A £700 million indoor ski resort planned for Penrith in western Sydney has secured the backing of a leading Chinese operator. Winter Sports World signed a memorandum of understanding with BonSki Group, the world’s largest indoor ski operator, in Guangzhou on Thursday.
The project, to be located on the banks of the Nepean River, 15km from Western Sydney Airport, will feature a 300-metre Olympic-class ski run, a 4.5-star hotel, and restaurants. Managing director Peter Magnisalis said construction should start within months, with an opening date set for 2028.
BonSki, which operates resorts including Huafa Snow World in Shenzhen, will lend its expertise once the resort is operational. The project received significant development status from the New South Wales government in late 2024 after a decade-long approval process.
Nicknamed the 'giant Esky', Winter Sports World is expected to attract 1.5 million domestic visitors a year, with strong international interest anticipated. Magnisalis noted that nearly half of all Australians have never seen snow, so the resort will include a large 'snow play' area.
The snow will be chemical-free, created using only air and water. The resort will offer ski and snowboard lessons while accommodating up to Olympic-level training. It is forecast to create 2,700 jobs in western Sydney.
