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Snow Revolution: A Rotating Tunnel Will Open in Melbourne
The Snowtunnel project is expected to open toward the end of 2026 in Melbourne, Australia, as an indoor ski and snow park based on rotating snow tunnel technology.
The facility will be built in western Melbourne, about 11 kilometers from the city center, and will enable skiing and snowboarding all year round, regardless of the season or weather.
Rendering of the snow tunnel scheduled to open in 2026 in Melbourne, Australia | Image: Snowtunnel
How does it work?
At the heart of the complex will be a system called Endless Mountain, essentially a giant "snow treadmill."
The tunnel is a rotating cylinder about 12.5 meters high and approximately 16 meters long, containing more than 600 square meters of real, groomed snow.
As the tunnel rotates, the skier continues skiing downhill but effectively remains in the same area, allowing them to ski continuously without reaching the bottom of the slope and without using a ski lift.
The rotation speed can be adjusted to the skier's ability level, from beginners to experienced skiers.
The complex will also serve as the global headquarters and a technology demonstration center | Image: Snowtunnel
Not just a ski tunnel
Alongside the tunnel, a larger snow complex is planned, including a play area for families and children, ski and snowboard lessons, and equipment rentals.
The facility will also serve as Snowtunnel's global headquarters and a technology demonstration center for partners and investors.
The company is already planning expansion into additional markets, with the goal of bringing a real skiing experience to cities far from natural ski resorts.
If the schedule stays on track, by the end of 2026 Melbourne will have one of the world's most innovative snow attractions: a mountain that can be skied endlessly, in the middle of the city.
Indoor skiing already exists, but not like this
Indoor ski resorts already operate in various locations around the world. Ski Dubai operates in Dubai, offering real snow, ski slopes, and a ski lift inside an indoor complex, while SnowWorld Landgraaf operates in the Netherlands with five slopes and a chairlift. Alpincenter Bottrop also operates in Germany, featuring an indoor ski slope approximately 640 meters long.
The innovation in Melbourne is that the skier does not descend a conventional slope from one side to the other. Instead, the snow surface itself rotates beneath them, effectively creating an endless downhill run—and that is what distinguishes Snowtunnel from traditional indoor ski resorts.
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