Falls Creek Alpine Resort

Last updated

Falls Creek
Falls Creek1.jpg
Falls-creek-ruined-castle-and-terrain-park.jpg
The Ruined Castle chairlift and terrain park
Australia Victoria Alpine Shire location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Falls Creek
Location near Alpine Shire
Location Alpine National Park
Australian Alps
Victoria, Australia
Nearest major city Mount Beauty – 30 km (20 mi)
Wodonga
Coordinates 36°51′54″S147°16′23″E / 36.865°S 147.273°E / -36.865; 147.273
Owner Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV)
Vertical   280 m (919 ft)
Top elevation1,780 m (5,840 ft)
Base elevation1,500 m (4,921 ft)
Skiable area450 ha (1,100 acres)
Trails 76+
Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg – 17% beginner
Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg – 60% intermediate
Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg – 23% advanced
Longest run3 km (1.9 mi), Wishing Well
Lift system 16 lifts
Terrain parks 4
Snowfall 4 m (160 in) per year
Snowmaking ~30% of slopes have snowmaking capabilities
Night skiing Wed & Sat 6–9 pm
Website fallscreek.com.au
New logo for Falls Creek Falls Creek1.jpg
New logo for Falls Creek

The Falls Creek Alpine Resort is an alpine ski resort in the Hume region in northeastern Victoria, Australia. It is located in the Alpine National Park in the Victorian Alps, approximately 350 kilometres (220 miles) by road from Melbourne, with the nearest town being Mount Beauty, which is approximately 30 km (20 mi) away. The resort lies between an elevation of 1,500 and 1,830 m (4,921 and 6,004 ft) above sea level, [1] with the highest lifted point at 1,780 m (5,840 ft). Skiing is possible on the nearby peak of Mount McKay at 1,842 m (6,043 ft), accessed by snowcat from the resort.

Contents

The resort is an unincorporated area, directly administered by the government of Victoria, and surrounded by the Alpine Shire.

Alpine resort

Falls Creek Hotel in summer (January) AU Falls Creek Hotel.JPG
Falls Creek Hotel in summer (January)
St Falls ski lodge St Falls ski lodge 2012.jpg
St Falls ski lodge
Huski Hotel Huski Hotel 2012.jpg
Huski Hotel

Falls Creek is beginner/intermediate friendly, with almost 80% of the resort dedicated to these types of skiers/snowboarders. However, Australia's notoriously fickle snow conditions ensure that snowmaking using the water from the nearby Rocky Valley Lake is sometimes, particularly early in the season, the main source of skiable snow. Consequently, like all Australian snowfields, Falls Creek's customer base is almost entirely domestic, however many international cross country skiers travel to Falls Creek for the Kangaroo Hoppet, Australia's Worldloppet event on the last Saturday of August and international snowboarders to Stylewars, The Australian Slopestyle Championships and Australia's highest sanctioned TTR World Tour [ usurped ] event held in the first week of September.

The resort features 4500 accommodation beds, and consequently a large number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs to entertain guests at night. Some apartments are privately owned, but the resort's management requires that they must be available for hire when not occupied.

The resort also serves as a summer base to explore the national park surrounding the resort.

Falls Creek is accessible by the Bogong High Plains Road from Mount Beauty all year round, though like all of Australia's snow resorts snow chains must be carried during winter and fitted if directed. The road continues across the High Plains and descends to meet the Omeo Highway north of the hamlet of Anglers Rest, however the route from this side is closed during the snow season. [2]

In summer both routes are popular with cyclists, and various cycling events are held that involve climbing to the resort, including the popular SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge (recently renamed to Falls Creek Peaks Challenge).

