Lisa Wagstaff visits Whistler in BC, Canada, to experience the best activities on offer.
Whistler Blackcomb is North America’s largest ski resort, spanning 3,306 hectares across two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb. Renowned for its legendary terrain and big-mountain experiences, the resort offers more than 200 runs and 16 alpine bowls accessed by 35 lifts and a handful of rewarding hikes. The resort truly caters to all abilities and interests with everything from friendly beginner runs to tree runs to thigh-burning groomers and steep alpine bowls.
As soon as you lay eyes on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, and the fairytale village at their bases, you understand why Australians love it here. Not only is the resort a seamless two-hour private transfer up the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver International Airport, the village is also home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, a palette of fine dining restaurants and après bars, and – to top it off – the skiing is repeatedly ranked as being among the best you’ll find in the world.
Heli-skiing
If there’s one experience that defines alpine luxury in Whistler, it’s heli-skiing. Not only can you access the best snow known to man, but the views from the helicopter are extraordinary. My experience with Whistler Heli-Skiing takes me over snow-covered valleys and towards rugged peaks. What surprises me most isn’t just the thrill, but the scale of the landscape viewed from above.
Landings take place in remote, untouched backcountry terrain where our group is the only one in sight. Runs are tailored to your ability, with options from steep powder lines to gentle open bowls. Either way, the feeling of riding fresh powder without a crowd of skiers is ethereal. Midway through the day, we pause for lunch in the middle of a snowfield, enjoying soup and baguettes with the mountains as our only other company. With expert guides and a strong focus on safety, it’s a bucket-list experience that feels both daring and untamed.
Dawn patrol on Blackcomb
Dawn Patrol is a cancelled-day alternative for Whistler Heli-ski guests on days when the helicopter is unable to fly. Once cleared by snow patrol, my guide Marius and I head up the Blackcomb Gondola 30 minutes before it opens to the public. The feeling of being the only rider on the mountain, snowboarding through untouched powder in near silence is surreal. I get in three laps, reloading at mid-station before the first arrivals slowly spread out of the gondola. By then, the Jersey Cream six-person chairlift has started spinning, opening up ever more terrain. With lift-line priority, we skip the queues of skiers and snowboarders eager to join the powder day excitement. The experience wraps up at midday and after a non-stop morning, I don’t think I can do any more laps except for the victory lap home.
Scandinave Spa
A day of pampering at the Scandinave Spa is the ultimate stiff-muscle soother and a mental reset. Following a traditional Nordic circuit, I move between hot baths, saunas and eucalyptus steam rooms, cold plunges and Nordic waterfalls, and quiet sun rooms and a yoga studio. Phones and talking are banned, letting me switch off while my body is invigorated and restored. The spa is surrounded by old-growth rainforest dappled with snowflakes and greenery in every direction. I sit on a lounger in the moss-roofed sunroom facing the forest for the ultimate recharge in nature.
Bearfoot Bistro & the Vodka Ice Room
Dinner at Bearfoot Bistro is not just a meal, it is a theatrical dining experience. From champagne sabering and vodka tastings to liquid nitrogen ice cream made tableside, every course comes with a sense of excitement. We order a bottle of champagne and are taken into the restaurant’s cellar, home to some of the world’s rarest wines. Here, I’m handed a saber and guided to slide it along the neck of the bottle, cleanly slicing off the top with a dramatic pop.
Back at the table, the Chef’s Tasting Menu showcases seasonal Canadian ingredients with finesse: bigeye tuna tataki, sweet Digby scallops, delicate crab croquettes, lamb tortellini topped with gremolata, and Québec elk tenderloin finished with truffle. Each dish is delicate and beautifully presented, with the perfect portion sizes for a degustation. Midway through the evening, we don oversized Arctic jackets and step into the -32°C Ketel One Ice Room, a space carved entirely from ice. Here, we sample premium vodkas, including a spicy Peak 2 Pepper expression from local Montis Distillery. The freezing temperature softens the alcohol’s harshness, allowing the flavours to come through cleanly.
Back in the warmth of the dining room, dessert arrives with a flourish. Tahitian vanilla cream is transformed with liquid nitrogen, swirling and spilling over the bowl like a witch’s cauldron before being scooped into martini glasses and finished with a drizzle of maple whisky. The whole experience is immersive, playful and indulgent, perfect for those who like their luxury with a sense of fun.
Complimentary experiences at Fairmont Château Whistler
At the Fairmont Château Whistler, luxury is woven into each of the hotel’s complimentary guest experiences with Whistler Experience Guides. During winter, these are designed to elevate your ski holiday. During the mountain experience, a guide takes us for a morning ski tour on Blackcomb to discover the best-groomed runs and hidden powder while sharing insider knowledge and local history. You can also do a polar bear dip in a frozen lake, snowshoe to Rainbow Falls and hike to a train wreck or stay in the hotel for yoga, pilates and crystal sound bathing.
Finishing a day on the slopes is also a luxe experience at Fairmont Château Whistler. At the base of Blackcomb, the Fairmont operates a hut with a fireplace and serves maple hot chocolates. Opposite is a ski valet to collect my snowboard as soon as I step off the snow.
Mountain high dining at Christine’s On Blackcomb
Fine dining restaurant Christine’s in the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb is the most luxurious place to eat on the mountain. The contemporary Canadian menu features ingredients sourced from sustainable and ethical suppliers. I take in epic mountain views as I savour 18-hour braised lamb shoulder, washing it down with a Caesar, a Canadian take on a Bloody Mary, with clamato juice and celery salt, garnished with olives and pickled beans. The restaurant also has an extensive reserve wine list that would make any sommelier blush.
Explore the village
Off the slopes, Whistler’s bustling pedestrian-only village is the place to be. With more than 90 restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs to choose from, it’s hardly a surprise that Whistler’s après-ski scene is legendary. By day, indulge in some retail therapy at some of the 200-plus boutiques or spend an afternoon on the ice-skating rink. Don’t miss the weekly Fire & Ice show, held every Sunday between December and March, for fireworks, music and daredevil athletes flipping through flaming rings.
Visit on the Epic Australia Pass
To secure the best value lift access to Whistler Blackcomb, use an Epic Australia Pass. The Epic Australia Pass provides access to 80+ overseas resorts including 10 days of combined lift access at Whistler Blackcomb, in British Columbia, Canada. The Pass also includes 20% off rentals, on mountain food and beverage, plus 20% off lodging and Whistler Heli Skiing, as well as unlimited, unrestricted access to Perisher, Hotham and Falls Creek here in Australia. See EpicAustraliapass.com.au. For general information on visiting Whistler see whistler.com and for additional mountain information see whistlerblackcomb.com
The writer was a guest of Vail Resorts-Epic Australia Pass, Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler and Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
