Mount Hotham

Nestled in the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, Mount Hotham is home to Victoria’s highest ski resort and a favorite winter getaway for locals. The summit of Mount Hotham rises to more than 1,800 meters, with Hotham Alpine Resort offering 320 hectares of skiable terrain.

Thirteen lifts access the trails of Hotham Alpine Resort, with around 20% of the terrain dedicated to beginners and 40% each to intermediate and advanced snow hounds. There are also cross-country skiing and snowboarding trails to explore and four terrain parks, as well as night skiing available on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the season.

Hotham Alpine Resort has a Ski and Ride School that is one of the best places in Victoria to take your first steps on the snow. Kids can learn to ski from as young as three years old, while there are multi-day programs for budding freestylers to hone their skills.

There is a range of chalets, lodges and self-contained apartments scattered around the Hotham Alpine Resort, as well as a good choice of accommodation in the nearby settlement of Dinner Plain. Casual cafes and fine-dining restaurants also dot the resort, including the Austrian-inspired Zirky’s Bar and Bistro and the Arco Ski Lodge that is styled like a Bavarian beer hall.

The Hotham Alpine Resort has its own airport that makes for easy access, with direct flights from both Melbourne and Sydney. Alternatively, you can make the four-hour drive along the magnificent Great Alpine Road from Melbourne.