Where should we ski this season?

[solmanic]

OK, my wife and I are skiing fans (bordering on fanatics) and I am trying to nail down this season's activities. Perisher is our "home" resort (sounds ridiculous I know living in QLD, but everyone has a "home" resort) so I am looking at somewhere in Victoria this year - possibly Hotham as I have only ever driven through it in a poor season.

Other resorts on the list -
Falls Creek - done it in an average season and thought it was OK.
Mt Buller - never really considered it so I am keen to see what others think.

Does anybody have club/private lodge connections who might be willing to sponsor us as guests (just me and my wife)? I might be able to arrange private lodge accommodation at Charlotte Pass in return (depending on the week).

Looking mainly at Australia as I reckon we are due for a good season and I prefer to drive down as we get some visiting duties done along the way.

[ladas]

My opinion - for what it's woth.

OK, my wife and I are skiing fans (bordering on fanatics) and I am trying to nail down this season's activities. Perisher is our "home" resort (sounds ridiculous I know living in QLD, but everyone has a "home" resort) so I am looking at somewhere in Victoria this year - possibly Hotham as I have only ever driven through it in a poor season.

I enjoy Hotham, but I stay at Dinner Plain - which is just great, for several reasons, the first one being - you can drive to the door of your accomodation and leave the car there for the duration. There is regular daily shuttle buses to Hotham (free) . Next if you stay at Dinner Plain you do not have to pay the NP enterance fee, or the parking charges in Hotham. If you go into Hotham for Dinner at night - short term parking is free. It's just more convenient with the family - not having to lug all the kit you have to take with you onto over mountain (expensive) transport -

Every time I go I have been lucky with the snow - but this seasons already looking very good all over.

Do a search on yahoo/google for Dinner Plain

Other resorts on the list -
Falls Creek - done it in an average season and thought it was OK.

Hated it - Drive up, pay the enrance fee, accomodation not on the computer so have to go to reception on arrival in FC, drive up to the main area - speak to spotty kids (resort staff) who knew just a fraction more than I did, and I knew nothing.

Drop family and baggage at one point, drive to wait area, wait, wait and wait a little longer, follow vehicle to car park area, get taken back to the point where I was sure I had left the family and baggage - eventually find them. Lug all the stuff through to where the over mountain transport was to depart from, and wait, wait, then wait a little longer.

Finally board the catapilar track type over mountain transport - where are you going - the question from the spotty kid (driver) - eh - dunno where that is ?????? I'll go and find out - so we wait and wait.

Normally I am fairly patient - but with a cold wife, and two kids and far too much luggage - well I get a bit tetchy - picked that up did you.

The accomodation was very nice though, when the driver finally found out where it was - smack in the middle of the top bowl.

The repeat performance of getting back from the accomodation to the car - c/with all members of the family and bags was just as traumatic,

Won't ever go back unless I take up sadism.

Mt Buller - never really considered it so I am keen to see what others think.

Loved it despite having to park half way up and get over mountain transport - the staff were efficient, they knew where things were and we were only kept waiting for a minimum of time.

Accomodation was good - good selection of restaurants etc.,

I know this seems like a winge - but after being use to ski-ing in Europe for many years - where things just happen, and they happen efficiently, on time with minimal fuss.

Over mountain transport is not needed, but I guess I can see the need for it here with limited access and parking in the villages etc.,

Does anybody have club/private lodge connections who might be willing to sponsor us as guests (just me and my wife)? I might be able to arrange private lodge accommodation at Charlotte Pass in return (depending on the week).

Looking mainly at Australia as I reckon we are due for a good season and I prefer to drive down as we get some visiting duties done along the way.

[Phoenix]

I've been to Buller to ski a few times and love it there, but that's just my opinion

[PCH]

Solmaniac,

If your into black runs then Mt Hotham is for you, I personally have not skied at Mt Hotham. There is a bias to the advanced skier at Hotham.

Falls Creek is great for all levels. There is a lot of terrain to cover. The black runs aren't open yet but will be eventually the way it is consistently snowing at the moment.

