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  2. About Illawong
    1. History and heritage
    2. Safety
    3. Protecting the environment
  3. Visiting Illawong
    1. Getting to Illawong
    2. Facilities
    3. What to bring
    4. Summer activities
    5. Winter activities
  4. Membership
    1. Benefits
    2. Work parties
    3. Operator accreditation
  5. Bookings
    1. Public bookings
  6. Contact

Public bookings for Illawong Lodge

Illawong Lodge is managed on a voluntary basis by Illawong Ski Tourers (IST) under a licence from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Under the licence, members of the public can stay at Illawong. The Illawong Ski Tourers committee manages all use of the Lodge. This page explains how members of the public can stay at Illawong. Please download the documents linked from this page for full information.

Illawong is cared for by volunteers

Illawong Lodge owes its existence to the care and commitment of its members and friends for over 50 years, and its sustainable use by many people will continue to depend on members and friends.

Members pay a joining fee and an annual subscription, and Illawong Ski Tourers pays an annual licence fee to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Members and friends also undertake everything to keep Illawong Lodge running – from annual stocktakes, to carrying out 30 empty gas bottles and returning with full ones, carrying in all non-perishable food, routine and emergency maintenance, and a host of administrative tasks.

Illawong Ski Tourers is not a commercial enterprise: it is a small, not-for-profit organisation that depends on the willing, voluntary contribution from its members and friends. Illawong tariffs recover direct costs plus an allowance for future maintenance and contingencies.


Who can stay?

In the winter booking period (1 July to end of October long weekend), 35% of the available bed-nights are reserved for bookings for people other than Illawong members and their immediate family. In all cases, an Accredited Lodge Leader (ALL) is in residence for each booking. Their responsibility is to open, operate, and close the Lodge, but visitors are responsible for their own meals, safety and skiing activities. To accommodate this, a non-member party will typically include up to 4 people at one time.

A group of people walking along a snow-covered mountain range

  • Pre-winter visit required for safety and enjoyment

    Being relatively remote, about 2.5 km from the nearest road at Guthega, safety is a more significant issue at Illawong than in the resorts. Access is by foot track in summer and on cross-country skis (or snow shoes) in winter, over undulating terrain, beginning with a steep descent and ascent at Farm Creek of the journey, bridge crossing, and a traverse across a steep slope above Guthega Pondage.

    In winter the trip can take an hour to more than 3 depending on snow, weather and skiing experience – especially of the slowest member of your party. It can be awkward and challenging with skis, poles and a heavy pack and in difficult weather is not suitable for beginners.

    Staying at Illawong is an adventure far removed from an AirBnB, motel room or resort lodge. As well as operating technical systems, visitors need to be comfortable and amenable in small, simple, communal accommodation, sharing one bunkroom, bathroom and living room with up to 8 people, known and unknown. Electricity is for light only, or phone charging. Illawong’s tradition is to leave electronic entertainment devices at home. Mobile phone coverage is patchy and guests are requested to leave phones switched off or on silent, allowing others to enjoy their trip without the intrusion of your phone’s ring or your conversation. 

    If there were to be an emergency or accident, all members of your party need to be able to leave the Lodge and return to Guthega promptly and safely, potentially without outside help, possibly at night. As in any backcountry location, rescue services or medical help may not be able to reach you in time in an emergency.

    At the end of your stay, whatever the weather, everyone needs to be able to exit the lodge to return safely to Guthega.

    Make sure that you have taken account of these risks. We strongly advise that for a winter stay:

        • Have previously visited Illawong Lodge, possibly at an Easter work-party or scheduled open day, and seen how it operates and the dormitory style of accommodation available.
        • Have experience in off-track cross-country skiing carrying a full rucksack.
        • Each person has the health, fitness, equipment and personal resources to handle adverse conditions.
        • You can support all members of your party including young people for travel and the duration of stay. 

      Availability

      Each winter 35% of available bed nights may be booked by people other than members of Illawong Ski Tourers and their families, as temporary members. These bookings are only accepted if:

      • Each member of the party has visited Illawong outside of winter.

      • Each member of the party has experience in off-track cross-country skiing carrying a full rucksack.

      • An Illawong member who is an Accredited Lodge Leader is present for the whole period of the booking.

      • Full payment for tariff has been made before the visit.

      • All members of the party have returned all previously issued keys, or paid a replacement cost.

      • The IST committee is satisfied that all members of the party will comply with Illawong’s management policies, in which case each person is approved for temporary membership of Illawong Ski Tourers for the period of the booking.

      • Any person under the age of 18, not accompanied by a parent, guardian or caregiver, has written permission to be in the party, including nomination of a responsible adult who will be resident at Illawong for their period of residence.

      • All adults have completed a 'Prohibited Persons Declaration'.

      Contact the Honorary Booking Officer for latest information.

      Under 18s

      People of all ages and backgrounds, including children and teenagers, are warmly encouraged to stay at Illawong and participate in all its activities – and have done so in safety for over 50 years. Illawong is known for its culture of providing a child-safe and child-friendly environment.

      If you are responsible for young people staying at Illawong, satisfy yourself that the conditions are suitable and that they can handle the experience. Especially, make sure that they can ski in and out safely, sometimes in less than ideal conditions, and understand that Illawong is a shared space with people who also want to enjoy their holiday.

      IST requires written permission for under 18s to stay in the lodge, and for them to be accompanied by a known adult who will be responsible for their well-being.

      Illawong requests all adults booking at the Lodge for the first time to complete a Prohibited Persons Declaration, similar to those used by schools and sporting clubs, because it is possible that children may be staying at the Lodge at the same time.

      Plastic action figure toy with snow-covered mountains in the background
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