We often associate Australia with the sun, beach and sand but we forget that Australia has so much more to offer. In particular, we have snow and some of the best mountains in the world… Mt Buller is of those places and from June to September this mountain is home to snow, food and a thriving community that wants you to come and join the fun.
On a recent visit, we had the good fortune of a 50cm snow dump the night before and continued to fall throughout our stay. What more could you ask for… except blue skies which we got too. This was a perfect few days away at the snow.
With a range of places to stay with everything from budget to luxury you can surely find something that will fit your budget for yourself or a few friends. We had the opportunity to stay at Black Forest Lodge, a three-bedroom lodge nestled into the heart of the village with a great little ski-in-ski-out spot. It is a little private hideaway that really lets you enjoy everything Mt Buller has to offer.
But there is so much more to Mt Buller than great snow, the village is filled with great things to keep you entertained when not hitting the slopes. From the National Australian Alpine Museum, AirZone – trampoline centre that lets you get some serious air, the Alpine Cinema – yes they have a cinema that sits 180 people for the latest blockbusters but be sure to check their Facebook page for movie times and what’s showing, Australian Sled Dogs Tours – home to a slew of rescued Huskies that can take you on a magical trip across the mountain or simple meet and greets where you can get a few cuddles in and even more photos with the dogs. But for us the one we wanted to indulge in was Breathtaker on High Spa, hidden beneath Breathtaker Hotel the spa is home to a range of traditional spa treatments as well as a 30m lap pool, a heated spa and a sauna. This was the perfect way to finish a day of skiing or snowboarding especially if you’ve had a few falls – we can’t recommend this more highly.
Now let’s talk food. Over the last little while Mt Buller has had a rejuvenation with the makeover of Kooroora Hotel which has opened just in time for this season. But they have also welcomed a slew of new places to indulge in from the Birdcage, Black Cockatoo, The Villager and The Loft Bar at Breathtakers. Not to mention Koflers and Tirol Lodge, both on the hill, are great places to stop into for a break when carving up the snow. We did just that and had an early lunch at Tirol helping ourselves to a bowl of fettucine carbonara, wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce, a couple of toasted sandwiches and milkshakes… so much for a lite snack but well worth it. A little tip is either head in early or later in the afternoon, it can get really busy during the lunch peak but either way still worth it.
While a day trip is sometimes all you can manage, we recommend you stay up on the mountain. It offers an entirely different experience for your stay, from the day-to-day activities and the food but simply the opportunity to wake up with amazing views is an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up.
With the season extended until the 6th of October, you have even more time to get your snow fix in this season.
