Guide to the Victoria 2010 snow season

MT HOTHAM
Hotham's mountaintop village, with a capacity for 7,000 guests, is the highest in Victoria. It offers superb views over a resort featuring diverse terrain from beginners to expert. It is the only Australian resort with its own airport, 20 kms away.

What's new
- More snow: A $2.5 million investment in snowmaking at Hotham and sister resort Falls Creek. Snowmaking power at Hotham will increase by 40 per cent, with 22 new snow guns throughout Heavenly Valley, bringing snow gun network to 77. Includes 100 per cent gun coverage on signature runs of Imagine, Snake Gully and The Canyon plus key access trails such as Mother Johnson's Return.

- More flights: QantasLink direct to Hotham airport is back with four weekly services from Sydney during peak season. Connecting flights to all other capital cities.

- More rewards: Hotham's Snow Rewards loyalty program is also valid at sister resort Falls Creek. Cardholders can access lift tickets for $90 per day ($70 in value season), discounts on snowsports lessons and activities as well as bonus offers. Joining fee $49.

Off piste activities
Kite boarding, snowmobiles, helicopter rides, tobogganing, dog sledding, sunset tours, free shows for kids by Harry the Hotham mascot, spa, gym and swimming, over 20 bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Night skiing twice a week.

Location
Northern Victoria, 4.5 hours drive from Melbourne (357 kms), nine hours from Sydney (746 kms) and 882 kms from Adelaide. By air Hotham is 45 minutes from Melbourne and 80 minutes from Sydney.

Accommodation
Over 180 properties at Mt Hotham and nearby Dinner Plain, including chalets, lodges, apartments, houses and motel style rooms.

More: www.hotham.com.au or www.mthotham.com.au

FALLS CREEK
A family resort with a European-style village featuring ski-in ski-out accommodation for all 5,000 residents, a rarity in Australasia. The vast bulk of terrain is suited to intermediate skiers. The kids ski school and the terrain park are both highly rated.

What's new
- 28 automatic snow guns, most on Wombat's Ramble, Australia's longest beginner run at 2.2km. With full automatic coverage, the run will be transformed into Australia's newest nightskiing and boarding playground with floodlights running on green power. Falls Creek will now have 49 fan guns, 50 automatic air water guns and 115 manual air water snow guns. New top to bottom snowmaking ensures night skiing will be available both earlier and later in the season.

- New covered Magic Carpet, similar to existing Mouse Trap carpet, will be placed closest to the Kids Snowsports Centre, protecting 3-5 year-olds on snowy days and from sun on fine days.

Free/cheap activities
- Pete the friendly Snow Dragon puts on free shows in the Village Bowl after the ski lifts close.
- Free Night Shows (under lights) on Thursday evenings in July and August
- Free helmets for kids 14 and under who rent skis or a board from Falls Creek Sports
- Kids 5 years and under Ski or Board for Free when accompanied by an adult

Off piste activities
Snow bungy, snowmobile tours, grooming tours, cat skiing on Mt Mackay, kite boarding, snow bikes, snow bocce, helicopter flights, Nordic snowshoeing, snowman competitions, free kids concerts twice weekly with Pete the dragon, night fireworks, night skiing.

Location
120km by road from Albury, 350km from Melbourne, 500km from Canberra and 690km from Sydney. Bus lines offer connecting services to Albury train station and airport.

Accommodation
5,000 beds on mountain, or stay at Mt Beauty, 30 kms down the hill.

More: www.fallscreek.com.au

MT BULLER
Just three hours from Melbourne, it is billed as Australia's most accessible ski resort. It boasts the largest lifting capacity in Victoria, with a network of 25 lifts capable of moving 40,000 people per hour around its 80 kms of marked trails.

What's new
- More snow and smoother runs - over $1 million has been invested to further upgrade snowmaking systems and the snow grooming fleet. Snowmaking operations start on Wombat, one of Mt Buller's most popular runs. Automation starts on the challenging terrain in the Howqua Extension, completing the automation of the entire summit snowmaking area.

- Faster, smarter passes: New chip-enabled cards are being introduced for season pass holders and Buller Club members. These cards will hold their rental equipment information, registration details for Ski School as well as validate their 10 per cent discount entitlement at selected retail and hospitality venues.

- Two-hour afternoon lessons for $46. Head out at 1pm and see what a difference just a couple of hours in a lesson can make.

- Burnt Hut chairlift lived up to its name when its operator hut burnt to the ground and drive station was severely damaged by a lightning strike in February. It will be replaced with a quad chair in 2011. Two temporary carpet lifts are being installed to maintain it as a great beginner ski area this winter.

Off piste activities
Snowshoeing, tobogganing and snowtubing, Australia's highest cinema, spa retreat, alpine museum, indoor sports complex, indoor climbing wall. Over 30 bars and restaurants.

Location
248 kms north-east of Melbourne, an easy three hour drive. Closest alpine resort to any international airport.

Accommodation
Capacity of 7,000 beds including luxurious hotels, private lodges and modern apartments. Fifteen commercial properties.

More: www.mtbuller.com.au

MT BUFFALO
Styles itself as a friendly, affordable and fun resort. Ideal for beginners and families, its motto is: small is beautiful.

Accommodation
A wide variety is available in the nearby villages of Bright and Porepunkah.

Location
325 kms (four hours drive) from Melbourne, 680 kms (8.5 hours drive) from Sydney, 775 kms (12 hours drive) from Adelaide and 460 kms (5.5 hours drive) from Canberra. From Albury it is a 1.5 hour drive.

More: www.mtbuffaloresort.com.au/winter