空氣中充滿了清新的寒意，冬天到了！晴朗乾冷的冬季早晨，一起床就會情不自禁地想起令人興奮的阿爾卑斯山運動項目。眼下澳洲的阿爾卑斯山已被初冬的瑞雪覆蓋，又一個滑雪季節在這裡轟轟烈烈地開始了。
A refreshing chill is in the air, and winter time is actually here! When waking up to those crisp, cool yet mostly sunny winter mornings, the excitement of alpine sport leaps to mind. The Australian Alps are now capped with freshly fallen snow and another great ski season is here!
| Freshly fallen snow at Mt Blue Cow, Another great Ski Season is here! 瑞雪初降藍牛山，賞雪滑雪意盎然 |
澳洲的滑雪季節始於6月份女王生日的那個長週末，並設有多項阿爾卑斯山式滑雪活動。澳大利亞的山峰不僅好看——來自它別樣魅力的雪山景致，而且好玩——設有分別為初學者及滑雪老手提供的誘人的下滑坡道。不論是坐車觀雪景，滑雪，坐雪橇還是拋雪球，每個人都可以在澳洲的阿爾卑斯山找到自己的樂趣！
Beginning with the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, the Australian ski season beckons with a wide choice of alpine activities! The Australian peaks at wintertime not only have the allure of beautiful alpine scenery, but also the most inviting downhill runs for both novices and skiing enthusiasts. So, whether it’s snowboarding, skiing, sledding or tossing snowballs, the Australian Alps offer fun for everyone!
每逢滑雪季節來臨，童年的美好就又點點滴滴回到心頭。那時我們家經常去雪山一日游。通常是頭天晚飯時，爸爸會咧著嘴笑著宣佈：「明天我們去滑雪怎麼樣？」於是，我們就在餘下的時間裏興緻勃勃地拿出羊毛帽、圍巾，將它們裝好、打包！第二天早上，我們4:00點鐘從坎培拉的家中出發，驅車2個半小時到澳洲的阿爾卑斯山滑一天雪！
The ski season brings back many wonderful childhood memories of the frequent day trips our family would make to the snow. It usually began the evening before as we would be sitting around the dining room table. My Dad would announce with a big grin…“How about we all go skiing tomorrow?” We’d spend the rest of the evening getting our woolly hats and scarves out and happily packing! The next morning we’d leave our Canberra home at 4.00 a.m. and make the 2-½ hour drive to the Australian Alps for a day of skiing!
澳大利亞的阿爾卑斯山山脈從坎培拉的Brindabella 山脈經過新南威爾斯州的雪山，沿大分界山脈延伸到維多利亞州，形成一個一千六百萬公頃的山鏈。
The Australian Alps stretch from the Brindabella Mountain Range around Canberra, through the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and along the Great Dividing Range through Victoria, forming a 1.6 million hectare chain.
高品位雪山滑雪勝地
Top Snowy Mountain Ski Resorts
沿著維多利亞的阿爾卑斯山，有四個超級滑雪勝地。澳洲紐省的雪山（暱稱：「SNOWIES」）也是體驗阿爾卑斯山娛樂休閒的高檔去處。Kociusko國家公園是澳洲最著名也最受歡迎的公園之一，每年吸引約三百萬遊客，裡面有7個滑雪勝地。
Along with the Victorian Alps, which host four superb ski resorts, Australia’s Snowy Mountains in NSW, (affectionately known as ‘The Snowies’) is a top class destination to experience alpine recreation as well. Attracting around three million visitors each year, Kosciusko National Park is one of the best known and loved parks in Australia. It also hosts seven Australian ski resorts.
旅途中，駛過位於坎培拉和雪山中間的Cooma鎮，繼續沿Monaro高等級公路行使時，首先映入眼簾的就是壯觀的雪山山峰。當我還是孩子時，山峰的第一個標識始終是到雪山旅途的一個亮點。開過Cooma約半小時左右，在一天的滑雪運動之前，在風景如畫的Jindabyne鎮吃一頓稱心如意的早餐。實際上，大部份雪山勝地都近在咫尺了。
One gets the first spectacular glimpse of the Snowy Mountain peaks traveling along the Monaro Highway just after passing the township of Cooma, which is the midway point between Canberra and the snowfields. When I was a child, that first sign of the peaks was always a highlight of the journey up to the snow. Just half an hour or so past Cooma the picturesque township of Jindabyne makes a perfect stop for a hearty breakfast before hitting the slopes for the day. Most of the Snowy Mountain ski resorts are practically just a snowball’s throw away.
| 世界上絕無僅有的景致—澳洲橡膠樹頂的雪帽 |
Perisher-Blue是南半球最大的滑雪勝地，由Perisher，Smiggin Holes，Guthega 和Mt. Blue Cow四個滑雪場組成，有五十輛纜車與之相連，跨越七個山峰！那還有南半球最早的八個高速座椅纜車。可從Jindabyne經Kosciusk路到Perisher 或經Guthega到Perisher Blue，或者從阿爾卑斯山路線圖中的Bullocks Flat 乘滑雪通道（穿山火車）抵達。
The largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, Perisher-Blue, comprises four ski-resorts in one; Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Mt Blue Cow, interconnecting with 50 lifts and spanning seven mountain peaks! It also has the southern hemisphere’s first eight-seater high-speed chair lift. Perisher Blue can be accessed from Jindabyne either via Kosciusko Road to Perisher or Guthega, or by the Ski tube (a train through the mountains) from Bullocks Flat on the Alpine Way.
