Tasmania's Ben Lomond Alpine Resort is investing in major upgrades ahead of the 2026 winter Season
24/March/2026
Ben Lomond Alpine Resort / Tasmania is investing in major upgrades ahead of the 2026 winter Season. Expanded snowmaking, improved facilities and new live cameras are set to enhance the visitor experience.
Two additional snow guns will be installed to increase coverage across the Summit and beginner areas. A brand new TechnoAlpin TR9 snow gun will be added alongside an HKD Phazer snow gun with onboard compressor, improving snow reliability in key learning and high traffic zones.
The project includes an extension of the snowmaking pipeline further up the Summit and the installation of an additional pump to support increased water flow and pressure, allowing more terrain to be covered with consistent snow.
At Ben Lomond Base, the rental building has been expanded by approximately 30 percent to meet growing demand, with the rental fleet doubling in size to improve availability during busy periods.
The resort has also expanded its live snow cameras to three locations, providing 24/7 streaming coverage across more areas of the mountain so visitors can check conditions in real time.
The Northern Tasmanian Alpine Club formed in 1929 and pioneered trips to the mountain and improved the access track. 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 skifield.
Their route was by way of English Town, Ragged Jack and the headwaters of River O'Plain Creek (see image). 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.[82] 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 900m elevation, was by foot until a road was constructed in 1959 but then 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[84][85] 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". Subsequent developments have included new ski lifts, visitor facilities, a licensed inn and accommodation, sewerage system, and improved access. The Ben Lomond Skifield Management Authority was formed in 1995 to manage the Skifield Development Area.
Today, Tasmania's premier Alpine skiing operations are located at Ben Lomond, 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Launceston. Located in the Ben Lomond National Park, the village is at 1,460 metres (4,790 ft) and the top elevation is 1,570 metres (5,150 ft). A number of club lodges provide accommodation and the mountain has fine views which stretch to the ocean.[88] In 2010, the Department of Parks and Wildlife released a plan for the Ben Lomond ski area recommending snow making machines, the enhancement of snow play areas and the development of a possible snow board park
