7 snowy places around the world to escape a hot American summer
It's a winter wonderland in the Southern Hemisphere
With heat waves, heat domes and heat warnings across the United States, many Americans are dreaming of cooler — if not downright cold — places. Relief can be found in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, where winter is in full swing and plenty of charming, snow-filled cities and resorts await. You will have to travel pretty far to visit these spots, but getting there is part of the fun.
Afriski Mountain Resort, Lesotho
Yes, you can hit the slopes in Africa. Afriski Mountain Resort in Lesotho is a powder lover's playground, with skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding and off-piste skiing. Ski resorts are a rarity in Africa — there are only five on the continent — and Afriski is known for its lovely views of the surrounding Maloti Mountains and lively atmosphere. There are three accommodations to choose from, all close to the action.
Bariloche, Argentina
Named the "most charming town" in Patagonia by Travel + Leisure, Bariloche offers "alpine air and knee-buckling natural beauty" like the crystal clear Nahuel Huapi Lake. Nearby Cerro Catedral is the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with 75 miles of slopes and 32 chairlifts, cable cars and rope tows. While skiing is the biggest draw, snowshoeing and snow BMX biking are options for those looking to try something different.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Falls Creek, Australia
At Falls Creek, you can truly get away from it all — even cars. Up in the Victorian High Plains, the village is about a five-hour drive from both Melbourne and Canberra, but once you arrive it is a pedestrian-only zone, with visitors having to ski-in and ski-out. The resort has more than 1,100 skiable acres, with 90 runs and 15 lifts, and a calendar filled with family activities, like tobogganing and roasting marshmallows with Pete the Snowdragon.
Hotham, Australia
Up in the Victorian Alps is Hotham, the only ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere with its village at the top of the mountain. Hotham has a reputation as being Australia's "powder capital," due to its location in a "geographical pocket that hits it big when storms come up from the south," Ski Magazine said. Visitors can spend their days skiing and snowshoeing. There are some out-of-the-ordinary activities available as well, like the outdoor onsen retreat and sled dog tours.
Portillo, Chile
So much snow fell at Ski Portillo in Chile during June that the resort had to twice push back its opening day. Take that as a sign to pack your bags and head to this all-inclusive spot in the Andes, where guests have the option of staying for three days or a full week. Skiing feels special here in this picturesque part of the world, and to make the experience even more magical, book the private A-frame chalet with a fireplace and views of the mountains and Inca Lake.
Queenstown, New Zealand
When you go to Queenstown, have both a cosmopolitan escape and rugged mountain adventure by taking advantage of the city's dynamic restaurant and wine scene and its close proximity to four ski areas: Cardrona Alpine Resort, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone. Coronet Peak offers a twist to the traditional day of skiing by keeping the fun going after dark, lighting the resort up from 4 to 9 p.m., while the aptly-named Remarkables boasts a large space dedicated to inexperienced skiers looking to learn the sport.
Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand
Everything is bigger on Mount Ruapehu. An active volcano, this is the highest mountain on North Island, and its Whakapapa and Turoa ski areas are the largest in New Zealand. Whakapapa is on the northern side, with the terrain formed by solidified lava, while on the southern side, Turoa offers a thrilling, 2,368-foot descent. Both fields have beginner, intermediate and advanced trails.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Judge rejects Trump bid to make NY case federal
Speed Read Judge Alvin Hellerstein refused Trump's motion to transfer his criminal case to federal court
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russian strike kills at least 51 in Ukraine
Speed Read Two Russian missiles struck a military academy and hospital in the Ukrainian city of Poltava
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Americans have friends. We just never really see them'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Colin from Accounts, season two: an 'absolute joy to watch'
The Week Recommends The second series of Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall's hit TV comedy is 'every bit as good as the first'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One great cookbook: 'Truly Mexican'
The Week Recommends A cookbook that will teach you the bones of one of the world's great cuisines
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Bad Ischl: discover the sleepy salt-mining town's cultural side
The Week Recommends Explore this Austrian town, the first rural Alpine destination to be crowned a European Capital of Culture
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Stout revival: a new chapter for the dark beer
The Week Recommends The dark beer has shaken off its 'rugby lad' image and is appealing to a wider demographic
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Mohammed Sami: After the Storm – a 'cunning' and 'highly intelligent' show
The Week Recommends The Iraqi artist brings 14 of his 'exhilarating' works to Blenheim Palace
By The Week UK Published
-
Horatio Clare chooses his favourite books
The Week Recommends Horatio Clare chooses his favourite books
By The Week UK Published
-
Kneecap: 'ballsy and brave' Irish-language music biopic
The Week Recommends 'Riotous' Belfast-set comedy about a real-life hip of trio is 'one hell of a laugh'
By The Week UK Published
-
5 riveting books to take you through September
The Week Recommends A return to Dublin and the Rooneyverse, plus a peek at some Trump family history
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published