Hiding in the Brindabella mountain range is the longest alpine slide in the Southern Hemisphere – Corin Forest Alpine Resort. In summer the mountain recreation area is all about that silver toboggan. For around $7.50 a ride (or less, if you buy more tickets), you’ll be towed up a steep hill by an automated pulley, then it’ll be bombs away down a series of curving slopes. All up, the ride lasts around six minutes, but since you’ve got control of the brakes, you can set your own pace. We’d recommend going more than once – since learning when to brake and when to lean in can take a bit of getting used to. If you want, you can take the ride two at a time. Kids under eight have to be accompanied by an adult, but they ride for free. Once you’re done sliding, there’s a café overlooking a little creek to kick back and refuel in – it has an open fire where toasting marshmallows is not only allowed, but encouraged.
During the colder months, snow machines make this a guaranteed slope spot for budding skiers and snowboarders – or just those who want to frolic in the snow. Corin Forest is only 45 minutes drive outside of Canberra, and is only a few minutes’ drive from gorgeous hikes around Gibraltar Falls and the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve – where you’ll see wild wallabies, kangaroos, emus and some not-so-wild koalas. It’s also near by the Canberra Deep Space Communication Centre, making it an ideal stop-off on a Brindabellas day trip.