Found! The one place you can combine 'on snow' and 'fine dining'

Katie! We have two extra spots for lunch at Kareela Hutte if you'd like to join us! 1.30pm xx

Did we ever! Skiing plans - and children - abandoned, we start dreaming about our invite to the best ticket in snowtown.

You see, it's near impossible to book a meal at Kareela Hutte, Thredbo's fancy ski-in, ski-out dining experience (they don't call it a restaurant), and possibly the one time you can combine "on snow" and "great food" in the same sentence.

A secret email comes out shortly before ski season letting frequent Kareela flyers know when they can book. Aforementioned email recipients have to be ready at that time; when they get online to book, they'll likely find several spots already taken. (When I checked in mid-July, there were eight days left with slots - none of them weekends - until the end of the season.)

So what's it all about? Luxury dining and drinking in your ski gear, red-cheeked and happy. Sharing piled-up plates and tales of snow adventures. A delectable Austrian-inspired menu featuring succulent roasts and decadent desserts.

It's worth the hype.

We order the old favourites - the famous Kareela (cheese and charcuterie) Board and the twice-cooked pork knuckle, as well as a slow-roasted lamb shoulder, and some newbies - inexplicably, in this wintry wonderland, a lobster roll, and today the chicken schnitzel is instead veal. Sides of winter greens and roasted potatoes with garlic and capers.

It's a meandering lunch - no next diners breathing down your neck here - ending with a bucket-list experience: my first "ski shot" - don't knock it until you've tried it, and, oh yes, you should try it. We each have a shot (Nick, our cheeky organiser, has gone for "gold flecked schnapps") lined on a wooden ski held by cowbell playing bar-staff. It's messy, unique, bonding and hilarious.

Later, happy and full, we stumble into the fading day and ski carefully down the Supertrail slope; with food and friendship memories we'll cherish forever.

thredbo.com.au