SNOW storms, dumping more than 60cms of natural snowfall at Falls Creek and Mt Hotham from Friday to Monday evening, delivered the perfect start to the 2025 snow season over the King's Birthday long weekend.
Alpine villages at Falls, Hotham and Dinner Plain literally became winter wonderlands overnight, buried in knee deep snow which, coupled with concerted efforts by mountain snowmaking and grooming teams, opened up terrain for skiing and snowboarding for the first runs of the season.
"Snowzilla" was how Mt Hotham Chamber of Commerce president Steve Belli was summing up the best opening weekend snowfalls the mountain had seen since 2000.
"It's been a fantastic start and with temperatures remaining cold, more snow predicted later this week, and the lift company opening up more terrain for the weekend it really has set us up for the season," he enthused, having just ridden his snowmobile from Dinner Plain to Mt Hotham.
"The mountain has been busy with plenty of apres ski celebrations, and many day trippers visiting...and we've certainly seen a spike in bookings too."
Latest Stories
Falls Creek Chamber of Commerce president Michelle Lovell said opening weekend snowfalls had provided a major confidence boost for the season ahead, laying a great base to build on.
"A lot of the accommodation businesses were looking pretty empty for bookings at the start of last week, but the snow has seen bookings increase by 50 to 70 per cent for many...and there are still a lot of really inexpensive ski holidays with the June specials offered by mountain businesses," Ms Lovell said.
"The village vibe has been buzzing...it really is a winter wonderland...with ski-in, ski-out conditions for accommodation and restaurant venues."
Hotham marketing co-ordinator Alex Pankiw said the "incredible start" offered skiers and boarders early runs in fresh powder snow, with Pup's Playground, Summit Trainer, Big D, The Summit and Road Runner operating this week and more expected to open soon.
Cross country skiers have also been able to access most of the northern trails - a big jump on last season when the first groomed trail wasn't opened until June 30.
Falls Creek field marketing manager Betony Pitcher said alpine skiers and snowboarders have been having great snow experiences on Halley's Comet, Towers Chairlift, Main Street Run, Mouse Trap Carpet and Wombat's Ramble, while cross country skiers have had access to excellent groomed trails.
"The Falls Creek operations team is laying a strong foundation with new Techno Alpin snow guns, and with consistent snowmaking and further snow in the forecast, they will be preparing to open more terrain as soon as possible," she said.
"Lock in your Epic Australia Pass or Epic Australia 4-Day Pass now, before they go off-sale for the 2025 season on June 18."
Perfect start for the season
FALLS Creek, Mt Hotham, Dinner Plain and Mt Buffalo are all opened and welcoming visitors, having transformed into the perfect winter wonderlands following the heaviest snowfalls in decades over the snow season's opening weekend.
Snow storms from Friday to Monday blanketed Falls, Hotham and Dinner Plain villages in more than 60 centimetres, while Mt Buffalo had more than 40cms.
At Falls Creek yesterday, alpine skiers and snowboarders has access to three lifts - Halley’s Comet, Towers Chair, Mouse Trap Carpet - and terrain on Mouse Trap, Wombat’s Ramble, Highway 83, Main Street, Nastar Race Course and Broadway.
For cross country skiers McKay Loop and the Boat Ramp Link were groomed and rated very good while Nordic Bowl, Hoppet Start, and Aqueduct - BHP Road to Dam Wall East were groomed and offering good skiing.
Mt Hotham added its Village Chair to the open list on Wednesday, seeing six lifts now operating across the resort and offering a bit of something for everyone.
For the less experienced the Summit, Big D and the carpets are in great shape and for the more seasoned alpine skiers and snowboarders Road Runner and the Village Loop are providing a great surface first up.
Cross country skiers are enjoying good skiing on all groomed and packed trails - including Wonderland, Telemark and Charlie's, as well as the trail to Dinner Plain.
Dinner Plain itself has more than 40cms of snow cover and all of its cross country trails are opened, groomed and offering good skiing, although Blade Runner has patchy cover.
Mt Buffalo has very good to excellent snow cover at the moment from Dingo Dell through to Cresta Valley.
Toboggan runs are open at both locations but there is no toboggan hire on mountain, so you need to bring your own.
The pole marked snow shoe trails are good on soft, deep snow and for cross country skiers you can enjoy good back country style skiing on Horn Road, Bogong loop and on all Cresta Valley's back country areas.
All visitors to the alpine resorts are reminded that you must carry snow chains and fit when and where directed.
For the latest resort information visit mthotham.com.au, fallscreek.com.au, parks.vic.gov.au (Mt Buffalo), and visitdinnerplain.com.au
