Vail Resorts has opened the gate on Australia’s 2027 snow season. Three Epic Australia Pass products are now on sale at what the company says are their lowest prices of the year. For skiers, boarders and travel sellers, the message is clear: plan early, buy early and leave the panic to the weather forecast. The passes officially went on sale on 12 August 2026.
2027 Epic Australia Pass targets regular skiers
The main product is the 2027 Epic Australia Pass. It costs AU$1,099 for adults, AU$855 for seniors and AU$625 for children. Vail Resorts says it pays for itself in five days. That claim is based on the peak price of five adult day tickets bought at Perisher during the 2026 season.
The pass provides unlimited, unrestricted access to Perisher, Falls Creek, and Hotham throughout the 2027 Australian snow season. For regular skiers, that is the heart of the offer. There is no need to count days or save a final ticket for one last run.
The value does not stop at home. The Epic Australia Pass also provides access to more than 85 mountain resorts worldwide. During the 2027/28 Northern Hemisphere season, pass holders can ski at major names such as Whistler Blackcomb in Canada. Access also includes Hakuba Valley and Rusutsu in Japan, as well as Vail Mountain and Breckenridge in the United States.
For Australians who like two winters in one year, that reach has obvious appeal. A pass can first cover the local season, then support an overseas snow trip. It is a neat piece of holiday maths, even if your knees eventually lodge a formal complaint.
Four days, two price paths
There is also a more focused option for short-break travellers. The Epic Australia 4-Day Pass returns in 2027 with two price levels. Guests can choose either peak-date access or a lower-priced off-peak option.
Peak access costs AU$659 for adults, AU$515 for seniors and AU$375 for children. Off-peak access costs AU$629 for adults, AU$489 for seniors and AU$359 for children. The adult price gap is only AU$30.
That gives weekenders and school-holiday travellers more choice. Those who need peak dates can pay a little extra. Guests with flexible calendars can save by travelling outside busy periods. The four ski days do not need to be consecutive. They can also be used across Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham.
For 2027, the official peak dates are 3–18 July and 7 and 14 August. Travellers who choose the off-peak version cannot use the pass on those dates.
Vail Resorts says the 4-Day Pass can save up to 40 per cent against lift tickets. The comparison uses the peak price of four adult day tickets bought at Perisher in 2026. Travellers should still compare dates, resorts and booking habits before deciding which pass suits them best.
Beginner Bundle puts first-timers in the frame
The most important move may be at the beginner end of the market. The Epic Beginner Bundle returns for a second season at AU$529. It is for adults aged 18 and over. The bundle includes three flexible days of beginner lift access, group lessons and ski or snowboard hire.
The offer tackles one of snow travel’s biggest hurdles. A first ski trip can look costly before a guest has even reached the chairlift. Add lessons, gear and lift access, and the total can rise quickly. Putting the basics into one bundle makes the first step easier to understand.
It also gives new skiers a clear path. They can use their three days at Perisher, Falls Creek or Hotham. They can stay at one resort or spread the days across all three. The official product page confirms lessons and gear are included on each of those days.
Perisher General Manager Nathan Butterworth said the first season of the bundle had drawn a strong response.
“Reception of the Epic Beginner Bundle has been overwhelmingly positive this season. We’re already seeing those with the Bundle taking their first turns, both here at Perisher and at Falls Creek and Hotham, with praise for the high-quality instruction and value of the experience,” said Butterworth.
There is also a reason for beginners to return. Eligible 2027 Epic Beginner Bundle buyers can receive 20 per cent off a 2028 Epic Australia Pass or Epic Australia 4-Day Pass when they go on sale. Terms apply.
It is a smart way to build the market. Today’s nervous first-timer can become next year’s repeat visitor. Give it another season, and they may be the one checking snow cams before breakfast.
Savings continue beyond the lift line
Pass holders also receive savings away from the lift line. Current Epic Australia benefits include 20 per cent off eligible lessons booked online in advance and 20 per cent off rentals. There is also 15 per cent off selected resort-owned food and beverage outlets. Eligible motel rooms at The Station in Jindabyne receive a 15 per cent discount.
The full Epic Australia Pass includes six Bring A Mate invitations. These can give friends and family up to 50 per cent off single-day lift tickets at Perisher, Falls Creek or Hotham. The tickets must be bought online in advance. Importantly, Bring A Mate is not included with the 4-Day Pass or Beginner Bundle.
North America adds another layer. Epic Australia Pass holders can receive Epic Mountain Rewards at participating resorts. Benefits include 20 per cent off eligible lodging, group lessons, rentals and selected food and drink purchases.
A long runway for the travel trade
For the travel trade, the timing is useful. Vail Resorts is selling 2027 snow while the 2026 Australian season is still underway. That gives agents a long lead time to package accommodation, flights, transfers, insurance and touring around a pass.
It also gives families more time to budget. Snow holidays can become expensive when all the costs land at once. An early pass purchase can spread the spend and lock in one major part of the trip.
The three-pass structure also shows a clear sales strategy. Regular skiers get a season pass with overseas reach. Short-break guests get four flexible days. First-timers get lessons, hire and beginner access in one bundle.
For travellers, however, the best advice remains simple. Buy the pass that matches how you really ski. Check the dates, terms and access rules before paying. A bargain is only a bargain when you use it.
The 2027 Epic Australia Pass, Epic Australia 4-Day Pass and Epic Beginner Bundle are on sale now. Vail Resorts says the current launch prices are the lowest of the year and will rise later.
Official information: Epic Australia Pass | Epic Australia 4-Day Pass | Epic Beginner Bundle | Pass Benefits
By: Soo James – © 2026.
Read Time: 5 minutes.
Author Bio:
There’s nothing rehearsed about Soo James, and that’s precisely the point. Malaysian by heritage, Sydney-schooled, she arrived at UNSW to study Arts, then took a left turn into IT, not out of ambition but out of curiosity. Somewhere among systems and schedules, she worked out what really held her attention: people, language, and the quiet spaces between them.
Writing followed naturally. Travel and lifestyle gave her room to observe, to listen, to notice the details others rush past. Soo writes the way good travellers move, watching the room before admiring the view, catching the gesture before chasing the headline.
At Global Travel Media, her stories don’t shout or sell. They linger. They slow you down, open a door, and gently suggest there’s more to see if you’re willing to look.
