1. its right on the snow fields, 15m away from the lifts.
2. it is 5 stars (i think)
3. 10m from the kids ski area
4. perisher has the best snow in australia
5. perisher has the most runs in australia

depends where you live...I'm from the Victorian Snowfields (namely Mt Buller) originally.  Snow and expensive tend to go hand in hand.  Where I'm from for example it's pretty much the money earner for the entire year and they ring as much out of everyone (even locals have to beg borrow and steel to get a break) as they can.  My suggestion would be that I do have it on good authority that Buller has top snow at the moment, HOWEVER as you're just wanting to tobogan etc you don't want to go to the major expensive down hill mountains.  Right next door to Mt Buller is the smaller but still snow covered Mt Stirling.  Mt Stirling is for nordic/Cross Country skiing.  It has a lovely tobogan run, places where you can make snowmen and throw snowballs and a lovely cafe/ tobogan/ski hire shop where you can all warm up infront of the fire and sip hot chocky when you're done.  It is cheaper there as there are no lifts etc... it's more basic.  This has been a good season there (Nth Eastern Vic) and as such, it is typical that the seaon will be extended into October with some free weekends around then this means you wont be charged to get onto the mountain (there is a hefty gate fee, higher for Buller than for Stirling by quite a bit) so though you'd be taking some chances in waiting, you would be taking a calculated one as the way things are this year it is almost a sure thing that snow may well still be around (though more for what you want it for than for skiing on).......... the downside of this is that you may find that the hire places have closed.  They may not have, but it's up to their discretion, if business is slow, they close until next year.  This means hiring of tabogans may be difficult.... however heavy duty garbage bags work failr well and even better if you stick something like a folded cardboard box inside it... wont last all day but you'll have quite a bit of fun (just take spare bags).  Accomodation will also be easier to get later in the season and I'd suggest (if you went to Buller or Stirling) it'd be cheapest to get a chalet (if you don't have a caravan) at the Mansfield Caravan park OR the Back Packers Hostel which is quite nice.  It's a tourist based town, as are most Ski places, and it's choka block full of accom places how ever finding some at a bargain price may be a challenge if you're preffering Motels etc.  Mansfield is a 30 minute scenic drive to the gate or foot of Mt Buller and My Stirling.

You want to have an esky or something and spare track pants, socks etc, don't wear jeans, get wet in jeans on a cold day and denim  promotes rapid Hypothermia.  Gumboots etc.  I suggest you get there (to Mansfield) and go to one of the 2 op shops, you are almost guarenteed of being able to buy extrememly cheap ski suits if you are of average sizes if not adults then the kids for sure.  The op shops get the ski hire old hire stuff yearly so they are almost never without and the one in Highette street is incredibly cheap.  You may also get lucky and find a tobogan or 2 as well as moon boots etc.  Anyway if I was on a budget and had a mission to see the snow thats what I'd do.

Just ask if there's any questions you have.  You can probably get cheaper accomodation in early October at Merrijig Lodge inmerrijig (15 mins from the foot of Buller) especially if you tell them that Irecommended you (Michele Lunam...better say McCormack hehe... they're our neighbours)(Mum still lives there but is travelling at the moment, or I'd ask her for you.  Of course this is all good if you're in Victoria, no good if you're in NSW, QLD or even SA probably..... sorry best I can do.