Corin Forest: The Perfect ❝First Snow❞ Experience

  • All Ages

We decided to take our first-ever trip to the snow and picked Corin Forest for the job, and what an adventure we had!

Our First Trip to the Snow at Corin Forest

I have always sat and listened with a slight feeling of guilt whenever my friends talked about their amazing ski trips. "Bobby’s been skiing since he was two! He’s a natural!” Hmm. Great. The closest my kids had been to real snow was licking the TV screen during a viewing of Frozen!

Plagued with the thought of expensive accommodation and ski lessons, not to mention the six-hour tedious car trip from Sydney to the snow, I thought there HAD to be a better alternative. That’s when I stumbled across Corin Forest. Corin Forest is an outdoor snow park that is only 45-minutes from where we based ourselves in Canberra. They run three snow play sessions every day that last for 2.5 hours, the perfect amount of snow time for littlies.

Corin Forest snow
Our first trip to the snow at Corin Forest was a winner!

Snow Time!

We arrived at Corin Forest on a bright, sunny morning. In amongst a forest of green, we suddenly saw two large football field patches of white, dazzling snow! “Real snow!” our kids cried! It’s true. When the conditions are right, Corin Forest does actually receive real snowfall. However, they also have snow guns that run overnight, to ensure a constant supply of the good stuff.

Corin Forest Tobogganing Fun

The biggest attraction for the kids at Corin Forest is definitely the toboggans. After paying $15 entry per adult and child (cheap as chips!) plus $5 for the unlimited use of a toboggan, we quickly scrambled up the gentle incline and slid down the slope with lots of squeals of excitement! Adults can tandem ride with their littlies, but the bigger kids will be happy to drag and slide their toboggan up and down the slope for 2 hours, no problem.

Corin Forest snow
Hitting the snow toboggans with the littlies.

Ski and Snowboard Classes for Beginners

Learning to ski or snowboard at Corin Forest comes easily at their ski and snowboard school. Little ones who have never skied before and adults who might need to work at mastering the basics are all welcome. The ski slope for lessons is custom-designed with gentle terrain, also featuring an easy-to-use 'magic carpet' ski lift. This special skiing area is limited to 150 people per session to keep it safe and spacious - so maybe make a booking. 

Snowmen and Igloos

Another reason why Corin Forest appealed to me was that I wasn’t sure if my 4- and 6-year-old were ready for ski lessons just yet and I didn’t want to fork out good money if all they wanted to do was build a snowman. However, at Corin Forest, they have a section just beyond the tobogganing slopes designated just for building snowmen! 

Our Corin Forest Verdict

Corin Forest is fantastic for a first-time snow experience for your kids. It’s small, safe and cheaper than going to the snowfields. This is not for dads who are looking to conquer their next double black diamond run. They will be disappointed. And no, you cannot bring your snowboard. (Had to convince my hubby this was a bad idea!).

Corin Forest snow
Look - real-life snow at Corin Forest!

The Essential Stuff

3 sessions daily: 8:30 am-11 am, 11 am-1:30 pm & 2 pm-4:30 pm (2.5 hours per session)

Costs:
Snowplay ticket – $18 per person
Toboggan hire – $5 per session (Can be shared within a family)

They also offer group lessons now for children aged 6 years+, available for $39 per person for a 2-hour session.

Ski area passes (not recommended for children under 4 years) are $30 per person for a half day/3.5 hours. 

All gear is available for hire (ski, snowboards, jackets, helmets, etc). 

What to bring:
• Warm clothing
• Waterproof pants and jacket
• Gloves
• Warm, water-resistant gloves
• A change of socks and dry clothes is recommended for the trip home

By: Helena Leung, ellaslist explorer

Keen for More Snow Adventures?

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