Quick Statistics

In winter

  • Snowline elevation: 1,100 m (3,610 ft)
  • Average yearly snowfall: 4 m (160 in)
  • Average days open in winter: 128

Alpine

  • Number of Runs: 76+
  • Longest advanced run: Wishing Well, 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Longest beginner run: Wombats Ramble, 2.2 km (1.4 mi)
  • Terrain mix: 17% Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg beginner, 60% Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg intermediate, 23% Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg advanced
  • Total lift length: 8.1km
  • Lift capacity: 28,392 Passengers/hour

Cross country

  • Number of trails: 21
  • Groomed trail network: 65 km (40 mi)
  • Longest trail: Rocky Valley Dam Loop, 21 km (13 mi)
  • Terrain mix: Beginner 33% Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg , Intermediate 48% Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg , Advanced 19% Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg

Lift network

Lift Name [3] [4] Lift TypeManufacturerMoving Capacity / HourYear BuiltSpeedRide TimeLift LengthElevation Climb
Eagle Express4 person chair, detachable Leitner-Poma 2400 people20185.1m/s2:50 mins800m191m
Halley's Comet4 person chair, detachable Doppelmayr 2400 people19865.0m/s3:20 mins900m200m
Summit4 person chair, fixed Doppelmayr 2400 people19922.0m/s4:40 mins587m187m
International1 person poma, detachable Poma 1000 people19692.0m/s11:00 mins1216m278m
Gully3 person chair, fixed Poma 1500 people19822.0m/s6:00 mins475m76m
Drover's Dream4 person chair, fixed Leitner-Poma 2400 people20042.2m/s6:00 mins710m104m
Towers4 person chair, fixed Garaventa 2400 people19992.0m/s5:50 mins634m136m
Boardwalk Conveyor lift Sunkid1500 people20040.7m/s2:10 mins81m-
Mouse Trap Conveyor lift with enclosureSunkid1500 people20060.7m/s3:30 mins114m-
Monkey Bar1 person platter, fixed Doppelmayr 792 people20062.0m/s2:30 mins271m33m
Lakeside1 person poma, detachableGMM1000 people19672.0m/s7:20 mins737m140m
Scotts4 person chair, fixed Doppelmayr 2400 people19892.3m/s6:00 mins760m150m
Ruined Castle4 person chair, fixed, with loading conveyorDoppelmayr2600 people19952.0m/s6:00 mins651m150m
The Tube Conveyor lift Sunkid1500 people20040.7m/s---
Pete's Train Conveyor lift Sunkid1500 people20180.7m/s---
Snowsports School Conveyor lift Sunkid1500 people-0.7m/s---

History

After World War II, the Kiewa electrical scheme was started in the Kiewa River valley by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. On land previously used only for summer cattle grazing in the natural alpine grasslands, the first ski lodge was built in 1948 by workers from the scheme. [5] The first lift, a rope tow, was built in 1951 and the first chairlift in Australia was constructed there in 1957. [5]

Falls Creek Post Office opened on 9 June 1958 (with telegraph and telephone facilities only until 1964). [6]

The high plains in the area were used for summer cattle grazing from 1851 until 2005, when the Government of Victoria did not renew grazing licences due to concerns about the cattle's impact on the fragile alpine environment. Some of the cattlemen's huts still survive and are a tourist attraction in summer. Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest mountain, is nearby. The nearest town to Falls Creek is Mount Beauty.

In 2019, Vail Resorts announced the acquisition of Falls Creek and Hotham for AU$174 million, and today they operate three of the largest ski resorts in Australia, including Perisher Ski Resort in New South Wales.

Climate

Falls Creek has a very cold Oceanic / Subpolar oceanic climate (Cfb / Cfc) under the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm, or a Humid continental / Subarctic climate (Dfb / Dfc) under the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm, with short, cool summers and cold, very snowy winters.

On 3 February 2023, Falls Creek reached a top of just 0.5 °C (32.9 °F). [7] Falls Creek registered the lowest temperature recorded in Victoria (along with Omeo in June 1965); a reading of −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) on 3 July 1970. [8]

