Victoria offers a number of well-developed ski resorts like Mount Hotham, Mount Buller, and Falls Creek scattered across the Australian Alps. These resorts have a multitude of slopes suitable for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Also, Mt Baw Baw offers a great selection of downhill courses. All ski resorts in the area are equipped with lift networks and snowmaking equipment to ensure shorter queues and good skiing conditions throughout the skiing season.
Hotham is one of Australia's highest alpine villages built on a spectacular mountain ridge. The resort boasts majestic views, terrain for all ski levels, around 70 runs, and lots of activities to keep you entertained. Besides skis, you can challenge yourself on snowboards and toboggans, or enjoy a stunning helicopter ride over the mountains. Hotham Alpine Resort can be reached by the Great Alpine road; you will need to drive about 226 kilometres (140 mi) from of Melbourne.
Mount Buller rises to an altitude of 1,805 meters above sea level, provides great skiing and claims to be the most accessible major snow resort in Australia. In addition to motor transport (about three-hour drive), guests can get there by helicopter from Melbourne (spending about an hour). You will fly over Eildon Lake, steep bank, Mount Stirling, and over Mount Buller—all these landscapes are impressive, so do not forget to bring your camera. The resort receives over 300,000 skiers and snowboarders during the skiing season. The resort has dozens of hectares of ski slopes (with about 80 runs) in the wide, open areas of the so-called Alpine zone. The amount of snow cover in the season is more than 1.5 m. Twenty-seven lifts provide the infrastructure and even during peak periods the routes do not cause queues at lower stations.
Falls Creek is considered to be Victoria's largest alpine resort (over 90 runs) and a perfect place for cross-country skiing. It is the official training base for the Australian national cross-country team. Thanks to its well-developed infrastructure, Falls Creek hosts the annual Kangaroo Hoppet—the largest snow-sport event in the southern hemisphere. The resort boasts great ski-in/ski-out accommodation, over 60 kilometres of free cross-country trails, downhill skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding, and terrain parks with rails and jumps for adventure seekers.
Mt Baw Baw is a relatively small ski resort, but the nearest to Melbourne (about two-and-a-half hour drive). Its 15 runs welcome skiers of all levels. During the visit, you can enjoy toboggan parks, get started with a wide range of skiing and snowboarding lessons, or join the dog-sled tour of the backcountry. For those who like to take it slow, they can go explore the pristine Alpine wilderness with a snowshoeing tour or relax in the Rock Pool Spa nestled amongst snowdrifts and giant granite boulders.
Skiing season in Victoria's resorts usually runs from early or mid-June to early October, depending on the weather. Peak season fall on July–September, so you can plan according to your budget.
