The restaurant continues this facade. Little gold lamps glow atop maroon velvet tablecloths, a delightful contrast to the rich chocolate brown and warm russet tones of the cowhide-covered seats. The tablescapes are courtesy of interior styling extraordinaire Steve Cordony and, as such, florals and tassels are aplenty. Moët Hennessy’s prestige pours arrive in crystal, while a beautiful singer in a slinky halter gown works her way through Alicia Keys and Olivia Dean.
The menu, a work of art by award-winning chef Nelly Robinson, includes beef tartare with parmesan and caviar, interesting crumpets with burnt butter honey, and Geraldton wax—the latter, this zesty, citrus-flavoured Australian native plant that makes a brilliant seasoning for prawns. Who knew?
In fact, if it weren’t for the prawns or the Australian flag flapping furiously outside the window, you could almost be forgiven for thinking the snowcat dropped us off in the French Alps. Courchevel? Alpe d'Huez? Tignes?
Indeed, this is all part of Range Rover’s alpine takeover experience. This year was the brand’s most immersive Australian activation to date, welcoming the country's most affluent ski community into a program shaped by design, performance and modern luxury hospitality. And unlike the loud, lurching and gloriously unruly snowcat, the experience began with a smooth, serene journey from Sydney to Thredbo in one of Range Rover’s luxury SUVs.
RANGE ROVER COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED THREDBO THIS YEAR WITH A NEW LUXURY ALPINE RESIDENCY THAT FELT MORE COURCHEVEL THAN COOMA
THREDBO, AUSTRALIA: The snowcat to supper at Kareela Hutte Restaurant is jerky and exhilarating. Rumbling through an evening whiteout, black tie-dressed guests pass around shots of tequila, the warmth of the liquor and bravado of the cabin quickly loosening acquaintances into new friends. To be clear, we’re barely halfway up Thredbo’s famous Supertrail ski run, but already the ascent up the familiar mountain has been transformed into something wild and otherworldly.
Guest In Residence
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAYBEN MOUSSA
WORDS BY JESSICA BAILEY
The RESIDENCE
A five-and-a-half-hour drive on a Saturday is usually something people don’t look forward to, no matter the destination. But on a cool morning in August, this trope was very quickly quashed as we hit the road in a new Range Rover SUV. A first-class travel experience – think wide heated leather seats, multi-zone climate settings, a panoramic roof, and a remarkably quiet cabin – it was a relaxing introduction to the weekend ahead. (And the looks you get at the traffic lights in such a stylish vehicle is, too, always nice.) Upon arrival in Thredbo, a heritage Bahama Beige 2 door Range Rover, the model that defined the category in 1970, was parked at the front of the ski resort, a stark reminder of how the brand is guided by more than 50 years of evolution. These days every model is available as an electric hybrid, too, with fully electric models arriving before 2030.
After skis and boots were fitted, we walked to The Residence, the heart of Ranger Rover’s activation. The private property was reimagined this year under the creative direction of Range Rover friend of the brand Cordony, blending 1970s alpine heritage with the brand's contemporary design language. Think a plush merlot-hued lounge sourced from furniture house Coco Republic, tassel-hemmed cushions, a stone fireplace, intricate light fixtures, and fresh, meticulously place white flowers. Even just the view from the balcony looked like a scene from a film: chair lifts ascending the giant mountain on a perfect bluebird day, veteran skiers slaloming in and out of those lesser-experienced blue-runners.
“[As kids] my dad would make us get up really early and get in the car and drive to the snow,” Cordony tells guests. “I remember all the stops – Lake George. I’d be fighting with my brothers and sisters in the back of the car! But you just know you’re coming somewhere special.
“For me, it’s magic that I get to create these worlds with the amazing teams at Ranger Rover and Thredbo. It feels nostalgic and it feels truly special… And I’ve never seen the mountain look so chic.”
The Residence also had IV drips for those who indulged in too many aforementioned tequila shots, a glam bar by GHD, an all-day bistro led by Robinson and his team and a styling studio by AMERL. The latter is founded by Australian designer Chloe Simpson who, after working in fashion in New York and London, noticed a gap in the luxury skiwear market. As women, our usual go-to’s for European-inspired, feminine, and functional skiwear is Moncler, Perfect Moment, Cordova and Goldberg – and while they all still very much have their place, AMERL has a fresh take on stylish, technical skiwear. Based in Sydney, shipping time is far better for Australians, too. I opted for this reversible Giovanna jacket, a standout piece on any mountain on any continent.
The SNOW
Despite New South Wales recording its warmest winter in history in 2026, Thredbo village still felt arctic for the First Track Club. Guests took a private snowcat to a sunrise breakfast at Eagle's Nest, before unlocking 30 minutes of exclusive access to the Basin before the lifts opened to the public.
Me? I’m the type who enjoys careening down a powdery piste in a puffed-up, padded fit for the morning before settling into an après session in the afternoon. At the Gondola's summit, a snow-carved alpine bar, known as The Chalet, was anchored by a Range Rover-branded façade, Champagne service, curved snow seating dressed in Wilson & Dorset sheepskin throws, and a daily DJ around an open firepit. It really did feel more glamorous than Meribel. More Courchevel than Cooma. But then again, that’s Range Rover to a tee. Luxury all the way.
For more, visit rangerover.com
