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The short answer: not on real snow, not at an Australian resort. The Australian snow season runs June through September/October. When the resorts close, the snow is gone. There's no year-round snowboarding on natural snow in Australia the way there is in New Zealand (where Queenstown and Wanaka access glaciers and higher-altitude terrain through summer) or in the northern hemisphere.
That said, there are options for Australian snowboarders who want to ride or train during summer — and a few worth knowing about.
Indoor snow centres
Australia has two significant indoor snow facilities:
Skimaxout — Adelaide: South Australia's indoor snow centre with a beginner slope, lessons and rental gear. Not long enough for experienced riders to do meaningful riding, but useful for absolute beginners who want their first experience on a board before committing to a trip.
SNOWcentre — Canberra: A longer indoor slope with more vertical than Adelaide. Suitable for beginner to early-intermediate riders. Has a terrain park area with small features. Worth visiting for beginner lessons or to get back on a board after a long off-season, but not a substitute for resort riding for anyone past the beginner stage.
Both facilities charge per session and have rental gear available. Neither replicates the experience of outdoor resort riding — the slopes are short, the snow is manufactured and maintained differently, and the environment is artificial. But for a beginner who's never been on a board, an indoor session before a first resort trip can significantly accelerate your first day on the mountain.
New Zealand — if you want real snow in Australian summer
New Zealand's ski season runs roughly July through October — similar to Australia — so summer here means summer in NZ too. However, NZ does have one significant advantage: Queenstown and Wanaka-based resorts (Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Treble Cone, Cardrona) typically have better conditions than most Australian resorts and access to terrain that's more demanding and more varied.
A number of Australian snowboarders do a second season in NZ — fly to Queenstown in late July or August for a week or two and get a second hit of winter. This is genuinely worthwhile if you have the flexibility and budget. The snow quality in NZ's South Island is consistently better than Victorian resorts in most years, and the terrain at Treble Cone and Cardrona in particular offers more advanced riding than most of what's available in Australia.
Japan (Hokkaido, Nagano) runs from December through March — proper Australian summer. A Japan trip during the Australian summer is how Australian snowboarders access world-class powder conditions and is the international destination Twelve Board Store's 20-year partner Mint Tours specialise in. If you want to snowboard in the Australian summer and do it properly, Japan is the answer. We can connect you with Mint Tours for trip planning.
Off-season training — what you can do in Australia
Experienced snowboarders use the Australian summer for cross-training that directly improves their riding:
Surf skating: The movement pattern of surf skating on a Carver or YOW board translates directly to snowboard carving technique. The hip rotation, weight distribution and edge-to-edge movement are genuinely similar. We sell surf skates specifically to snowboarders who want to maintain their muscle memory through summer. It's not a replacement for boarding, but it keeps the body patterns sharp.
Skateboarding: Traditional skateboarding builds balance, proprioception and the ability to commit to movements — all relevant to snowboarding improvement. Park skating in particular builds the comfort with air and landing that translates to snowboard park progression.
Surfing: The carving motion, reading terrain and committing to movement lines all carry over. Jeremy Jones (Jones Snowboards founder) is a serious surfer; the connection between surfing and big-mountain snowboarding is direct and well-documented.
Gym work: Leg strength, core stability and hip mobility are the physical foundations of snowboarding. A summer training block focused on squats, lunges, single-leg work and rotational core exercises will make you a visibly better rider at the start of the next season.
Using the off-season to prepare gear
Summer is also the right time to buy next season's snowboard gear without the pressure of being a week before your trip. The 2026 range lands in late autumn/early winter — we have it in store from around May–June. Buying early means the best size selection across the full range, time to get boots properly heat moulded and worn in before the season, and no scramble to replace or upgrade gear when you're already heading to the mountain.
Come in during summer and we'll set you up for next season — or at least tell you what we'd recommend so you're ready when the new range arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you snowboard in summer in Australia?
Not on real snow, and not at an Australian resort. The Australian snow season runs June through September/October, and when the resorts close the snow is gone. There is no year-round snowboarding on natural snow in Australia the way there is in New Zealand or the northern hemisphere.
Are there indoor snow centres in Australia?
Two significant ones. Skimaxout in Adelaide has a beginner slope, lessons and rental gear. SNOWcentre in Canberra has a longer slope with more vertical and a terrain park area with small features. Both charge per session and have rental gear. Neither replicates outdoor resort riding, but an indoor session before a first resort trip can significantly accelerate your first day on the mountain.
Can you snowboard in New Zealand during the Australian summer?
No — New Zealand's season runs roughly July through October, similar to Australia, so summer here is summer there too. What NZ does offer is a second season mid-year: Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Treble Cone and Cardrona typically have better conditions than most Australian resorts, and Treble Cone and Cardrona in particular offer more advanced riding than most of what's available here.
Where can you snowboard during the Australian summer?
Japan. Hokkaido and Nagano run December through March — proper Australian summer. A Japan trip is how Australian snowboarders access world-class powder conditions in the off-season, and it's the destination our 20-year partner Mint Tours specialise in.
How do you keep your snowboarding sharp over summer?
Surf skating is the closest crossover — the hip rotation, weight distribution and edge-to-edge movement on a Carver or YOW board translate directly to snowboard carving technique. Skateboarding builds balance and comfort with air and landing, surfing carries over through carving and reading terrain, and a gym block focused on squats, lunges, single-leg work and rotational core will make you a visibly better rider next season.
When should you buy next season's snowboard gear?
Over summer, without the pressure of being a week out from your trip. The new range lands in late autumn/early winter and we have it in store from around May–June. Buying early means the best size selection across the full range, time to get boots properly heat moulded and worn in before the season, and no scramble to upgrade when you're already heading to the mountain.
Shop Snowboards · Surf Skates — Keep Your Edge Sharp Off-Season · Snowboard Travel with Mint Tours · When Does the Australian Snow Season Start?
Last updated: August 2026