Climate data for Falls Creek (1990–2023); 1,765 m AMSL; 36.87° S, 147.28° E
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)29.7
(85.5)
28.6
(83.5)
25.3
(77.5)
19.1
(66.4)
16.1
(61.0)
13.2
(55.8)
9.8
(49.6)
11.9
(53.4)
16.2
(61.2)
21.7
(71.1)
25.3
(77.5)
26.6
(79.9)
29.7
(85.5)
Mean maximum °C (°F)24.6
(76.3)
23.2
(73.8)
20.3
(68.5)
15.5
(59.9)
12.1
(53.8)
8.9
(48.0)
6.3
(43.3)
7.4
(45.3)
11.7
(53.1)
16.8
(62.2)
19.9
(67.8)
22.3
(72.1)
25.5
(77.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)17.8
(64.0)
17.1
(62.8)
14.2
(57.6)
9.8
(49.6)
5.9
(42.6)
2.8
(37.0)
1.2
(34.2)
1.9
(35.4)
5.0
(41.0)
9.1
(48.4)
12.6
(54.7)
15.1
(59.2)
9.4
(48.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)13.4
(56.1)
12.8
(55.0)
10.2
(50.4)
6.5
(43.7)
3.2
(37.8)
0.6
(33.1)
−0.9
(30.4)
−0.4
(31.3)
2.1
(35.8)
5.4
(41.7)
8.5
(47.3)
10.7
(51.3)
6.0
(42.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)8.9
(48.0)
8.5
(47.3)
6.2
(43.2)
3.2
(37.8)
0.5
(32.9)
−1.6
(29.1)
−2.9
(26.8)
−2.7
(27.1)
−0.8
(30.6)
1.6
(34.9)
4.4
(39.9)
6.3
(43.3)
2.6
(36.7)
Mean minimum °C (°F)−0.1
(31.8)
−0.1
(31.8)
−1.7
(28.9)
−3.5
(25.7)
−5.1
(22.8)
−6.2
(20.8)
−6.6
(20.1)
−7.3
(18.9)
−6.5
(20.3)
−4.9
(23.2)
−3.8
(25.2)
−2.0
(28.4)
−7.9
(17.8)
Record low °C (°F)−3.9
(25.0)
−3.9
(25.0)
−3.6
(25.5)
−6.9
(19.6)
−7.7
(18.1)
−8.6
(16.5)
−8.5
(16.7)
−9.6
(14.7)
−8.6
(16.5)
−7.0
(19.4)
−6.3
(20.7)
−4.8
(23.4)
−9.6
(14.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)114.5
(4.51)
91.5
(3.60)
107.1
(4.22)
101.1
(3.98)
103.8
(4.09)
143.9
(5.67)
96.2
(3.79)
106.2
(4.18)
119.9
(4.72)
142.3
(5.60)
134.3
(5.29)
104.9
(4.13)
1,366.6
(53.80)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)10.610.411.011.111.914.415.115.214.413.212.710.4150.4
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)66687178859192908774696678
Source: Bureau of Meteorology [9] [10]

Proposed developments

In 2009, the Falls Creek resort plan proposed replacing the Gully triple chair with a gondola, having a capacity of 1800 passengers per hour and a speed of up to 6 metres per second. This proposal also made its appearance in the 2016 masterplan, but nothing has resulted as of yet. It is worth noting that a gondola this short would be considerably expensive, where it would be much more cost effective to replace a much longer lift.

Snowmaking

In 2021, Falls Creek invested AU$1.88 million into snowmaking machines. These new TechnoAlpin guns were placed along Wombats Ramble, Main Street and at the base of Drovers Dream. These snow machines now accompany the older snowmaking technology along Ruined Castle and Main Street.

Notable seasons

2022 saw unusually large snowfalls in June, resulting in an established snowpack before the start of the ski season. As a result of this, Falls Creek and many other resorts opened to visitors one week early, with a snow depth of over 75cm at beginning of June.

Notable racers

Source: [11]

Notable snowboarders

See also

References

  1. "Environment - Falls Creek - www.fallscreek.com.au Victoria's largest family summer and winter alpine resort". Falls Creek. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  2. "TTR World Snowboard Tour: Home". 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. "Australian ski lift directory: details of 500 lifts & ropeways". Australian mountains. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. "Ski lifts Falls Creek - cable cars Falls Creek - lifts Falls Creek". www.skiresort.info. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Falls Creek, VIC". Aussie Towns. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  6. Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List , retrieved 23 February 2021
  7. "Falls Creek Daily Summaries". www.weatherzone.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  8. "Rainfall and temperature records". Bureau of Meteorology . 30 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  9. "Climate Statistics for Falls Creek". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  10. "Climate data online (Site number: 083084)". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  11. "History". Falls Creek Race Club. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.