skiers were greeted to dirt instead of snow during their visits](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/05/74462627-12427057-Snowfall_across_a_popular_Aussie_ski_resort_has_been_so_low_that-a-2_1692592919831.jpg)
Snowfall across a popular Aussie ski resort has been so low, that skiers were greeted to dirt instead of snow during their visits
Ms Moon said that since the US company Vail Resorts took over Perisher in 2015, ‘it’s really quickly become untenable in terms of price’.
She and her husband have been running photography workshops in the Alpine area for a couple of years and said at Charlotte’s Pass it costs $75 for the day, which includes a hot lunch and a lift ticket.
‘But then you come across to Perisher and the one day prices are just crazy … it’s mountain money,’ she said.
At the Mid Station restaurant – which is run independently of the resort – the family paid $60 at the Mid Station restaurant for two sausage rolls and two beers and $39 for two hot chocolates with schnapps, she said.
Then they had to pay $50 for a one way ski tube due to a broken ski boot and $54 for one day boots-only rental.
After decades of loyalty to Perisher, Ms Moon has had enough. She talked about what happened with her family and they agreed ‘let’s not do that again’.
With children and now grandchildren too, she said going back to Perisher would mean ‘we’re going to blow $1,000 a day for the family to ski.
‘It’s just crazy and we’re much better off going to New Zealand or to Japan (to ski). We had a conversation and just decided the next family holiday when we go for a week, we won’t go anywhere near here.
‘We’ll head off overseas where it’s better value for money.’
On the Facebook page where Ms Moon first posted about Perisher, many people were shocked by the prices, but some tried to explain why it is that way.
![Robin Moon (pictured) is also saddened that Perisher's volunteer ski patrol, which has operated for more than 50 years, is being closed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/21/05/74541719-12427057-Robin_Moon_pictured_is_also_saddened_that_Perisher_s_volunteer_s-a-3_1692592920979.jpg)
Robin Moon (pictured) is also saddened that Perisher’s volunteer ski patrol, which has operated for more than 50 years, is being closed
‘My understanding is that the operators there are hit with enormous fees by National Parks,’ wrote one.
‘The bed tax (per bed) alone would make your eyes water plus, it’s a very short season & getting shorter all the time.’
Another wrote that the resort isn’t ‘interested in people skiing a few days, that is a ridiculous price for a day pass skiing.
‘The only way around it is to get one of the season epic passes and then ski overseas as well to make it worthwhile.’
However others said she needed to be more grateful.
‘Beers , hot chocolates, schnapps..sounds like you had a great day,’ one said.
A second added: ‘Well if people pay it, that’s what the prices will be. Any business person worth half their weight in salt would be deluded and deranged to sell things lower than what people are willing to pay.’
A third said: ‘Some folk are simply homeless so not got these dreadful worries , whew!’
‘Next time BYO, the beers, hot chocolate and the snow…. and just walk up the hill…its not a mountain,’ a fourth added.
Another said: ‘First world problems. Have you seen what’s happening in Chad?’.
Ms Moon is also saddened that Perisher’s volunteer ski patrol, which has operated for more than 50 years, is being closed after this season.
‘A school friend of mine has been on ski patrol as a volunteer since the 1980s. So she’s got 40 years experience of cruising the mountain and picking up people that have fallen over and damaged themselves.’
She said the end of the volunteer ski patrol is ‘a real shame. It’s a very big historical part of Perisher. The history is just being closed and gone.’
Perisher’s operations director Michael Fearnside said the resort is grateful for the ski patrol’s contributions.
‘Volunteers have worked alongside our professional ski patrol service over many years, however, the evolution of the ski industry, workplace health and safety obligations and guests’ expectations are demanding more time and skills than a volunteer can reasonably be asked to deliver.
‘We believe the future of ski patrolling is best provided by full coverage on the mountain by a fully professional workforce,’ he said.
It comes as Australia’s ski season is marred by a horror accident at Thredbo and record low snowfalls.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk