Perisher’s opening weekend is set to take another step forward on Sunday, June 7, with the Australian resort confirming that the Village 8 Express chairlift will begin operating following several productive nights of snowmaking. The announcement comes after opening day delivered blue skies, sunshine, and the first turns of the 2026 Australian ski season on the Front Valley Conveyor.
While operations remain very limited, the addition of Village 8 gives skiers and snowboarders another option on snow as resort crews continue building coverage ahead of the core winter season. “We were able to run the snow making guns for around eight hours last night and are expecting another decent run tonight,” Perisher said in a Saturday afternoon operations update. “Due to this, and the mountain operations team working their magic, we are stoked to let you know that the Village 8 is set to spin tomorrow.”
Recent snowfall has helped kickstart the season across the Snowy Mountains. Perisher reported 10 centimeters (4 inches) of fresh snow ahead of opening weekend and a natural snow depth of 22 centimeters (9 inches), while snowmaking crews have taken advantage of every available cold window.
The resort opened Saturday with skiing and snowboarding on the Front Valley Conveyor, along with snowplay areas and a hike park. Guests were greeted by sunny conditions and crowds eager to make their first turns of the season after months of waiting for winter to arrive.
The long weekend also marks the return of the PEAK Music Festival, one of Perisher’s signature winter events. More than 20 artists are performing across venues throughout Perisher Valley, with Australian Idol winner Kesha Neve headlining this year’s lineup.
Beyond the skiing and music, Perisher is offering opening weekend lift ticket specials, including $99 adult beginner lift tickets with a $1 beginner lesson add-on. Children’s beginner packages start at $54 plus the same $1 lesson offer.
Food and beverage venues including Jax Bar & Café, Ski Rock Café, and Base Grind are operating throughout the weekend, while free shuttle buses continue running between Perisher and Smiggin Holes.
Although there is still a long way to go before Perisher reaches significant winter operations, the resort’s opening weekend has provided a promising start to the season. With additional snowmaking planned and colder temperatures forecast, resort staff will continue working to build coverage and prepare more terrain in the weeks ahead.
