Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Another option is
Falls Creek Reservations Centre
(
&
1800/453 525
in Aus-
tralia). During the ski season, most places will want you to book for an entire
week. Prices are significantly lower in the non-ski season.
FALLS CREEK
375km (233 miles) NE of Melbourne
One of Victoria's best ski resorts, and my favorite, Falls Creek is situated on the
edge of the Bogong High Plains overlooking the Kiewa Valley. This compact
alpine village is the only one in Australia where you can ski from your lodge
to the lifts and back again from the ski slopes. The nightlife is also very good in
the ski season, with plenty of party options as well as a range of walk-in lodge
restaurants.
The ski fields are split into two parts, the Village Bowl and Sun Valley, with
17 lifts covering more than 90 trails. There are plenty of intermediate and
advanced runs, as well as a sprinkling for beginners. You'll also find some of Aus-
tralia's best cross-country skiing here; Australia's major cross-country skiing
event, the Kangaroo Hoppet, is held here on the last Saturday in August every
year. Entry to the resort costs A$6 (US$3.90). Full-day lift tickets cost from
A$59 to A$75 (US$38-US$49) for adults and A$33 to A$39 (US$21-US$25)
for children, depending on the time you ski (July 31-Aug 31 is the most expen-
sive time, and June and after mid-Sept is the cheapest). Combined lift and ski
lesson tickets are also available. Call the
Falls Creek Ski Lifts
(
&
03/5758
3280
) for details. The ski lifts can also organize accommodations options.
Falls Creek is also a pleasant place to visit in summer, when you can go bush-
walking, horseback riding, and trout fishing.
Angling Expeditions
(
&
and fax
03/5754 1466
) is the best option for fly-fishing for trout in the alpine area dur-
ing spring, summer, and fall. Trips last from 3 hours to all day and are suitable
for everyone from beginners to experts. Overnight trips are also available. Horse-
back riding operators include
Falls Creek Trail Rides
(
&
03/5758 3655
) and
Bogong Horseback Adventures
(
&
03/5754 4849
).
GETTING THERE Pyles Coaches
(
&
03/5754 4024
) runs buses to the ski
resort from Melbourne every day during the ski season (from the end of June to
the end of Sept), departing Melbourne at 9am and Falls Creek at 5pm. The
round-trip fare is A$100 (US$65) for adults and A$75 (US$49) for children and
includes the resort entrance fee. The company also runs shuttle buses to and
from Albury just over the border in New South Wales (accessible by train from
Sydney), and between Mt. Beauty and Falls Creek. Bookings are essential.
If you're driving from Melbourne take the Hume Highway to Wangaratta, and
then through Myrtleford and Mt. Beauty to Falls Creek. The trip takes around
4
1
⁄
2
hours. From Sydney take the Hume Highway to Albury-Wodonga and fol-
low the signs to Mt. Beauty and the snowfields. If you arrive in the ski season,
a resort worker will direct you to a car park, and bring you back to the resort
entrance, from where you can take a caterpillar-tracked “troop-carrier” to your
hotel, or attempt the short but (probably) slippery, walk yourself.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Falls Creek Information Centre,
1 Bogong
High Plains Rd., Falls Creek (
&
03/5758 3490
), is open daily from 8am to
5pm. Buy lift tickets in the booth next door, between mid-June and October.
Where to Stay & Dine
Falls Creek is a year-round resort, with a good range of accommodations avail-
able, though it tends to fill up fast during the ski season. As you might expect
