Reservations: (02) 9523 4885
Reservations: (02) 9523 4885
Reservations: (02) 9523 4885
Reservations: (02) 9523 4885
Escape to the Snowy Mountains of NSW for a super fun getaway full of feasting, fun and festivities. Throw snowballs, build a snowman, eat, drink and enjoy!
"Yulefest was great....a night of feasting, laughing and drinking warm mead."..... Cherry L
At Valhalla, Yulefest is a magical time to stay, right when our landscape is transforming into a spectacular winter wonderland! We'll deck the halls with Yuletide trimmings and you can try your hand at some fun games, make a wish on our yule pine, take a Viking rune reading or just sit back, glass in hand and enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere. A special Viking Yule/Christmas in July inspired feast will be served on select nights or by prior arrangement, consisting of delicious pre-dinner snacks and a glass of warm spiced mead (18yrs+) by the fire, followed by a gourmet feast.
Every Wednesday night during our month long Yule celebration, we'll be featuring a delicious Viking inspired 3 course feast, served with a glass of warm mead (guests over 18yrs only)
Saturday 3 June 2023 - pre ski season - FEAST OF YULE DINNER
Wednesday 7 June 2023 - pre-ski season - Viking Wednesday Feast
Saturday 10 June 2023 - June Long Weekend - FEAST OF YULE DINNER
Wednesday 14 June 2023 - Viking Wednesday Feast
Saturday 17 June 2023 - FEAST OF YULE DINNER
Wednesday 21 June 2023 - Viking Wednesday Feast
Thursday 22 June 2023 - Winter Solstice
Saturday 24 June 2023 - FEAST OF YULE DINNER
Wednesday 28 June 2023 - Viking Wednesday Feast
Sunday 2 July 2023 - school holidays - FEAST OF YULE DINNER
Yule is the traditional Viking celebration of winter and lighter days to come. It's a time to come together with family and friends, new and old for feasting, games and festivities.
Book your accommodation package with a guided snowshoe tour. Snowshoe hire included. No experience necessary. Just a sense of fun and adventure. Basic fitness required.
Walk through snowgums, past flowing creeks and immerse yourself in our natural playground.
All walking trails are free to access however depending upon snow coverage, some may be snow covered. Waterproof hiking shoes are highly recommended. Snowshoes may be required, some trails may be inaccessible.
Guided walks are available through our local partners.
No experience necessary! Set out on foot and explore our winter wonderland via the marked snowshoe trails.
Explore at your own leisure or book a full or half day guided adventure. Your guide will take you on exciting adventures, out beyond the resort the boundaries.
Half day, full day and late afternoon tours available.
Snowshoes can be hired in Perisher Valley.
Build a snowman, have a snowball fight, make snow angels and snow sculptures. Play snow games go tobogganing. Dig, build, throw, slide.
Note snow coverage is unpredictable and is subject to Mother Nature.
No Lift tickets, no queues! Just kilometres of trails to explore!
XC is a versatile sport, it’s exercising with low impact to the body and environment. You can make it as enjoyable or challenging as you wish.
Book lessons to learn the techniques to get you out and about exploring on the XC trails.
Ski hire is available at Perisher Valley
No lift tickets required, experienced guides will take you out beyond the resort boundaries on a wonderful ski touring adventure. Pre-booking essential
Venture out beyond the resort boundaries on a guided skiing or boarding adventure. No lift tickets required.
You will require lift tickets to ski or snowboard at Perisher Resort. Lessons and hire are available on mountain. Pre-booking is essential.
Soar over Australia's highest mountain peaks and our magical snowy winter wonderland with Snowy Mountains Helicopters.
Note: Flights are from Jindabyne Airport.
Valhalla Lodge is typically snowbound in snow season from June Long Weekend*. NPWS close road access and car park becomes day parking only. All guests will need to arrive in Perisher Valley by skitube or private transfer/shuttle.
*Note: roads may be open for June Long Weekend with limited parking permitted at the lodge, however this will not be confirmed by NPWS until conditions have been assessed.
Getting Here
If you would like exclusive use of lodge for your group, we're more than happy to tailor our packages to your groups needs. Special Yule Dinner dates can be added for your group. We can also help you organise day tours, activities and transport. Please contact us for more information for your Yulefest Snowy Mountains winter getaway.
Get out and explore Perisher Valley. There are many places to stop and enjoy a warm drink and a lazy lunch. Ask our lodge managers for their recommendations.
*Packed pre-season (prior to June Long Weekend) lunches are included.
Vikings liked to party, celebrations included days of feasting and drinking. Because it was so cold outside and the sea was not safe for sailing, winter activities would be mostly indoor. Yule offered a rare chance in the cold winter months for large gatherings, for competitions and games and for making plans for summer.
Vikings used skis, sledges and skates to get about in winter. Skiing was a very significant means of travelling, transport and hunting in the Viking Age.
Decorating evergreen trees was a Viking ritual. The evergreen trees of the Scandinavian forests represented the promise of life even in the middle of winter. All other plants appeared dead but the evergreen still looked full of life, a seed to begin the new cycle symbolising the continuity of life.
A Yule log was set alight on Winter Solstice and burned down over many days until nothing but a small piece remained. This small piece was kept to be used as the lighter for the following year's Yule fire.
Holly leaves and berries would be used to make circular wreaths or Wheels of the Sun. They would be used to decorate houses and sometimes burnt and rolled down a hill. It was a promise of warmer days to come. A representation of the continuation of life and that winter flows into summer and back into winter again.
Midwinter is traditionally a time of feasting. History shows us that the Vikings enjoyed a midwinter celebration, giving thanks to Mother earth and the rebirth of the sun. The Feast of Juule was mainly centred around the Winter Solstice.
Winter Solstice is the shortest day in the year and marks the rebirth of the sun (new solar year). Days gradually become longer and nights become shorter. It was a time to count blessings from the previous year and encourage hope and prosperity in the new solar year.
It was believed that the last sheaf of harvested corn contained the power of that year's harvest. This cut of grain was made into a festive goat for Yuletide to keep the evil spirits at bay. Many different stories have evolved regarding the Julebukk (Yule Goat) with its' role seeming to change over the years.