The Denman Hotel

The town’s parking situation is a mess, though that’s not the hotel’s fault. It’s a nice place to stay. My room had no air conditioning in summer, but opening the windows kept it cool enough in the evenings.

Getting to the hotel was awful. I flew from Brisbane to Canbera with two kids and a baby, then had a 3.30-hour bus ride to the village. There was no taxi service, so we had to take the routine bus and walk to the hotel with the children, baby and suitcases. The owner wasn’t welcoming, and there’s no lift or help carrying luggage upstairs. The hotel is really old and poorly maintained. The rooms are tiny and more like an old motel than a four-star hotel, if it deserves even one star. It wasn’t worth what we paid. The owner made the disappointment worse. The TV didn’t work, and the electricity kept having problems, with the lights going out often.

The food at The Denman Thredbo was the big surprise on our four-night stay. My grandson and I drove from Sydney for a nanny and grandson trip, his first time seeing snow and skiing. I chose it for the location and because I’d watched this iconic hotel for 25 years while skiing on a budget as a widow with my young daughters. It lived up to what I hoped for. Booking information was helpful, staff were great, and our room was clean, warm and comfortable. We ate so well. My grandson ordered Spaghetti Bolognese every night, and we took the leftovers home on our last night so he could have it once more. On the first evening we shared a bar-menu burger with shoestring fries, pickles, cheese, lettuce and a great sauce. The next night we watched the fireworks from the big windows; I had eggplant on brioche toast with sun-dried tomatoes, feta and herbs, then amazing crab ravioli. Another evening I had prawn tagliatelle with handmade pasta, garlic, chili, herbs, broth and cherry tomatoes. On our final night I had Burrata with olives, heirloom tomatoes and pesto oil, plus sourdough with oil and balsamic, then a tasty prawn roll on brioche and, yes, the crab ravioli again. Breakfast was a treat each morning, with mountain views, excellent coffee and a rotating buffet. There were eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, cereals, European-style breakfast, lovely bread and toast, condiments, yoghurt, fruit, granola, muesli, smoked salmon, ham, cheese, muffins, pastries and juice. The snow and sunshine were an extra bonus. Wi-Fi worked really well, the windows opened for fresh air, and the showers were hot with good flow. The bus stops right outside, and the shops and main Square are across the road. The downstairs bar is iconic, with a fireplace, relaxed bar food, fresh cocktails and a good range of drinks. Upstairs, the library is a quiet spot for a drink with friends, a cheese platter or bar snacks. The restaurant is popular, so book online. We met lovely staff and fellow guests and their kids. We’ll be back ❤️

Room 211 was a cosy, warm place to come back to after a day on the slopes. I had a wonderful stay at The Denman Hotel in Thredbo, with everything I needed for a comfortable rest. The hotel has a welcoming but stylish alpine feel, and the staff were friendly and attentive. I’d recommend it for a charming mountain escape.