THE new Alpine Coaster ride at Thredbo opened for business in June and even in its infancy has been a huge hit with patrons. On the first morning of the season guests were eagerly awaiting its opening with everyone offering positive reviews at the completion of the ride.
"The Alpine Coaster was really fun! The corners turn really fast and it was just so good. I've already ridden it twice and I'm definitely going to do it again," said 13-year-old William Thompson who queued to be the first rider of the day on Saturday’s June long weekend.
Boarding the coaster, patrons are buckled up and advised on how to operate and control speed and brakes before being transported up the slope to the start of the ride.
Gaining a great view of the bends and turns on the way up, the adrenaline seekers may well have full acceleration from the outset, but it’s very easy to control speed if you are more cautious for your first ride.
I can attest to the fun factor and all guests will love this ride, even if you are not a roller coaster fan. Plus, with two seats, kids can ride with an adult for the whole family to enjoy.
The Alpine Coaster features 40 carts that can reach a maximum speed of 40km per hour and a maximum acceleration of 19.6km per second. The altitude difference between the bottom and top station is 130 metres with an uphill track length of 410 metres and a downhill track length of 1.4 kilometres.
Amassing a total length of 1.5 kilometres, the Alpine Coaster track takes guests through a tunnel, bridges and circles that traverse the alpine environment with great views to the village.
Open 365 days a year, the alpine coaster can operate in all weather and a bubble windshield installed on several of the coasters protects from the elements.
Event Hospitality and Entertainment’s (EVT) Chairman Alan Rydge and Thredbo General Manager Stuart Diver officially cut the ribbon to open the new attraction for invited guests on Friday June 7.
At the opening, Stuart Diver said after a thought bubble eight years prior the alpine coaster is open and aligns with the resort’s focus on providing a premium guest experience and EVT’s overarching strategic focus to create experiences that escape the ordinary.
“The Alpine Coaster is a world-class attraction for the Snowy Mountains and will greatly support year-round local tourism. It provides a fun new on-snow experience in winter, will build upon our wide range of outdoor adventures in summer and will be a drawcard in the shoulder seasons," said Mr Diver.
Mr Diver said their strategy is all about premium experiences, premium products and they were looking forward to their 10-year development plan which included the upgrade of the Snowgums chair and new zip line rides in coming years.
The Snowgums chair will upgrade to a six-seater, and the zip line ride will start from the top of the Merritts Gondola and finish near the start of the Alpine Coaster. Once planning has been approved, the Snowgums chair could be operational for the 2026 winter season.
Construction on the Thredbo Alpine Coaster commenced in October 2023 and was completed in May 2024. As part of the construction, the Alpine Coaster has undergone safety testing by independent third-party engineers. With their energy provider Red Energy, Thredbo said they are proud to power the Alpine Coaster and all resort operations with 100% renewable energy.
See Alpine Coaster on Thredbo website here
