BYO food, no parties: The big changes coming to this year’s snow season
Victoria’s alpine resorts may be set to open in coming weeks, but a holiday on the slopes will be anything but “normal” this winter. These are the changes snow lovers can expect.
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Skiers planning to rush to the slopes when the season opens later this month face being disappointed if they have not planned ahead.
As ski resorts look to abide by still-strict social distancing laws, ski-goers will have a more BYO experience than they are used to.
They are being advised to stock up on snacks, sandwiches, schnapps and cocoa powder before heading to the mountains, and leave their cash, party shoes and romantic intentions behind.
And anyone expecting to turn up to popular Victorian ski resorts, snare a lift pass and hit the slopes will be in for disappointment.
At Falls Creek, which opens on June 24, same-day lift ticket sales will not be available, meaning guests must pre-purchase season passes or lift tickets online well in advance.
The number of skiers and snowboarders on the slopes each day will also be carefully monitored and managed, to ensure social distancing in line with COVID-19 restrictions.
And there will be no hard partying, with guests asked to stay 1.5m from people who are not family members “at all times”.
Guests who live together will be allowed to ride lifts together, while those who do not will need to sit apart and keep their distance in queues
The popular family resort will be a cashless village for the first time in its history, and visitors are encouraged to take their own snacks and lunches with them, when they ski.
High country tourism boss Bess Nolan-Cook, who has Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller in her patch, said while hospitality and accommodation providers were eager for business, they needed plenty of warning this year and early bookings were essential.
With restrictions still in place on Victorian venues, camping grounds and caravan parks with shared facilities, accommodation choices were also much more limited than usual, so those available would likely book out quickly, she said
Mt Buller is hoping to open its ski area from June 22, and Mt Hotham from June 24, with many of the same restrictions as Falls Creek in place.
PATIENCE URGED AS VICTORIANS EXPLORE OWN BACKYARDS
Billions of dollars will start flowing back into Victorian tourist towns from the winter school holidays, as operators brace for a rush of families desperate to get away after the coronavirus lockdown.
Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) boss Felicia Mariani said the state’s visitor economy was worth $31 billion before the pandemic hit, with annual tourism expenditure in regional Victoria totalling $11.5 billion.
Regional tourism chiefs said the sector, which had been crushed by coronavirus restrictions, was now slowly starting to come back to life and had high hopes of a busy school holiday period.
The Queen’s Birthday long weekend had provided a taste of what was to come, with many small towns inundated with city visitors and some establishments forced to turn people away, they said.
But they urged families to plan their holidays carefully, and ensure they booked all their accommodation well in advance.
Restaurants and tickets to key tourist attractions should also be booked early, to avoid disappointment.
At the recently reopened Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, no walk-ins will be accepted and social distancing will be in place over the school holidays, but the attraction is slowly returning to normal.
And there are already bookings for the school holidays, some weeks away.
Gippsland’s Golden Age Motel in Omeo has bookings for the first week of the school holidays, but none as yet for the second.
“It’s all just a waiting game,” publican Hannah Richards said.
Tourism North East chief executive officer Bess Nolan-Cook said bookings in Victoria’s high country in late June and early July were “solid”.
The northeast tourist region incorporates high country ski fields and tiny mountain towns, as well as the bigger regional centres of Mansfield, Benalla and Wangaratta.
Ms Nolan-Cook said it was vital visitors to all country towns — which were just starting to get back on their feet after the devastating coronavirus shutdown — exercised patience and kindness to local hospitality providers.
“My advice is to, plan, plan, plan,” Ms Nolan-Cook said.
“Even to the point of planning to order takeaway, to be honest.
“It’s really hard for everyone to get going again after such a huge upheaval within individual businesses.
“We want people to have a great experience on holidays but we all have a part to play in that and planning in advance is one of the critical things that will make the difference between having a great time and potentially finding yourself in a position where you’re frustrated or unhappy.
“To make sure everyone has a great experience, people need to be patient, kind and work together.”
Mornington Peninsula Tourism said a survey this week of businesses in that region showed winter bookings were strong and getting stronger.
“This bodes well for the upcoming school holidays,” spokesperson Tracey Cooper said.
And general manager of Great Ocean Road Tourism Liz Price said anecdotal reports indicated school holiday bookings were already being made in coastal towns, which until recently had been deserted.
“We are encouraging visitors … to book direct to get local expertise on making the most of their visit,” she said.
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