Originally a gold-mining town, it’s now a pretty little village of wide, tree-lined streets, and is also a popular skiing base: there are outlets to rent skis and chains, a seasonal shuttle bus service up to the resorts, and several places to stay and eat. Beyond Harrietville, it’s a steep ascent to Mount Hotham in the Alpine National Park, the “powder snow capital of Australia”.
Mt Hotham is the highest alpine resort in Victoria! No matter what your skills Hotham will give you slopes to enjoy and, what's more, the snow is reliable, long lasting and powder. And if you have never skied before and just want to give it a go, the ski school will cater for you. The lifts run from the main street. What more could you ask!
Mount Hotham has always been known as a "serious skiers" mountain, this was in part due to the roads into Hotham and in part due to the nature of the runs at Hotham. Well the road has now improved and is sealed all the way to the village, and the runs, well there are just more of them, lots more! Mt Hotham probably has the most variety of advanced and expert runs of any resort in Australia (40% of its total skiable area!).
Mt Hotham has undergone a transformation in recent years, a bridge to carry skiers/boarder across the access road, three new quad chairs, more snowmaking and lots of village developments. There is, of course, a good range of beginners and intermediate skiing/boarding as well, and night skiing is offered on the Big D area.
Cross-country trails lead from Hotham to Dinner Plain, Australia's only village above the snowline but not in a national park. Dinner Plain is a resort 8km from the summit and about 1500m above sea level, has much more of a cosy, alpine village feel – complete with architect-designed timber houses that are meant to resemble cattlemen’s mountain huts – than the somewhat unsightly Hotham “village”.
During the ski season tractor-driven carts ferry you around the village and to the start of cross-country trails and skiing areas (all day until late; free), and helicopter shuttle flights in winter link Mount Hotham with Falls Creek, only a few minutes away by air. In Falls Creek you may consider a days skiing/boarding! If you don't want to ski, then Mt Hotham will provide wonderful scenery for you to relax and enjoy what you like doing best.
Offseason
There are cross-country trails on Wire Plain and Whiskey Flat, Longer trails go towards Mount Loch and beyond to Falls Creek, while an 11 kilometre track links Mt Hotham with the Dinner Plains resort below.
The resort has everything the ski enthusiast requires by way of accommodation, great eateries and entertainment and, as with other alpine resorts, is as much fun in the warmer months as it is in winter.
Facilities
For more information on Mount Hotham, go to:
Skiing Events
- SEC Hotham Cup (July)
- Alpine Vintage Cross (August)
- Victorian Masters Championship (August)