Places to Play in the Snow - Victoria High Country

Along with the New South Wales Snowfields just north of the border, there are excellent chances this year for snow and everything that goes with it. It’s shaping up to be another bumper year on the Australian snowfields with the snow season opening over the June Long Weekend.

The rest of the year, the region is an eco mountain paradise, worth exploring just for the views alone but there is much more.

Here are some of the great places to ski, snowboard and just about everything imaginable to do with snow in Victoria High Country.

Mt Baw Baw

Mt Baw Baw is a charming and unique alpine resort. There are are even wider cross country trails available allowing better access and enhancing the skier experience. The resort has also introduced an e-store enabling visitors to jump the queue at resort entry and lift ticket box. All they have to do is head online before they leave home and purchase their resort entry ticket. Mount Baw Baw.

Mt Buller Snowfields

As the most accessible major snow resort in Australia, Mount Buller is located an easy three hour drive from Melbourne. To ensure skiers and boarders make the most of their time on the slopes, a new quad chair has been installed on Burnt Hut Spur. Spanning 530 metres, the new Doppelmayr chairlift provides access to more terrain and a longer line than the previous lift.

The resort has also introduced a seamless resort-wide system that enables guests to pre-purchase a B-TAG online that can be updated with their details and recharged across the season. Guests can also load the tag with credit that can be used at food, beverage and retail outlets across the resort. More about Mt Buller Australia.

Mount Hotham

Known as the powder capital of Australia, visitors to Hotham Alpine Resort can ski more for less in 2012 with serious savings on multiday passes. A 3 day lift pass or a 2 day weekend pass comes discounted for adults and for kids (Sat and Sun peak season). Kids also ski free during the value season when accompanied by a paying adult with pre-booked 3 nights or more accommodation package.

Hotham is also running a ‘Learn to Ski Week’ for those who are new to the snow, with the week designed for first timers who can hit the slopes in a supportive environment. http://www.mthotham.com.au/.

Falls Creek

Regarded as Victoria’s largest ski and boarding resort, Falls Creek is offering discounted multiday passes including a 5 day lift ticket, a 2 day weekend lift pass for adults and for children. (Sat and Sun peak season).

In addition, Falls Creek has launched an exciting new iPad app that provides up-to-the date information such as live snow reports, snow cams and lift status updates.

A new electronic ticketing system has also been introduced at both Falls Creek and Hotham to provide easier mountain access in 2012. The Resort Technology Partners (RTP) system allows streamlined pre-purchasing of lift tickets and lessons, pre-organisation of equipment hire and the ability to register kids into the snow sports school program. Falls Creek Snow.

Lake Mountain

As the closest snow resort to Melbourne, Lake Mountain is the perfect place for families to enjoy tobogganing, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and playing in the snow. They are offering several cost saving packages including the Family Snow Play Package which includes resort entry, toboggan hire and a lunch voucher for two adults and two children. To find out more visit the website www.lakemountainresort.com.au.

The House at Smoko

The House at Smoko is a luxurious new farm style homestead nestled in the foothills of the Victorian Alps just 10 minutes out of Bright and 30 minutes from Mount Hotham. Framed by 28 acres of land, the house features chic interior design such as local stone and timber along with corrugated iron that is in keeping with its surroundings.

Inspired by neighbouring cattlemen’s huts and tobacco drying kilns, the house boasts stunning views of Mt Feathertop, three bedrooms and bathrooms, a spacious modern kitchen, a coffee machine, an open fireplace, LCD TV and DVD player, laundry facilities, an outdoor entertaining deck with stone fireplace and gas BBQ.

A perfect getaway for couples, families and small groups looking for a relaxing escape within an alpine setting.

A Weekend Fit for a King

Enjoy some la dolce vita (the sweet life) with the winemaking families of the King Valley for their annual winter celebration, Weekend Fit for a King on 9 and 10 June 2012. The weekend celebrates all that the King Valley embodies and visitors can sample Italian and international wine varieties accompanied by gourmet food influenced by the region’s Italian culture.

Simply purchase a festival tasting glass from the Wangaratta Visitors Information Centre or participating wineries over the weekend and enjoy entry and wine tastings at the nine participating wineries as well as entertainment and festival activities including live music, pasta making lessons, petanque, helicopter rides and giant chess for the kids. http://www.winesofthekingvalley.com.au/.

Centre for Culinary Excellence

A new purpose-built workshop facility focused on rediscovering the lost arts has opened at the Milawa Cheese Factory. The Centre for Culinary Excellence is offering hands-on classes that cover topics from cheese making to bread making, chocolate truffle making, preserving honey spinning and other artisan skills. www.highcountryharvest.com.au/.

For more information: www.skivic.com.

Victoria High Country