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Family day trip to the snow in Victoria
You don’t have to drive for hours on end to enjoy a day at the snow with the family. Victoria has two alpine resorts Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort and Lake Mountain Alpine Resort that are ideal destinations for families wanting to experience a day trip to the snow.
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Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort
Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort is a popular destination for families around Victoria. It’s the closest Alpine Resort for skiing and snowboarding from Melbourne, taking just 2.5-hours from Melbourne CBD. The resort features 35 hectares of snow terrain with seven surface lifts, snow play areas, toboggan runs and magic carpets. If you like skiing or snowboard it has some of the most affordable ski lift prices in Victoria.
Tobogganing and snow play
Mt Baw Baw is a great introduction to experiencing the snow for the first time. There’s plenty of space for the kids to enjoy snow play activities like building a snowman or having a snowball fight.
If your kids want to give tobogganing a go, Mt Baw Baw has a designated tobogganing area called Frosti Frog Toboggan Park, you can purchase a morning or afternoon ticket. They allow visitors to bring their own toboggans but they must meet strict standards, alternatively, you can hire a toboggan on the mountain.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Mt Baw Baw has 25 runs with 7 surface lifts, the longest run is 750 metres long with 30% of all runs designed for beginners.
Whether you’re a first-timer, beginner, intermediate or advanced skier or snowboarder, it’s worth booking a lesson with one of the experienced instructors.
Group lessons are available:
• Rowdy’s Rippers – Skiing 3–6 years
• Gully’s Groms – Snowboard 3–6 years
• Frosty Kids – Ski and Snowboard 7–12 years
• Teen & Adult – Ski and Snowboard
Private lessons are also available.
Tank Hill Terrain Park
The Tank Hill Terrain Park has several boxes, pipes and rails for beginner to intermediate riders. It only opens when the snow condition allows.
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Howling Husky Sled Dogs
For an extra special treat, why not book a Husky Sled tour.
• Dog Sled Dash Tour – 30 minutes
• Family Tour (2 adults & 2 children) – 45 Minutes
Dingo Resource Centre
Visit the Dingo Resource Centre to learn about dingoes, the critically endangered Baw Baw Frog, Leadbeater’s Possum and other plants and animals that live on the mountain.
Cross Country skiing
Mt Baw Baw has 10 kilometres of cross-country trails in Resort boundaries. One Ride lift Passes are available to purchase to the summit to avoid the hike up the mountain.
Important information: to enter Mt Baw Baw during the snow season you must pay a resort entry fee. All cars must carry snow chains. While helmets are not mandatory on the slopes, Mt Baw Baw strongly recommends skiers and snowboarders to wear them.
Location: 32 Currawong Road, Baw Baw Village, Victoria
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Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is the closest Alpine Snow Resort to Melbourne, taking only 2 hours from Melbourne CBD. The resort doesn’t have chairlifts but offers 35 km of cross country skiing trails, snow play areas, tobogganing, snowshoe trail and tube run.
Tobogganing and snow play
At Lake Mountain, there are designated snow play areas and toboggan runs. Slide down one of the three toboggan runs around the village. Families may purchase a magic carpet ticket to make the trek back up the mountain a little easier. There’s plenty of space on the mountain for snow play activities.
Cross Country skiing
If your kids love hiking why not try cross country skiing. It’s a great way to explore Lake Mountain, with more than 35 kilometres of well-groomed trails. Beginner cross country ski lessons are available for kids ages 4 and up.
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Snowboard lessons
Lake Mountain offers beginner Burton LTR children’s snowboarding lessons for kids aged 5-14 years. There is a designated slope for lessons only. Lessons are available Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays and School Holidays.
Tube run
Families can have fun sliding down the 100m Tube Run, jump on one of the giant inflated tubes as a single or double up with the kids. This is a paid activity.
Important information: to enter Lake Mountain during the snow season you must pay a resort entry fee. All cars must carry snow chains.
Location: 1071 Lake Mountain Road, Marysville, Victoria
Here are my tips for heading to the snow with a family
- Check the SNOW CAM and WEATHER REPORT before going. Make sure there’s enough soft snow.
- HIRE or BUY snow gear before you go. waterproof clothes, shoes, beanie, gloves, snowboard, boots, skis, helmets, goggles, and toboggans.
- PAY the Resort entry/National Park fee online to save time and money.
- BOOK all your activities before going.
- SNOW CHAINS – most mountains require you to carry snow chains during winter. Spend the extra money and hire chains that are easy to install.
- SNACKS and DRINKS – you can buy food and drinks on most mountains, but it’s a good idea to take snacks and water.
- TAKE spare clothes just in case the kid’s clothes/shoes get wet.
- SUNSCREEN – it seems silly, but it’s amazing the number of sunburnt faces you see at the snow.
- HOT CHOCOLATE – it’s a great idea to take a flask of hot chocolate for the car journey home. Happy kids, happy parents.
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We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.