雪山最美的阿爾卑斯山村是Thredbo。那兒有獨特的遠距離雪道，在其鄰近的滑雪場裡，可乘纜車到Charlottes關，那是澳洲的最高點，實際上已接近澳大利亞的最高山—Kosciusko山。
The prettiest Alpine Village in the Snowy Mountains is Thredbo. It offers exceptionally long ski runs and along with its neighboring resort, Charlotte’s Pass, has the highest elevated points in the country which are practically within reach of the highest Mountain in Australia–Mt Kosciusko. The ski resorts also offer a variety of skiing packages, which include accommodation right at the base of the slopes. Several packages even offer the choice of a nice hot sauna and spa bath, as well as delicious meals and live entertainment.
| Australian Gum trees top snow covered mountains; a scene unique to only this part of the world. |
經濟實惠家庭遊
Economical Family Options
滑雪或許是一種花銷較大的遠征，尤其是在全家出動時。為節省開支，可選擇住在滑雪勝地附近的小鎮上。去雪山的路上，沿途有諸如Brelbo，Cooma及Berridale小鎮，那有經濟的住宿供選擇，還能以合理的價格租到滑雪用具。
Skiing can be an expensive expedition, especially when taking the entire family. As an alternative to staying at one of the ski resorts, why not book accommodation in one of the nearby towns for a more cost effective rate. Smaller towns on the way to the Snowy Mountains such as Bredbo, Cooma and Berridale, offer affordable accommodation options, as well as reasonably priced ski hire.
在Jindabyne附近的Bullocks Flat乘滑雪通道火車可避免路滑帶來的不便，亦可節省匆忙搭乘纜車的時間。另外，乘滑雪通道火車還不必買Kosciusko國家公園的門票，停車也是免費的。
Catching the ski tube at Bullocks Flat near Jindabyne allows for avoiding slippery road conditions and saves that extra hassle of needing to carry chains. Additionally, when catching the ski tube, it is not necessary to pay the Kosciusko National Park entry fee, and parking is free of charge.
| Inviting Ski runs at Mt Blue Cow. 如織遊人，紛沓而至，盡享滑雪樂趣 |
在雪山高等級公路上，位於Tumut和Cooma之間的Mt. Selwyn是理想的家庭滑雪勝地。雖然該滑雪場比其它的滑雪場略小，但纜車票和滑雪用具租金較便宜，附近的住宿費也相當合理。
Mt Selwyn is a great family-style resort, which lies between Tumut and Cooma on the Snowy Mountains Highway. Although the resort is a little smaller than the others, lift tickets as well as ski hire are considerably cheaper at Mt Selwyn. Accommodation in nearby towns is also quite reasonably priced.
初學者的最佳選擇
Top Beginner Options
Selwyn山積雪豐富，是家庭戲雪的遊樂場。那兒有其自己的雪道公園和一個專用平底雪橇區以及澳洲特色的平底雪橇拖車。Thredbo現在有一個專為初學者設計建造的叫Friday Flat的滑雪區，區內設有適合初學滑雪者的滑坡以及易上易下的低速四方座椅纜車。在Perisher Blue和Smiggins也有適合不同遊人，包括孩子及首次滑雪者的滑雪套餐。所有的滑雪勝地都提供照看孩子的服務，並開設娛樂滑雪課，還常包零食和午餐呢。
Providing there is plenty of snow, Mt Selwyn is a snow playground suited to the whole family. It also has its own Snow-Tube Park and a special tobogganing area, with Australia’s only toboggan tow. Thredbo now has a purpose-built area for new skiers called Friday Flat. It has a slope that is just right for new skiers, as well as a slow speed easy on and off quad chairlift. At Perisher Blue and Smiggins, there are also packages for everyone, including children and first timers. All of the resorts offer childcare and fun ski-lessons especially tailored to children, which often include snacks and lunches.
阿爾卑斯山的體育運動永遠是令人難忘的冬季經歷。雪山山脈有著與眾不同的雪山橡膠樹，別具一格的澳洲山林植物，那兒是這個季節充滿歡樂的探險地——不僅僅是體育愛好者的，也是每個人的！
Alpine sports are always an unforgettable winter experience. The Snowy Mountain Range, with its distinctive snow gums and unique Australian plants above the tree line, is a gorgeous place for fun-filled adventure this season—not just for sport enthusiasts, but for everyone!
以下是幾個有關滑雪的網址，願你的滑雪假日從這裡開始！
www.perisherblue.com.au， www.thredbo.com.au ，www.selwynsnow.com.au
To plan your skiing holiday, here are a few websites to get you started:
www.perisherblue.com.au, www.thredbo.com.au, www.selwynsnow.com.au
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