The Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort provides an incredible snow experience… don’t be mistaken, just because this fantastic little resort can be overshadowed by its bigger brothers doesn’t mean it’s not a serious contender.  Mt Baw Baw has loads to offer, including experiences that you wont find anywhere else.  If you are planning a ski trip with your family then be sure to seriously consider Mt Baw Baw.

Why choose Mt Baw Baw?

• Because it is less than three hours from Melbourne – the closest downhill ski resort to our CBD.
• It is a sheltered mountain and so you are more protected from weather and winds.
• It offers a great selection of beginner and intermediate level downhill runs – as well as a few black runs – but on the whole, if you’re a beginner and happen to take a wrong turn you aren’t going to find yourself on a triple black diamond!
• It’s not crowded – it’s rare to find a queue that is longer than a few minutes.
• It’s cheaper.  For example, an adult day ticket is $75 (children under 6 are FREE) where as at Hotham, Falls Creek and Buller adult day tickets are $113.
• As it’s a small village (compared to the big three – Buller, Hotham and Falls) there is no need for an over-snow service to get your luggage to your accommodation – everything is about a 10 minute walk.  This also means that there is limited vehicles moving around the village making it safer for families to walk on the roads.
• Depending on where your accommodation is, and snow levels, all the accommodation has the potential to ski out – and about half can be ski in (or at most a 10 minute walk to get to).
• When it comes to little kids and beginner skiers having Poma’s and T-bars, as opposed to lifts, is a bonus.
• Group lessons are offered – including kids half and full day sessions.  This environment is much less intimidating than big “ski school” situations; a hesitant learner would benefit from this overall less frantic experience.
• As well as downhill skiing and snowboarding there is extensive cross country trails, free toboggan areas, snowboard freestyle parks, snow mobile tours and the incredible Howling Huskys Sled Dog Tours.
  

  

  

  Snow Victoria Ambassador Lochie Daddo

When Mt Baw Baw might not be for you.

• If you are looking for triple black diamond runs then this mountain is possibly not for you.
• While the pub (and there is only one) is open until 2am – Mt Baw Baw has a low key country town vibe, so if you’re looking for a city that never sleeps you’ve taken the wrong turn.
• Mt Baw Baw is a National Park and so all flora and fauna are protected… including local native wild life that is similar looking to the exotic import Peromyscus leucopis (also knows as a “mouse”).  If you are staying overnight and the idea of potentially glimpsing one of these in your lodge is well out of your comfort zone, perhaps consider accommodation off the mountain.

Tips

• There is no supermarket on the mountain – so be sure to bring all your food supplies if you wish to self cater at your lodge
• Mt Baw Baw toboggan parks only allow the approved toboggans to be used – you may want to hire this on the mountain ($8/day or $26/week)
• Resort entry can be purchased on the mountain – or you can pre-purchase online (and it’s cheaper to pre-pay)
• Ski and board lessons do book out – it’s best to plan ahead and wise not to turn up that morning thinking you’ll be fine (unlike the big mountains ski schools)
• The drive up.  There are two roads into Mt Baw Baw.  If you use Google Maps you will be directed along the sealed road up the mountain – it’s a 5 minute shorter journey.  Insider tip – while this particular route is very pretty it is also very winding and the road is very very narrow.  The locals all recommend the unsealed “south facing” road up the mountain from near Moe – we took this route home and also agree that this is a much nicer drive for everyone.  The unsealed road is much wider and straighter, and, as far as dirt roads go, it’s in great condition.  On both our journey up and down the mountain we passed only one other car on the road – so it’s not a busy stretch.  Click here to check the map and I would recommend “Option 2”.
• It is possible to travel to Mt Baw Baw via train and bus – but if you are travelling as a party of 3 or more it is probably cheaper to hire a car (!) depending on how long you’re staying.
• Check tips for first timers to Mt Baw Baw here.
• Check snow reports here.
• Chains must be carried at all times during the snow season.

Charlie and I travelled to Mt Baw Baw with some friends and had an amazing long weekend.   We all got in plenty of skiing time – including a three hour (half day) lesson for Charlie (6) and his mate Henry (4).  We also went on a Snow Mobile tour (call 03 5165 1136 to book) where we got to see the best view on the mountain (glimpsing as far as Phillip Island, French Island and the Bay) and the boys had a ball messing about on their toboggans!  Probably (for myself and Henry’s mum) the memory we will long remember was the Howling Huskys Sled Tour – this was really one of those once in a lifetime experiences that I can’t rave enough about.  We had a hot chocolate at Kelly’s Cafe, amazing burgers at the Alpine Hotel and a top notch dinner at the Village Central Restaurant.  We also made friends at our Lodge – and having access to the communal living, dining and kitchen area meant that after a big day on the slopes we could eat at home and, after the kids went to bed, relax on a couch.

Just on the topic of lodges – all the lodges are centrally managed by the Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort Management – which means you can expect them to be clean and well maintained. Check-in and collection of keys happens at the Guest Information Centre next to the day car park.

While we were staying in Mt Baw Baw Lochie Daddo was also a guest, as part of his role as Snow Victoria’s ambassador he made this promotional video… see if you recognise any faces!

Commercial Disclosure: during our stay at Mt Baw Baw we were kindly hosted by Destination Gippsland for two nights and two days.  All views are my own.