Thredbo is one of Australia's leading ski resorts. It is modelled on a European skiing town. Unlike Perisher Blue it is an actual town with lodges, shopping and nightlife. Thredbo has 14 lifts (4 hi-speed quads, 5 t-bars, 3 double chairs, 2 snowrunners). It has the steepest overall terrain of any ski resort in mainland Australia and also the highest lifted point (2037m AHD). Thredbo is regarded by some as the best NSW ski resort when fully covered, but because of the low altitude (1365m) of its base, the resort does not always keep snow on the lower half as the temperatures are too high to sustain it there. Because of this Thredbo has invested in the largest snowmaking system in the Southern Hemisphere that runs mainly at night to top up the lower half of the mountain and any other high traffic areas.