Ben Lomond Alpine Resort

About

Ben Lomond Alpine Resort, Tasmania’s premier alpine skiing operations are located at the heart of Ben Lomond National Park. The park lies in the North Eastern part of Tasmania ~50km from the city of Launceston. Its comprised of densely forested foothills rising to an extensive dolerite plateau (13km x 7km) above 1200m in elevation, with a ski area above 1500m in the northern area of the park.

Its accessibility from Launceston, together with the existence of a ski village on the plateau make Ben Lomond an all year-round favourite for tourists and hikers. Access to the village and summit can be made via several walking tracks or via a 15km road with a small section at the end being a zig-zag road known as “Jacobs Ladder”. The spectacular ascent of Jacobs Ladder at Ben Lomond is quite possibly the most hair-raising and impressive alpine road in Tasmania (and potentially Australia). A series of switchbacks on the famous road creates a spectacular journey to a breathtaking destination. A lookout at the top of the ladder is another special feature that is only a two minute walk off the main village road.

Although Ben Lomond is a national park for all seasons, winter is Ben Lomond’s time to shine. Boasting Tasmania’s premier alpine ski area, Ben Lomond Alpine Resort, snow sports enthusiasts can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and tobogganing. Those who prefer to take it easy can sip on a hot chocolate, while immersed in the ‘ski village’ atmosphere of this authentic Tasmanian winter wonderland.

When the snow melts, a spectacular alpine landscape is revealed and you’ll be in awe of the beauty of the dolerite rock columns set against stunning views. There are plenty of short and long walks and rock-climbing opportunities as well as mountain biking adventures. There is also an abundance of wildlife, and it is not uncommon to see several different species in a day (wombats, kangaroos, pademelons, quolls etc). 

Ben Lomond National Park is one of Tasmania’s most diverse eco-tourism offerings that is sure to surprise and delight.

Wombat in the snow at Ben Lomond Alpine Resort

on this page

Getting Here

Ben Lomond is located 50km south east of Launceston in Tasmania. Take the C401 (Blessington Road), turning off approximately 3.5km before Upper Blessington, following the signs to Ben Lomond Road. Please note that this is an unsealed road and care must be taken when making the ascent up the mountain.

The final 8km of the journey to Ben Lomond includes a 1.5km section called ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, a steep, winding section of road. During the winter months, from June to September the road is subject to icy conditions – most importantly, chains must be carried during this time and fitted subject to conditions – and can be hired or purchased from Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Base at the corner of Blessington Road and Ben Lomond Road.

Entry into Ben Lomond National Park is subject to a National Parks Entry Fee which can be pre-purchased, click here for more information. Parks passes can also be purchased at Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Base, prior to entry.

Please note visitors use the road at their own risk,  Ben Lomond Alpine Resort PTY LTD is not responsible for visitors who ignore the requirements to fit or carry snow chains. Unfortunately due to public liability and occupational health and safety issues, Ben Lomond Alpine Resort will not assist in vehicle recovery activities, except under an emergency situation at the vehicle operators expense.

FAQ

ALL vehicles, 4WD and 2WD, need to carry chains past the official park entrance. Parks and Wildlife Service and or Police check and turn people back if they do not have chains.

Not only do you have to carry the chains you have to know how to fit them correctly, to the driving wheels of your car, and know how to drive safely and confidently when the chains are on your vehicle.

Chain hire is available at Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Base.

For up to date road conditions at Ben Lomond National Park, call PWS on 0429 646 557.

Visit Snow Safe Australia which has some great advice when visiting alpine areas.

It is safer to book ahead as busy days can sell out and we reserve the right to limit the amount of people on the slopes to ensure safety.

A certain number of tickets are kept in reserve for walk up ticket sales but this cannot be guaranteed, thus we urge you to purchase your tickets online at Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Base.

Our online shop available here.

We strongly advise to book your tickets online prior to arrival to ensure that we are not booked out as we may limit numbers due to changing snow conditions.

All sales are EFT and we do not accept cash.

If you book online and the ski lifts are not operational for the following reasons, you will receive a full refund or credit for another day. This does not apply to season pass holders.

  1. Lack of snow
  2. Adverse weather conditions preventing lifts from operating safely
  3. Road closures 
  4. Government restrictions  
  5. Compassionate grounds


We will not refund tickets if you be unable to make it to Ben Lomond on the day you have booked your ticket. We will happily provide you a credit for another day, or even for the following season, if the above factors are in place.

Mobile phone coverage is very limited for all carriers.  
We have installed a Telstra Phone repeater at our lift ticket office which your Telstra phone will connect to.

For all of our guests waiting to buy tickets online, or within the ‘bubble’ of our lift ticket office, we have free WIFI available for you to communicate with, or to purchase our tickets online.

Our Site ID and Password is available on display at our ticket office.

Yes.  Log into our online shop under your profile and book the day you wish to visit.  

We aim to control crowd numbers based on lift and terrain availability so that it is not overcrowded.
If you book and fail to turn up, you will lose one of your 5 day season pass allowances unless you have a reasonable excuse.

If you need to cancel, please email us at info@blar.com.au

Ski and Board hire, clothing and other equipment hire is available from Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Base.

You can choose to drive to the top of the mountain, or bus shuttle transport is available from the lower National Park carpark to the ski village. (Note: Chains must be carried and can be hired from Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Base)

History

The Northern Tasmanian Alpine Club formed in 1929 and pioneered trips to Ben Lomond and improved the original access track to the mountain. In July 1929 Fred Smithies, a pioneer of skiing on Ben Lomond, accompanied the Tasmanian government’s Tourism Director on a field trip to the plateau with the aim of establishing the feasibility of a ski-field. 

Their route was by way of English Town, Ragged Jack and the headwaters of River O’Plain Creek. This route had the disadvantage that it involved an extended walk to get onto the plateau but was less steep than the alternative access from Blessington. The northern route was subsequently selected after a suitable route was found through the help of a local farmer, beginning from the Upper Blessington road at Wattle Corner.

In 1932, a chalet was built under the northern escarpment, facilitating access to the summit ski slopes. This chalet was named ‘Carr Villa’ – named from a sign taken from the Carr Villa cemetery tram stop in Launceston – humorously celebrating a Mr Carr, a member of the ski club. 

The first permanent summit hut was constructed 4 years later to allow skiers to overnight on the summit. A smaller hut was constructed at the head of the pass to the plateau for the purposes of shelter and storage of ski gear.[83] The remains of this hut can be seen from the walking track as it crests the pass into the Borrowdale Valley.

Access to Carr Villa, at 1000m elevation, was by foot until a road was constructed in 1959 but the summit was still a 500m ascent on foot from this point. Carr Villa chalet is now operated by the Rover Scouts after it was donated by NTAC in 1963 and the skiers access track is part of the Legges Tor circuit walking track.

In 1950 a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended that Ben Lomond be developed as a ski resort. The Australian National Championships were held at the site in 1955. In 1963 the access road was extended to the top of the plateau via the steep and scenic “Jacobs Ladder”.