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Best family trips to the snow in Victoria
The Victorian snow season traditionally starts on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June and finishes in August/September. Victorian families are lucky enough to have lots of options for family-friendly trips to the snow. There are 5 main alpine resorts around Victoria – Mt Baw Baw, Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Buller/Mt Stirling, and Lake Mountain. They all offer different experiences at the snow – skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and snow play.
If you have a weekend or week-long break, these are some of the best Alpine Resorts to enjoy.
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FALLS CREEK
Falls Creek has the largest skiable terrain (450 hectares) with 90 runs and over 15 lifts. It takes about 4.5 hours to drive to Falls Creek from Melbourne. It offers 17% beginner terrain, 60% intermediate terrain and 23% advanced terrain. If skiing or snowboarding is not your thing, Falls Creek has some fun activities to keep the kids entertained all day long.
Tobogganing
Falls Creek features two toboggan runs – a junior slope in the Village Bowl and an advanced slope at Windy Corner. It’s a good idea to check the Falls Creek website to see if the toboggan runs are open. Families can bring their own toboggans but they will need to meet Falls Creek safety regulations. Check the Falls Creek website for pricing.
Snow Tube Park
Grab the kids and head to the Snow Tube Park, enjoy endless amounts of fun as you spin, bounce, and bump your way downhill on a snow tube. Open daily from 2–6 pm. It even has its own magic carpet to take sliders and their tubes back to the top. Kids must be aged 5 and up or over 90cm tall to take part in snow tubing. Check the Falls Creek website for pricing.
Scenic Chairlift Rides
If you’re not skiing or snowboarding and would love to enjoy the beautiful views overlooking Falls Creek and the Alpine National Park, Falls Creek offers a scenic chairlift ride. Gully Chair – families can ride the Gully Chair lift from Gully car park up to the Village Bowl for FREE (return trip). Halley’s Comet – this is an express chair lift from the village up to the Cloud 9 Restaurant and ski fields. Please check the Falls Creek website for pricing.
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Snowboarding and Skiing
Families can purchase season lift passes, daily lift tickets or weekly lift tickets for the mountain, check the Falls Creek website for pricing.
Lessons and childcare – there are lots of options to keep the kids busy, they can try snowboarding or skiing for the first time or have a fun day with the friendly childcare workers at Falls Creek Childcare Centre.
Snowclub 4 Kids – 3–5 years located in the children’s terrain park, the kids will enjoy a day of tuition, fun, games, surprise visits from Pete the Snow Dragon, as well as a fully catered lunch and snacks – full day & half-day programs, are available, Junior Workshop – 6–12 years full day of adventure on skis or snowboard, including professional tuition, lunch and a lift pass, or Ride Tribe – 13–17 years for teens who want to learn how to ski or snowboard for the first time or continue to progress their skill set.
Childcare – 12 weeks–5 years morning session, afternoon session or full-day session is available.
Night Show & Fireworks
Families can enjoy a spectacular fireworks show on Thursday nights in July and August at the Village Bowl. The show starts at 7.30pm and Pete the Dragon will make an appearance.
Resort Entry and Snow Report
When visiting Falls Creek in winter you must pay a ‘Resort Entry‘ fee. Check the Falls Creek website for pricing.
It’s always best to check the weather conditions before heading up to Falls Creek, check the snow report here.
MT HOTHAM
Mt Hotham producers some of Victoria’s highest annual snowfalls. With 320 hectares of skiable terrain, 80 runs, and 13 lifts. It takes about 2.5–hours to drive to Mt Hotham from Melbourne. It offers 20% beginner terrain, 40% intermediate terrain and 43% advanced terrain. The kids can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing or snow play at Mt Hotham.
Tobogganing and Snow Stuff Park
Mt Hotham has a fun toboggan run which is located in Possum Flat, adjacent to Wire Plain. The run is suitable for all ages. Families can bring their own toboggans but they will need to meet Mt Hotham’s safety regulations. Snow Stuff Park, has a range of exciting and fun snow play toys for hire including – toboggans, kids snowmobiles, snow scooters, snowball throwers and much more.
Harry the Snowdragon Show
Kids can sing and dance alongside Harry the Snowdragon at his live shows every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon from 3.30pm at The Big D.
