If you are heading to the alpine resort town of Thredbo, nestled in the Snowy Mountains of Australia, check out Candlelight Lodge.

Thredbo, known as the heart of the “Australian Alps” or the “rooftop of Australia”, is located at the base of Mount Kosciuszko – Australia’s highest mountain. It is a mecca for skiing in the winter, and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. Although world-class skiers might arguably be disappointed at the quality of snow here, Australia isn’t exactly known for its powder snow, so we have to cut them some slack. To many Aussies, snow in and of itself is a novelty, so playing in it at the Snowy Mountains is a treat. And since here at the tippy top of the Australian Snowy Mountains you can actually get snow any month of the year (although it doesn’t stay on the ground long outside of the winter months), visitors any time of year might enjoy the novelty of Australian snow play – if even for a day.

But the real secret to traveling the Thredbo – and staying at Candlelight Lodge – is that you will find almost nobody here during the spring and fall seasons. At the height of summer, you and 2000 other people (per day, no exaggeration!) will be fighting for your perfect summit picture at the top of Mount Kosciuszko. And in the depths of winter, you will pay exorbitantly for skiing, and accommodation in the town ranges from $165-$400/night (and up) for two people.

But in the off-seasons, you will get great weather, awesome hikes, no crowds, and prices in general that are a fraction of their peak rates.

Candlelight Lodge has a flavour that blends the Australian with the European. Wander through the halls and see pictures of Candlelight Lodge as one of the original dwellings in the area, reflecting a world when Europeans settled here after the war to work on the local Hydro scheme and found a piece of home in the “Australian Alps”.

Accommodation is suitable for individuals, couples, families, and groups. Included is breakfast in the morning, and a host of amenities not the least of which are a sauna, games room, cozy lounge, laundry, internet, and videos.

So if you want a taste of the Snowy Mountains in Australia, enjoy the European-flavoured town of Thredbo, and say hello to the folks at Candlelight Lodge. If you stay with them, they will surely help to make your trip enjoyable.