Australia’s first indoor ski resort has moved a step closer after Winter Sports World managing director Peter Magnisalis signed an agreement with leading Chinese operator BonSki Group, the world’s largest indoor ski company.
The $700m Penrith project will include a 300-metre Olympic-class slope, a 4.5-star hotel and restaurants, with construction expected to begin within months and the opening planned for 2028.
Magnisalis told The Guardian the resort would have an “international, iconic appearance,” adding: “We’ve got the Opera House, we’ve got the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and soon we’re going to have Winter Sports World… There’s nothing like it in the world and it will put western Sydney on the global map.”
He said nearly half of Australians had never seen snow, making the “snow play” offering central to the design.
BonSki, which operates major indoor ski venues across China, will provide expertise once the centre opens. Approved after a decade-long process and granted significant development status in 2024, the project is expected to attract 1.5 million domestic visitors annually and draw international tourists.
Located beside the Nepean River and 15km from the new Western Sydney Airport, the resort will feature chemical-free snow made from air and water, a 200-room hotel, and is projected to create 2,700 jobs. Magnisalis said financing would come from domestic and international institutional investors.
Source: The Guardian
