ACT - Corin Forest worth it?

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

I've got to head to Canberra for work next weekend. As they're paying, I thought I'd take my family along and make a weekend of it. My little uns have been harping on about seeing snow for ages. They are <6 so a couple of hours of snowman making, snowball fights and tabogganning is probably all that is required, so I thought we'd check our Corin Forest and save us the drive to the Snowy's. http://corin.com.au/

Has anyone been there and can share their experiences?
Is it much cop?
Would we need snow chains?

(I know the Snowy's etc are a better bet, We'll make a trip to the snow proper in the next couple of years)

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

We went there about 12 yrs ago. Its pretty much like the photo in your link. There is a warm fire in the main building, and hot chips etc.

Its not a bad intro to snow for the little ones. Unless its just snowed you shouldn't need chains as far as I know. There was a small rope tow for skiers, but that doesn't sound like what you are looking for. It was a good experience when we went up there.

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

Only a few k's away from me and a great idea for the little ones. There has been some good snowfalls up there in the last few weeks although it can melt away pretty quickly, you won't need chains. Just had a look at their site and it is snowing heavily at the moment, so that will be around for a week or so so long as it doesn't rain. They do make their own snow so they should be able to maintain a good covering. The tobogganing is excellent but make sure you wear gloves and a beanie, the wind gets pretty cold.

Not a bad day out if you can't make it to the Snowys and I don't think you would be disappointed.

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Corin Forrest is reporting heavy snow this afternoon - hoping 50cms. Make a day of it and come back via Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and the Deep Space Tracking Station.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Thanks guys - We'll do the usual Questacaon as well, but it sounds like it might be worth a trip then for the little ones. I didn't want to waste the effort and pay to find out it wasn't. Hopefully they don't get too much snow next weekend and they close the road.

OGF - I like that idea, something for the older kids too, seeing as work is paying fuel I'll check it out

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

We ended up doing a half day on Saturday morning. It was great fun for the littlies (and oldies until SWMBO came off and grazed her arm)

It's easy enough to get to; 40 mins from the CBD, follow the Tom Tom to Corin road and head up the mountain. Weather was clear and road only marginally icey in some sections. We arrived as the gates opened at 8:30. $15 per person and $5 per toboggan.

The snow at the park was quite icey as they haven't had any real snow for a while, and the snowmaker hadn't run the night before. On the first run my kids who'd never used at a off on before took off on the steepest bit and careened into the bales of hay at 100mph. They thought it was hilarious and didn't stop for 3 hours

If you're looking for a big day out, on good snow it's probably not for you, but for first time and young kids it's acceptable. Only criticism were the cafe staff being sloooow at serving. Manager arrived and whipped them into shape.

Kids were too cold and wet after lunch, and it had started to rain so we headed back to the hotel rather than heading out for a drive

Here's a quick and dirty vid of some of the day's highlights

Corin Forest (short edit)

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Looks like you enjoyed it. I have been up twice in recent weeks. I have the same complaint about the staff at the café. The guy on the coffee machine is particularly slow.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Looks like you enjoyed it. I have been up twice in recent weeks. I have the same complaint about the staff at the café. The guy on the coffee machine is particularly slow.

Yup - They were taking orders at the till, but no-one was filling the orders, they just kept taking them and adding them to the pass. (Two guys on the coffee machine though) So there were 8 or 9 orders stacked up. Really shouldn't take 10 minutes to fill a bag of chips when there were 4 sitting ready to go in the pass.... (first world problems)