“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.” — Vesta M. Kelly

As we head into the hottest time of the year here in Penrith, it’s hard to imagine that in 2028, my family and I will be cooling off over Christmas in our very own winter wonderland – Australia’s first indoor snow resort.

It’s hard to imagine, so let me set the scene . . .

Kitted out in puffy snow suit, chill defying gloves, balaclava and heavy duty sunnies, the 300m slope stretches in a graceful decline.

There’s been a heavy sprinkle of fresh snow overnight, powdery and crisp white, perfect for grippy turns, a smoother ride down and some cushioning if you take a tumble.

At -4 degrees Celsius, the temperature is ideal – indoors.

Outside, the air slaps you in the face with a whoomph of heat.

You scuttle to the shady grove of native trees at the side of the building and stumble into the relief of the ``giant Esky’’ for a soothing iced chocolate (followed by a hot choccy chaser).

Welcome to Winter Sports World, where it’s chill factor zero inside and 40 degrees plus outside on an average summer’s day.

It’s where the incongruous is accepted and unique is normal; where high octane thrills sit comfortably with tranquil timeout spaces; dramatic design cohabits with sustainability principals and next gen technology; and ancient First Nations culture leads the conversation.

To be honest though, none of that matters when you think about the constant bane of any ski field holiday, queues. There aren’t any.

You’ve booked time on the snow field so you can put into practice the lessons learned from the buff young instructor, who told you his name was Jayden and that he was working at Winter Sports World so he could support himself and train when visitors like you aren’t flopping around the snow.

You find out later that Jayden is actually a serious emerging cross country ski talent with Olympic rings in his eyes and a realistic medal potential.

Winter Sports World is setting the tone for Penrith in many ways.

As Australia’s first indoor snow resort, it is pushing the design and technology envelope of possibility.

The building is gobsmackingly beautiful and impressive from any angle, but none more so than at night when the drama of ``icicles’’ and ``fallen ice blocks’’ is highlighted with a cool kinetic glow.

Rising 54m towards the sky and stretching 300m towards the river, there’s a half day wander through culture and Country on the outside of the building, a collaboration between Gadigal man and public artist Jamie Eastwood and landscape architect John Lock.

The clever green technology is truly impressive.

Solar panels on the facade and roof form one of Australia's largest building-mounted photovoltaic installations, with the ``blizzard’’ effect of the facade created by a screen that shades the windows to help cool the interior.

There’s a huge underground water tank that harvests rainwater for the snow, heat is recovered from the snowmaking and redistributed to other areas of the building like the hotel and cafes, and all vehicles used for the building are electric.

But the rooftop oasis is where you really appreciate the sustainability measures.

After a timeout at a couple’s spa treatment followed by a high tea of regionally sourced goodies and local sparkling wine, you waft in the shade, taking in this lush rooftop utopia.

As one of the first and largest tourist developments in this clean-slate destination, Winter Sports World is setting the benchmark for visitor expectation on a global scale.

Its location in Penrith on the western fringe of Sydney is as surprising as the building itself.

Until recently, Penrith was a pause point on the way to the famous World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains.

Then in 2026, Western Sydney International Airport opened, disgorging millions of passengers every year just 15km from Winter Sports World.

People visiting friends and relatives, athletes on the competition circuit, families accompanying those travelling for work, education and medical, all converge on Penrith and wait to be entertained.

And Australia’s shiniest, newest tourist destination delivers in spades with penthouse suites, sophisticated rooftop bars, a gourmet foodie scene, shopping strips and craft brewers galore – and the Nepean River aquatic playground snaking through it all.

Whitewater rafting and canoeing have been at Western Sydney Lakes since the Olympics in 2000.

Cable skiing, wakeboarding and knee boarding; aqua and land golf; and iFly indoor skydiving are next door at the Panthers site.

On the river, school rowing teams scud the surface as the heritage-style Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler chugs into the gorge and jet skis weave around them all.

There’s an immersive VR experience, axe throwing and escape rooms, private zoo encounters, culture experiences, Penrith Beach and nature walks.

With real snow, indoor ski run, snow play area, ice climbing, 4.5-star 200-room hotel, restaurant and cafes, Winter Sports World is the ideal base to access other attractions in the region such as Western Sydney Lakes in Penrith, Sydney Zoo at Eastern Creek and Scenic World in Katoomba.

Can you imagine it?