High expectations on Victorian slopes

MILLIONS of dollars in new snowmaking gear, a six-seat chairlift and a forecast bumper season await visitors to Victoria's ski fields this year.

Mt Buller/Kit Rundle

MILLIONS of dollars in new snow-making equipment, a six-seat chairlift and a forecast bumper season await visitors to Victoria's ski fields this year.

Mt Hotham has invested $3.3 million in snowmaking, increasing coverage by almost 50 per cent from 17 to 25 hectares.

The resort is also offering free Kat skiing to lure guests in 2008.

Mt Buller has constructed a six-seat chairlift and spent $500,000 on its own snowmaking upgrade.

It is also set for a marked expansion off the slopes, with some $40 million in residential developments either completed or underway.

Snow blanketed the Victorian Alps in late April, raising hopes of a repeat of the 2000 season.

At Mt Buller, more than 10cm of snow fell on the last Sunday in April, with further falls forecast there and at other resorts ahead of the scheduled June 7 opening.

"This is the third snow we've had in the past month, so it's shaping up to be a great start to the season," said Buller Ski Lifts' general manager, Laurie Blampied.

"The more snow we receive now the colder the ground becomes and that makes for a better base when heavier natural falls arrive and we begin snowmaking in late May."

In 2000 Falls Creek and Mt Hotham both opened a week early, with more than a metre of snow covering their slopes.

Here is a rundown of Victoria's 2008 snow season:

Mt Hotham

Hotham's mountaintop village, with a capacity for 7000 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. A $500m village redevelopment has been approved with plans for 1400 more beds.

What's new for 2008:

Snowmaking expanded into Heavenly Valley at a cost of $3.3 million. Fourteen permanent tower guns erected on Imagine and Snake Gully runs, and 30 hydrant points along Milky Way. Snowmaking coverage increased from 17 to 25 hectares. Save more than 20 per cent on lift, lesson and hire passes during the first three weeks and the last two weeks of the season. Kids also get to ski free at these times when booked with accommodation for a three-day stay or more. Kids Snow Zone has supervised night skiing, movies and games on select evenings for 7-14 year olds. Kat Skiing Adventures now free for every guest with a valid lift pass. New restaurants in Dinner Plain, including Graze at Rundells (formerly Crystal Creek Resort) and McIntyres at High Plains Lodge.

Off Piste: 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.

Getting there: Mt Hotham is in northern Victoria, 4.5 hours drive from Melbourne (357 kms), nine hours from Sydney (746 kms) and 882 kms from Adelaide.

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

Mt Hotham Fast Facts

Village elevation: 1,750m Skiable area: 320ha Terrain: Beginner 20 per cent, Intermediate 40 per cent, Advanced 40 per cent Lifts: 13 Highest lifted point: 1845m Vertical drop: 395m Longest run: 2.5km Lift capacity: 24,485 skiers per hour Grooming machines: 7 Average natural snow depth: 150cm Average snowfalls: 300cm Snowmaking: 10ha Cross-country trails: 35km

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 5000 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 for 2008:

Snowmaking upgrade A new Prinoth grooming machine. Lift ticket discounts for June 7-27 and September 15-28. $200m in property development during the summer, including the $50 million St Falls Plaze project. The first stage, the East Wing, will contain retail shops, supermarkets, restaurants and 38 apartments. Second stage, including more apartments, a spa, Turkish baths, a gym and creche, to be completed by 2010.

Off Piste: snow bungy ($9), snowmobile tours, grooming tours ($39 but booking is recommended as they are very popular), cat skiing on Mt Mackay (half day $69), kite boarding, snow bikes ($17), snow bocce, helicopter flights, Nordic snowshoeing, snowman competitions, free kids concerts twice weekly with Pete the dragon, night fireworks, night skiing ($17).

Getting there: Falls Creek is 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.

Stay: 5000 beds on mountain, or stay at Mt Beauty, 30 kms down the hill.

Falls Creek Fast Facts

Highest altitude: 1842m Highest lift: 1780m Village altitude: 1600m Average annual snowfall: 400cm Average days open: 128 Lifts: 14 Number of runs: 92 Skiable area: 451 hectares Vertical descent: 267m Longest run: wishing well (blue): 3km Terrain: 17 per cent beginner, 60 per cent intermediate, 23 per cent advanced Groomed cross country trails: 60km

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 for 2008:

$40 million in residential developments are either completed or underway. Projects finished include Altiset's two Meribel Chalets and Hickory's Timbuktu. Scheduled for completion in 2009 include Saint Buller, Panorama, Caribou, Courchevel and Stables. Buller Ski Lifts has invested $4.5 million in its new Stirling House development, which will provide accommodation for 80 staff. Australia's first six-seat chairlift, the $6 million Holden chair, will run from Helicopter Flat, near the Ski School, to the top of Baldy. It will be able to move 3200 skiers per hour and will make the 1100m trip in less than four minutes. It is the first lift at Mt Buller to be run on wind-generated power. Snowmaking: $500,000 upgrade includes automated guns on Bourke Street and Baldy runs. New toboggan facilities: extra land has been cleared, and the Village toboggan run will have its own dedicated snowmaking system with two guns.

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

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

Stay: Capacity of 7000 beds including luxurious hotels, private lodges and modern apartments. Fifteen commercial properties.

Mt Buller Fast Facts

Summit altitude: 1,804m Village altitude: 1600m Highest lifted point: 1780m Vertical drop: 405m Average snow depth: 111cm Terrain: 20 per cent beginner, 45 per cent intermediate, 35 per cent advanced Skiable area: 300 hectares Longest run: 2.5km Marked trails: 80km Cross-country trails: 9km Lifts: 25, Victoria's largest lifting system Capacity: 40,000 skiers per hour Snowmaking: 74 hectares Groomers: 13

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.

Buffalo chalet remains closed while negotiations continue with the Victorian government.

What's on offer in 2008

At Cresta Valley the 1km, 4km and 6km cross-country trails will be open and groomed as snow allows. The horn road will also be open and groomed. A temporary public shelter will be open daily. Free toboganning will be offered at either Cresta Valley or Dingo Dell depending on snow falls. A cafe will operate at Dingo Dell day visitor centre.

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

Getting there: Mt Buffalo is 325km (4 hours drive) from Melbourne, 680km (8.5 hours drive) from Sydney, 775km (12 hours drive) from Adelaide and 460km (5.5 hours drive) from Canberra. From Albury it is a 1.5 hour drive.

Mt Buffalo Fast Facts

Summit: 1695m Village: 1490m Lifts: two double chairs, five pomas. Terrain: mostly green and blue trails, with a few black runs.

More: www.mtbuffaloresort.com.au/winter