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Hotham 365
Mt Hothan welcomes the all-new, all-season indoor ski/snowboard slope ‘Hotham 365‘. Kids can learn to ski and snowboard in a safe and controlled environment.
Scenic Chair Lift Rides
Families can catch the Big D Chairlift and enjoy the spectacular views overlooking Mount Higgy. Head to The Big D or Hotham Central ticket desk to purchase your ticket.
Snowboarding and Skiing
Families can purchase season lift passes, daily lift tickets or weekly lift tickets for the mountain, check the Mt Hotham website for pricing.
Lessons and childcare – fancy a day of skiing/snowboarding without the kids? You’re in luck, Mt Hotham has lots of options to keep the kids busy all day long. Hotham Daycare offers hourly, half-day or full-day programs, check the Mt Hotham website for pricing.
Kids Ski and snowboard lessons
Mighty Mites – 3–5 years ski program, half-day or full-day available, Kids Club – skiing 6–14 years/snowboarding 7–14 years, half-day and full-day available, Burton Riglet Program – 3–6 years this program gives the little kids a go at snowboarding, lessons run for one hour and include Riglet snowboard equipment.
Resort Entry and Snow Report
When visiting Mt Hotham you must pay a ‘Resort Entry‘ fee. Check the Mt Hotham website for pricing.
It’s always best to check the weather conditions before heading up to Mt Hotham, check the snow report here.
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MT BULLER
Mt Buller is Victoria’s most accessible snowfield, it’s about a 3-hour drive from Melbourne so it’s possible to make it there and back in a day. It offers 25% beginner terrain, 45% intermediate terrain and 30% advanced terrain with 20 lifts and 3 terrain parks. Kids will be spoilt for choice, they can try one of the toboggan runs, build a snowman or give skiing or snowboarding a go.
Snowplay Park and Tobogganing
If your kids want to build a snowman or try tobogganing, Mt Buller has two snow play and tobogganing areas, one located in the day car park next to Celia’s Kiosk and the other next to Alpine Central in the Village. The mobile SnowFactory will guarantee snow on the Village and Horsehill Snowplay and Toboggan runs for the school holidays.
Scenic Chair Lift Rides
Jump on the Northside Express chairlift and enjoy the spectacular view overlooking Mt Buller’s ski fields. The Northside Chairlift departs from the day car park and will take you to Spurs Lookout. Tickets are available from Mt Buller ticket office or Buller Sports Outlet.
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Snowboarding and Skiing
Families can purchase season lift passes, daily lift tickets or weekly lift tickets for the mountain, check the Mt Buller website for pricing. Mt Buller also offers a range of age-appropriate lessons for skiing and snowboarding.
Bunyips – 3–6 years Ski Program, morning, afternoon or full-day Programs. Buller Kids – 7–14 years Ski and Snowboard Program – offers half-day, full-day and multi-day programs that include a lift pass. Adult and teen lessons – offers a two-hour group lesson. Private lessons are suitable for kids of all ages and families and are the best way of mastering new skills.
If your kids are a little young to try skiing or snowboarding, Mt Buller also has a Creche. Suitable for 3 months–3 years. The Buller Kids’ Centre has a wide range of indoor activities including arts and crafts, story time and music activities. Please check the Mt Buller website for more details.
Gnome Roam
If the kids want to go on an adventure to find some Mt Buller gnomes, look no further. Families can take a self-guided tour of the mystical gnome world of the mountain village. Keep your eyes open for the resident Mt Buller gnomes, learn about their favourite places to play as well as some interesting facts about the gnome way of life. Grab a gnome roam booklet from the Clock Tower.
Resort Entry and Snow Report
When visiting Mt Buller you must pay a ‘Resort Entry‘ fee or if you’re coming for the day they now have a ‘Park and Ride Snowplay Express ticket where you can park at the base of Mt Buller and catch a Snowplay Express shuttle bus to the Mt Buller Village. It’s always best to check the weather conditions before heading up to Mt Buller, check the snow report here.
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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 in for lessons or childcare before you go, so you don’t miss out.
- BOOK lift tickets – if you’re skiing or snowboarding buy your lift tickets online before you go to save time and money.
- 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.
Main image: Grace Walkley 10 and Ava Moegel 5 enjoying snow play at Falls Creek.
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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.
