Further Information for Snow Season Guests
Thank you for being part of Southern Cross’s ministry. Please take the time to very carefully read the whole of this web‑page. Whilst there is a lot of detail, it is all important, there have been changes since previous years, and we may need to make still further changes. Our lodge staff (chef & lodge hosts) look forward to welcoming you, and we pray that your time at the lodge in the snow will be a time of refreshment both physically and spiritually.
Whilst some of the information on this page is specific to the snow season, much also applies the rest of the year. Some information is specific to 2023 — 2024 snow season information will be added as it comes to hand.
Due to COVID‑19 restrictions, Southern Cross operations and on the slopes experiences were very different in each of 2020 to 2023 compared to earlier years. Booking etc conditions remain subject to change depending on COVID‑19 developments and changes to our COVID‑Plan. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Gaetjens at bookings@southerncrossalpinelodge.au or on (02) 9130 8587, or our lodge staff on (02) 6457 5252 during the season (although currently out od order).
Please Re-Read our Booking Procedures and Booking Conditions page
which includes our Terms of Booking Agreement, Aims and Objectives and other important information.
Note that, whilst (subject to our general proviso that all booking conditions are subject to change at short notice) Southern Cross no longer requires guests to be COVID‑19 vaccinated, we continue to strongly recommend that all guests’ vaccinations be up to date, including for COVID‑19 and influenza.
Guests are asked not to arrive at Southern Cross if unwell, especially with any flu type symptoms or if they have tested positive to COVID‑19, and to leave early if they become ill during their stay.
We encourage you to share in various lodge activities. Our lodge staff provide you with all meals & hospitality, but remember that we are a club, not a commercial lodge. Please also note www.southerncrossalpinelodge.au/guest-information/#arrival-lunch-church. Our hosts also arrange meal etc duties, a series of short morning devotions & short evening Bible discussions, and can also help advise you on lift tickets (these may need to be pre-purchased on-line) and ski/boarding lessons and other things to do at the snow, or in the mountains outside of the snow season.
Ambulance Insurance and Travel Insurance, including Cancellation Insurance
Ambulance cost to Canberra can be $2,000 or more. Most NSW private health insurances include ambulance cover (but do check & note that not all interstate health funds include NSW ambulance cover). NSW ambulance cover can be purchased separately from the major health funds. You should also consider travel (including cancellation) insurance. Note our Terms of Booking Agreement including Limitation of Liability and Changing or Cancelling a Booking.
See www.southerncrossalpinelodge.au/news/#RhythmSmigginsDiscounts for links to details of Rhythm (Snowline) Smiggins up to 20% discounts and other information.
www.southerncrossalpinelodge.au/news/#CharlottePassDayTripper is available again in 2024 but needs to be pre-booked well ahead. There are also mid‑week specials.
Click here for Information on Getting to Smiggins and to Southern Cross
What to bring
Southern Cross provides pillows, doonas with covers, and blankets. You need to bring sheets & pillow slips (your own pillows if you prefer), towel and toiletries, both outside & enclosed indoor shoes, sun and lip cream, wet weather gear (including extra gloves), sunglasses and / or goggles, small backpack for day trips and your Bible or Bible App – and maybe some games. Bring enough warm clothes etc, but only what you need. KEEP IT LIGHT as you may need to carry it up the hill to Southern Cross. It can be a long walk, especially in blizzard conditions! The lodge has 2 portable cots (weight limit 15kg) & 2 high chairs which need to be pre-booked with our Booking Coordinator.
Click here to review our Lodge Facilities. Our Lodge Hosts will contact you ahead of your stay to advise whether you need to bring single or queen bed sheets (since most of our double beds have deep sided mattresses that standard double sheets don’t fit), to discuss any dietary requests (which you should already have advised to our Booking Coordinator), to check your expected arrival time and to answer any questions that you may have. You can contact the lodge ahead of your arrival on (02) 6457 5252.
Your Arrival – first meal is dinner & last meal is breakfast
You may be able to leave gear at Southern Cross the morning of your arrival day. There is otherwise only limited access to Southern Cross until the afternoon on your arrival day, sorry, and your bedroom(s) may not be available until 2.00pm or later. Your hosts will advise you more details when they contact you a few days before your arrival. Please check the noticeboard in the foyer for your room allocations and meal times etc information. Your first included meal is dinner and your last meal is breakfast, so please make your own arrival & departure day lunch arrangements. During the snow season, Sunday lunch is a noon BBQ at the Perisher Alpine Church (see next paragraph). Monday to Friday lunch is usually at 12.30pm (or such other time agreed between our staff & guests each week), or you can make sandwiches after breakfast. Your last included meal is breakfast on your departure day.
Perisher Alpine Church Sunday Service is 12.30–1.00pm with Noon BBQ, Nibbles & Drinks
During the snow season and on Easter Day, Southern Cross members and guests are encouraged to attend and support the Perisher Alpine Church ministry to other snowfield visitors and staff. The Sunday service is from 12.30pm till 1.00pm, with BBQ (COVID‑19 permitting), nibbles & refreshments from noon and after the service. The Perisher Alpine Church is at Perisher Front Valley, just north of the Perisher Children’s Snowports School area, next to the Ski Patrol building.
Other Miscellaneous Information
We usually love having guests for meals if there is space. Please check with our hosts and chef before inviting anyone.
We have good drying room facilities for snow gear, but only limited emergency washing facilities and gloves can take a long time to dry, so it is best to come prepared. If you need to use the washing machine, please speak with our lodge staff first. Use of the clothes dryer is limited to lodge staff.
Your Departure
On your departure day, your last included meal is breakfast. Please empty your rubbish bin, vacuum your room if you have time & vacate your room before 10.00am. Please check with our hosts re arrangements to store luggage if you are skiing/boarding or picking up your car. Please sign our Visitors’ Book and take home great memories of your stay.