How you can make the most of Australia’s once in a generation blizzard: The picturesque places you can visit – and some are just an hour from Sydney
- Widespread falls of snow across NSW as temperatures plummeted to freezing
- Blue Mountains, state’s central-west and northern tablelands blanketed in snow
- Tourists flocking to the regions for snow are urged to start long weekend early
- Busy Queen’s Birthday long weekend for alpine ski resorts with ski season launch
A blast of cold air from Antarctica has transformed parts of south-eastern Australia into winter wonderlands just before the Queen‘s Birthday long weekend.
Plummeting temperatures has resulted in a widespread dumping of snow blanketing New South Wales, including regions just one hour’s drive west of from Sydney.
The Blue Mountains saw its first dusting of snow for winter on Thursday as Sydney shivered through its coldest day so far this year.
Parks and roads in towns such as Orange and Oberon further west have also also blanketed in white powder.
Tourists flocked to scenic spots across the Blue Mountains and the state’s central-west as winter selfies flooded social media.
Sydneysiders flocked to the Blue Mountains on Thursday for a taste of falling snow. Pictured is Katoomba near The Three Sisters
The state’s northern tablelands have also experienced snow for the first time in a few years in towns such as Armidale and Glenn Innes.
Further falls are expected over the central tablelands and Barrington Tops in NSW on Thursday while at least half a metre of snow is expected to blanket the state’s alpine regions.
The Brindabella Range an hour’s drive south of Canberra has also seen a white dusting, which is expected to hang around until Saturday.
As NSW alpine resorts Perisher and Thredbo in the state’s south get ready for a bumper long weekend with the launch of the ski season, the snow won’t stick around for long elsewhere.
The snow currently blanketing the Blue Mountains, the state’s central-west and northern tablelands is expected to clear up before the weekend.
The NSW Department of Corrective Services sheriff’s officers enjoyed the first dump of snow for the year in Orange four hours west of Sydney
The NSW northern tablelands have also seen snow for the first time in six years but the snow won’t hang around for long. Pictured is a snowman in Glenn Innes on Thursday
‘We’ll see the last of the snow on Friday outside the alpine areas,’ Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Reid told Daily Mail Australia.
Thredbo Resort has reported 60cms snow at the top of the mountain and 25cms in the village in the last 24 hours
Nearby Perisher has also seen 60cm of fresh powder, where photos have emerged of vehicles fully covered in snow.
More snow is forecast in the alpine regions on Friday and Saturday.
Tourists are also expected to flock to Victoria’s alpine ski resorts in the coming days.
However Melburnians will miss out on the fun, restricted to a 25 kilometre radius from their homes when a fortnight-long lockdown is finally lifted on Friday.
‘We’re sad that our friends from Melbourne can’t be here this weekend, and we’ve got our fingers and toes crossed that you can visit soon,’ Falls Creek Resort posted.
Perisher will be inundated with hordes of skiers and snowboarders this long weekend
Victorian alpine resorts such as Falls Creek (pictured) is also ready for a busy June long weekend