Guthega, New South Wales

Guthega, New South Wales (coord|36|23|S|148|22|E|type:city_region:AU-NSW) is a ski resort village in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, in the Snowy River Shire. It has an excellent full range of skiing and boarding facilities. Guthega is a small ski area with tree-lined runs therefore, it can hold good snow on its southern slopes when many other areas are bare. Nearby Guthega Dam is part of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme.

Guthega is home to a number of private lodges, the largest of which being [http://www.christianacapital.com/Text/1201314204453-3212/ The Australian Ski Club] . The mountain is also home to [http://www.guthega.com/ Guthega Alpine Hotel] , a 12 room hotel and bar specialising in lunch with an excellent view of the main range. The area is also rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of a man who died during the construction of the dam.

[http://www.christianacapital.com/Text/1201316577093-6700/ View more information on the development of Guthega]

Despite Guthega’s renowned snow conditions, a lack of uphill transport until the 1980’s made it primarily a starting point for cross-country skiers accessing the main range. A single T-bar and ageing rope tow provided the only uphill transport for alpine skiers until the area was redeveloped in two stages – firstly with the addition of two lifts in 1976/7 and then with a major redevelopment from 1981-83.

With limited uphill transport, a difficult access road and limited carparking, Guthega was home to solely private club lodges until the Guthega Alpine Hotel was built. This Hotel has remained the only commercial accommodation at Guthega for more than thirty years and enjoys spectacular views across the Snowy River to Mount Tate and the Main Range.

With increased facilities from 1981 onwards, Guthega began to host a variety of ski events, starting the Australian Freestyle Championship in 1982. Freestyle skiing was only just gaining acceptance as a discipline at that time, following its recognition as a sport by the International Ski Federation (f.i.s.) in 1979.

Guthega continued to support alpine skiing, constructing three new ski runs that were homologated by the International Ski Federation – two for slalom and one for giant slalom - allowing Guthega to hold international ski events.

Guthega is now part of Perisher Blue.