Mount Hotham Alpine Resort
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort in Victoria Alps is an increasingly popular skiing and snowboarding destination, and should be visited during its winter season from June to September for optimal experience.
Read reviews submitted by skiers and snowboarders of Mount Hotham Alpine Resort to gain a deeper insight into its amenities and activities before planning a visit! Read these user reviews of Mount Hotham Alpine Resort to gain more knowledge of what makes the resort great, then book your trip!
Skiing and snowboarding
Mount Hotham boasts an incredible variety of skiable terrain that caters for skiers of all skill levels. Although this resort is well known for its challenging runs, newcomers will also find easy slopes that help them become familiar with chairlifts and the mountain terrain. Furthermore, there are ski schools and equipment rentals so visitors can experience skiing or snowboarding without needing their own gear.
Hotham provides the ideal opportunity for adventurous travelers looking to venture off the beaten track, offering backcountry treks and snowshoe treks. Additionally, dog sledding expeditions and cross-country skiing trails spanning 35km are also available here – guests can also take guided tours or lessons to help master Dinner Plain’s mountains – in addition to mountain biking and hiking activities!
An average annual snowfall at the resort exceeds three meters, creating an extended season from June to September. While not known for powder quality, coverage in most areas is quite adequate and snowmaking can help complete this winter experience.
Attractions to this resort for visitors include its closeness to the Great Alpine Road and being easily reachable from Melbourne and other regional cities via car or public transport, while chartered flights may also arrive by plane at nearby airport. Bus transport from Melbourne is also readily available.
At this resort, there are various facilities and services, such as day spas, supermarkets, post offices, medical centres and babysitting services. Furthermore, cafes and restaurants, ski shops and equipment rental outlets, ski rental outlets as well as cafes can all be found throughout. Furthermore, the resort also features activities ranging from ice skating, tobogganing to snowmobiling and snowshoeing for maximum fun in winter weather!
Mount Hotham is an idyllic alpine village perfect for families, offering numerous kids’ ski schools. Additionally, there is a host of events from cheese and wine evenings to challenges and competitions taking place throughout the season – not forgetting live shows featuring Harry the blue snowdragon himself!
Hiking
Mount Hotham’s landscape offers plenty of peaceful spots perfect for an afternoon picnic, cheese platter and bubbly toast. The only challenge lies in selecting where best to gather. Some favourite picnic spots include Silver Brumby Hut (built as a replica for 1993 film The Silver Brumby) by a bubbling stream, historic Spargo’s Hut, once home of early prospector Bill Spargo or taking in one of the Mt Hotham summit walks from either Corral Car Park (Corral Car Park or free resort shuttle bus), Razorback Trailhead/Loch Car Park (Falls to Hotham).
Mt Hotham’s walking trails offer miles of open space and spectacular vistas that won’t fail to inspire! There’s even a section of the Alpine Walking Track running through its resort area connecting Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham; plus Cobungra Ditch has quickly become one of Australia’s premier historic trail running routes with miles of hard-compacted surfaces at altitude.
Four-wheel driving is another thrilling winter activity and an amazing way to discover the mountains and surrounding area. The beautiful terrain and stunning scenery make this adventure truly unforgettable, offering many tracks, many with creek crossings, as well as breathtaking alpine views along the way.
Mt Hotham’s hiking trails form part of the Australian Alpine Walking Track (AAWT), an epic multi-state journey stretching from Walhalla in NSW and Victoria all the way up to Mount Kosciuszko in Victoria. Mt Hotham lies along this long distance trail; starting near its southern resort boundary near Mt Blowhard, it passes through Mt Hotham before ending at Derrick Hut in its northeast. You can experience a taste of it at Hotham by following Summit Link track and then diverting left into Huts Walk once at Hotham.
If you prefer guided hiking tours or would like some guidance from local experts, try the curated walking and hiking tours offered in both Falls Creek and Hotham Village. Or venture off on your own using trail maps available from Mt Hotham Management Board Office, Hotham Transit Lounge, Arrabri Ski Club and The General Store.
Dining
Mt Hotham boasts an array of restaurants, cafes and bars during Winter that serve breakfast to dinner – offering everything from snowboard bum hangouts to more upscale apres ski bars for its visitors. The apres ski scene and nightlife at Mt Hotham can also be pretty vibrant – providing options that range from snowboard bum hangouts to upscale apres ski bars.
During non-Winter season, the Great Alpine Road is popular with mountain bikers and trail runners while Mt Hotham provides excellent hiking trails, with Mt Feathertop – known as Queen of the Alps – offering spectacular hiking opportunities along Razorback Ridge. A challenging hike but rich with unforgettable views.
Mt Hotham restaurants and bars provide an array of cuisine, from street-food inspired share plates to delicious main courses and desserts, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly offerings, stunning sunset views and refined apres-ski atmospheres like The Last Run Bar at Mt Hotham Hotel.
At the center of Davenport Village lies Jack Frost – an eatery and social spot dedicated to bringing locals and visitors alike together to enjoy delicious food, beverages, and entertainment. Their amazing menu offers vegan- and vegetarian-friendly choices in addition to providing an inviting setting and live music.
The General is known as the hub of town during Winter months and offers everything from DJs and darts nights, trivia nights, live music performances by DJ Eddy as well as trivia contests to trivia, live music performances and stand-up comedy acts. Their rear deck provides stunning views of Mt Hotham runs while they serve delicious pizzas named for each snowy track as well as hearty family dinners!
Hotham Central Restaurant provides an ample selection of mains and delectable sweet treats, along with great value lunch and dinner specials at competitive prices. A popular spot for families during Winter nights.
Village services include a day spa, supermarkets, post offices, ski and gear hire services for ski hire as well as child care services, medical centers and luggage transfers. Furthermore, there’s also a ski school and an information centre; plus there’s free bus rides around the village for added convenience!
Accommodation
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort, nestled within Victoria’s Great Dividing Range and offering ski-in/ski-out accommodations and breathtaking mountain vistas, features luxurious ski-in/ski-out accommodation. In its mountain village setting are several restaurants such as Zirky’s and White Spa & Resort Restaurant where visitors can sample traditional Australian fare. While June through September are ideal months for skiing, Mount Hotham remains popular summer hiking and mountain biking destinations as well.
Mount Hotham boasts a variety of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly chalets. Some top choices are Club Wyndham Dinner Plain, Trademark Collection by Wyndham and Snowbird Inn; each features spacious rooms as well as various amenities.
Other popular options are the Shamrock Apartment 4 and Arlberg Chalet, both within close proximity to Big D Ski Lift and offering ski equipment rentals, ski pass sales points, ski storage space and fireplaces as well as kitchens equipped with appliances and flat-screen televisions.
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort has attracted some criticism due to its high prices and fluctuating snow conditions. An adult 6-day lift pass costs $512AUD (288EUR), nearly double what other Australian ski resorts charge during peak season. Also, terrain at Mount Hotham Alpine Resort is not very steep despite having some good runs like Mary’s Slide.
Mount Hotham provides some outstanding skiing, but can become overcrowded during weekends and school holidays due to its smaller size compared to larger Australian resorts such as Mt Buller or Falls Creek. Furthermore, its village is located along a road which makes walking between ends difficult; additionally its lack of varied off-piste terrain could leave many skiers feeling disenchanted on first visit; nonetheless it provides excellent training ground for beginner and intermediate skiers as well as being an ideal family destination.