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World's best value ski pass is the Epic Australia Pass!

snow action team 05.03.2020

World’s best value ski pass? Yes, hands down! The Epic Australia Pass just keeps getting even better value the more the Aussie dollar tanks against the greenback. But hurry – the best rate of $AUD Right now, at just $AUD 889 ($49 deposit) for adults, $685 seniror over 65, $499 for students up to year 12 – ends on March 24. For the adult pass that equals around $USD, it’s only around $USD 560, which would buy you less than 4 individual days skiing at big American resorts.

Falls Creek all season no restrictions? That would be a YES from us .. © Falls Creek

But we get all season, unrestricted access at 3 of Australia’s Big 5 for that – Perisher, Hotham and Falls Creek. Which makes it worthwhile in itself if you plan to ski or board more than a handful of days in the 2021 southern winter at home in Australia. Last season we started using ours on May 31st at Perisher.

More benefits have been added too – handy if you are heading o business or pleasure to eastern USA.

“Vail Resorts is excited to extend the value of the Epic Australia Pass by offering more access and benefits than ever before,” said Pete Brulisauer, chief operating officer, Australia and Perisher. “With the addition of Falls Creek and Hotham, plus 17 new U.S. resorts including Hunter Mountain in New York and Mount Snow in Vermont, pass holders can ski year round at top destinations close to home and abroad.”

World's best ski pass includes Hotham, Australia's powder snow capital
Hotham is famous for powder snow, sunsets and seriously good terrain © Hotham

That’s not a bad start, and all 3 for far less than single resort Aussie season passes used to cost not long ago!

Skiing Perisher on May 31st 2019
No kidding this was May 31st at Perisher – 6 month season downunder, one pass! © Owain Price

But most Snow Action readers/followers want more than that of course – 90% plus of you travel to ski/ride up north too.

Which is where the value starts to get sensational, and truly unbeatable. Almost all season (with minor key holiday restrictions) access at Park City, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar and Stowe. All season unrestricted access at Crested Butte, Stevens Pass, Okemo and Sunapee.

Breckenridge is massive, and all yours save for a handful of holiday dates © Nick Pease / Breackenridge

Plus 10 days total at Whistler, Vail and/or Beaver Creek – don’t have to be consecutive, holiday restrictions apply.

Plus 5 days consecutive at both Hakuba Valley and Rusutsu, with no blackout dates – so enough for a 2 week/2 island Japow mission.

World's best ski pass value includes 5 days consecutive at Rusutsu
Many people say Rusutsu is even better than Niseko and with 5 days consecutive here you can judge for yourself © Rusutsu

There are several other great pass deals out there, like IKON Pass, with more resorts but only 2 days at each of them, so none of those offer so much skiing – pretty much 12 months of the year if you want – for so little.

The latest details for 2020 southern season, 2020-2021 northern season with this year’s pass –

  • Epic Australia Pass™: For AU$889 for adults, AU$499 for students (up to year 12) and AU$685 for seniors (65 years and over), the Epic Australia Pass offers the following access and benefits:
  • Unlimited, unrestricted access to: Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in the 2020 season and Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Snow, Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain, Hunter Mountain, Crotched Mountain, Roundtop Mountain, Liberty Mountain, Big Boulder, Whitetail Resort, Boston Mills, Jack Frost, Mad River Mountain, Alpine Valley, Paoli Peaks, Brandywine, Hidden Valley, Snow Creek and Stevens Pass during the 2020-21 season. 
  • Unlimited access with holiday restrictions to: Park City in Utah; Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe, California and Stowe in Vermont in the 2020-21 season. 
  • 10 total days combined at: Whistler Blackcomb, Vail and Beaver Creek in the 2020-21 season (holiday restrictions apply and days do not have to be consecutive).
  • Limited access to partner resorts, including five consecutive days with no blackout dates at Rusutsu, Japan and five consecutive days with no blackout dates at Hakuba Valley, Japan for the 2020-21 season. 
  • Discounted tickets: 6 discounted Bring a Mate tickets at Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham for family and friends and when purchased online in advance, a saving of up to 50 percent.
  • Upgrade to the Epic Australia Plus Pass for Unlimited, Unrestricted Access: Pass holders can elevate their skiing and snowboarding experience by upgrading the Epic Australia Pass to avoid holiday restrictions in the best resorts in the U.S. & Canada for unlimited, unrestricted North American access to Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Park City, and all of Vail Resorts’ owned and operated resorts for the 2020-21 ski season. Visit www.epicaustraliapass.com.au
  • Lock in the Epic Australia Pass for only AU$49: Guests can lock in Australia’s best value ski pass now for only AU$49 upfront, securing the guaranteed lowest price of AU$889 for adults, AU$499 for students and AU$685 for seniors, at www.epicaustraliapass.com.au
  • Pass Refund Protection: Vail Resorts encourages guests to purchase Pass Refund Protection to obtain a refund in the case of a “season ending” injury, illness, pregnancy or relocation, for the low price of only AU$25 for adults, AU$15 for students and AU$20 seniors. Must be purchased at the time you buy your Epic Australia Pass. Find out more at www.epicaustraliapass.com.au

If you don’t like fitting chains the Skitube option adds $99 for NSW side skiers – but saves car entry, an annual park pass being a reasonable $180 or so (don’t get us started on the cost of resort entry and overnight parking at Victorian ski resorts, it really is totally unjustifiable but that’s a state government controlled issue).

Get on the link here to do that.