Unless you are staying on the mountain then Falls will be easier to get to the resort compared to Hotham. The road from Harrietville will usually get closed after a blizzard. Falls access road is much more protected from blizzards and sno clearing can keep up in a blizzard.

Once the heli service opens you can fly between Hotham and Falls and ski at both mountains on the same ticket.

If you want to stand in crowds at the lifts then go to Buller. The runs are shorter and you spend heaps of time in lift queues. Unless you are staying on the mountain it is harder to access the car as well. My advice is to go to Falls or Hotham. Just look at the snocams and you can compare which resort looks busy.

Can't help you out with lodges. I'm a pleb that needs to rent something off the mountain.

Chris

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I think I'd like sking---
If I could rent snowmobiles

[solmanic]

OK - that's a good start. I think Hotham is still the go so I will have a look at Dinner Plain for accommodation. I had not really considered it since we are used to staying ON snow (ie ski-in, ski-out) but since we are intending on driving then it makes sense for parking & access. We've been spoilt with too many European ski-breaks but I always treat Australia differently and try not to compare them.

Went to Falls Creek several years ago and stayed on snow - but it was right at the end of the season so by the end of the week it wasn't actually snowed-in any more. We were able to drive up to the unit to load up so it was quite convenient. With the snow disappearing we took a drive around through Hotham and tried to get back to Falls via Omeo on the Bogong High Plains Rd. I had asked the rangers whether the gate had been unlocked and was told that they had just gone up to open it that morning so off we went. Several hours later we were at the other side of a LOCKED gate so I got on the phone to the Falls Creek ranger station asking why the gate was still locked after what we were told that morning. They seemed to think there was still too much snow on the track so they left it shut $%^&%#$!!!!! Probably for the best - I only owned a Jeep at that stage and had no chains.

[sschmez]

I enjoy Hotham, but I stay at Dinner Plain

I agree with Ladas (just this once)

Stevo

[Quiggers]

I think I'd like sking---
If I could rent snowmobiles

Done that!

Heaps of fun!

But Jackson Hole Wyoming is a bit far and you cant drive there from here - well, easily......

I base camp at Adaminaby and head for Smiggin or Perisher (saves heaps on accomm)...
GQ

[Coastie]

Hi Solmaniac,

We stayed at White Crystal at Mt Hotham last year it is above Hotham Central and was excellent. The lodge option at Dinner Plain may suit but staying in the middle of the resort was the greatest thing for us, the three kids caught the bus to their lessons and ski area and we skied the other runs. Snow is better now than last year so looks like a great season if it keeps falling.

There isn't a lot of skiing back to you lodge as Hotham village is at the top of the mountain and most of the lifts return to there unlike at Falls Creek where you ski to the doorstep.

My 2 cents

Pete

[Nat130]

I agree with the general idea of Mt Hotham and staying in Dinner Plain.

Falls Creek is an easy mountain to travel up and down but the terrain is more suited to those who enjoy only blue runs. If I were taking the family up (or a beginner) I would head there.

Hotham is a great mountain, a lot of very different terrain but I don't believe it is the best choice of beginners mountain. Hotham has more insteresting runs and if you like going off piste than it can be a lot of fun.

I spent 3 months in Canada snowboarding, and a month in America last year and the most interesting thing was that their blue runs are our black runs. I found then that coming back here our blue runs seemed rather tame. Hence I enjoy Hotham a lot better.

Not going to mention Buller really - great if you live in Melb and don't want to drive far but as for the crowds...well that isn't my thing.

Each season we would do about 50 days and quite often those were day trips from Geelong to Hotham (5 hours each way).

As for accomodation I can't really help. My accomodation in the past: We camped in a tent in Mount Beauty for two weeks, driving up to falls each day. We have camped in a caravan in Omeo and drove to Hotham each day (much easier drive up from Omeo). Rented a caravan in Harrietville and drove up Hotham each day (can be huge pain in butt as they close the road).

We did that for about 7 years, couldn't afford to stay on the mountain but camping meant we could afford to stay two straight weeks rather than 3 days.

Hope that helps!