Thredbo is the most cosmopolitan resort in the Snowy Mountains and the Australian benchmark for serious skiing. The Kosciuszko Express chair climbs to 2037 metres and serves the country's longest descent, a 5.9 km cruise down the Crackenback face. From the top, a summer walking track leads to Mt Kosciuszko itself at 2228 metres, the highest point on the Australian mainland. The pedestrian village is built on the south-facing slope of the Thredbo Valley, a stack of terraced lodges, bars and restaurants linked by stairways and the Village Bobsled chairlift. There is genuine alpine architecture here, by Australian standards, and a nightlife that runs from the Schuss Bar through to the live music at the Keller. Terrain skews intermediate to advanced. The Funnel Web and Golf Course Bowl reward strong skiers, while the Friday Flat learner area is one of the best dedicated beginner zones in the country. Thredbo runs the famous Easter Sales and the September spring carnival, both magnets for international visitors travelling off-season. Snow gum forests give the lower runs their identity, and snowmaking covers the spine of the mountain.