Skiing in Victoria

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Mount Feathertop, Victoria, 1922m, seen from Mount Hotham View-From-Mt-Hotham-Summit-2008.jpg
Mount Feathertop, Victoria, 1922m, seen from Mount Hotham

Skiing in Victoria, Australia takes place in the Australian Alps located in the State of Victoria during the southern hemisphere winter. Victoria is the State with the greatest number of ski resorts in Australia. The highest peak in Victoria is Mount Bogong at 1986m. [1] The first ski tow was constructed near Mount Buffalo in 1938. Victoria has a number of well developed ski resorts including Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buller. Cross country skiing is popular in such national parks as Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park.

Contents

Overview

Mount Hotham Victoria MarysSlide.jpg
Mount Hotham Victoria

A hospice was built at Mount Saint Bernard (Elevation 1540) around 1863 along a track developed to link the Victorian gold fields. Snowshoes were developed locally to assist winter travellers and a larger hospice built around 1884. Recreational and practical skiing was being practised in the area by the 1880s and 90s with skis made from local timbers, and making use of single steering poles. The first winter traverse of the Victorian Alps was made in 1900, via the Hospice and Mount Hotham. The Hospice operated as a recreational ski location into the 1930s, but was destroyed by bushfire in 1939. [2]

Skiing began at Mount Buffalo in the 1890s and the Mount Buffalo Chalet in Victoria was constructed in 1910. Australia's first ski tow was constructed near Mount Buffalo in 1938. [3] Buffalo's first ski lodge was built at Dingo Dell in 1954. A bushfire in 2006 forced the temporary closure of the resort and negotiations are continuing over a new lease on the property. [4] [5] A stone cottage was built at Mount Hotham in 1925 to cater for a growing interest in sport of skiing and a Club was built in 1944 with the first ski tow installed in 1951. [6] A ski hut was erected at Mount Baw Baw, just 120 km East of Melbourne, in 1945 and a ski rope tow added in 1955. [7] The first ski lift went into service at Mount Buller in 1949, and in the same year rope tow was installed at Falls Creek. [8] In 1957, Australia's first chairlift was installed at Falls Creek, [9] and the area is today the largest ski resort in Victoria.[ citation needed ]

The Mount Buller Interschools Event claims to be the largest interdisciplinary snow-sports event on earth. In 2008 it attracted 3500 participants. [10]

Snow play is also available at Mount Donna Buang.

Cross Country & Back Country Skiing

The Kangaroo Hoppet, an annual 42km Cross Country Ski Race, at Falls Creek, Victoria Hoppet-2005-sun-valley.jpg
The Kangaroo Hoppet, an annual 42km Cross Country Ski Race, at Falls Creek, Victoria
A trail at Lake Mountain cross country ski resort, Victoria Lake-Mountain-trail.jpg
A trail at Lake Mountain cross country ski resort, Victoria
Telemark skier at Mount Stirling cross country ski resort Telemark-skier-mt-stirling-1.jpg
Telemark skier at Mount Stirling cross country ski resort

Dedicated Cross Country ski resorts are located at Lake Mountain, Mount Stirling and Mount St Gwinear in Victoria and popular areas for back country skiing and ski touring in the Alpine National Park, Yarra Ranges National Park and the Baw Baw National Park include: Mount Bogong, Mount Feathertop, Bogong High Plains, Mount Howitt, Mount Reynard and Snowy Plains. The Kangaroo Hoppet is a leg of the Worldloppet cross-country race series which is conducted on the last Saturday of August each year, hosted by Falls Creek in Victoria. The showpiece 42-kilometre race attracts thousands of spectators and competitors. [10]

The Australian High Country is populated by unique flora and fauna including wombats, wallabies, echidnas, and the Snow Gum. [11] The Alpine regions are subject to environmental protection, which has limited the scope of commercial development of skiable terrain, [12] however Australia has extensive cross country skiing terrain. [13] [14]

Ski areas

Downhill ski resorts

Cross country resorts

Resorts proposed for development that never occurred

Back country ski areas

Popular areas for back country skiing and ski touring in the Alpine National Park, Mount Buffalo National Park, Yarra Ranges National Park and the Baw Baw National Park include:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine National Park</span> Protected area in Victoria, Australia

The Alpine National Park is a national park located in the Central Highlands and Alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. The 646,000-hectare (1,600,000-acre) national park is located northeast of Melbourne. It is the largest National Park in Victoria, and covers much of the higher areas of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, including Victoria's highest point, Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres (6,516 ft) and the associated subalpine woodland and grassland of the Bogong High Plains. The park's north-eastern boundary is along the border with New South Wales, where it abuts the Kosciuszko National Park. On 7 November 2008 the Alpine National Park was added to the Australian National Heritage List as one of eleven areas constituting the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Buffalo National Park</span> Protected area in Victoria, Australia

The Mount Buffalo National Park is a national park in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. The 31,000-hectare (77,000-acre) national park is located approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Melbourne in the Australian Alps. Within the national park is Mount Buffalo, a moderately high mountain plateau, with an elevation of 1,723 metres (5,653 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baw Baw National Park</span> Protected area in Victoria, Australia

The Baw Baw National Park is a national park located on the boundary between the Victorian Alps and Gippsland regions of Victoria, Australia. The 13,530-hectare (33,400-acre) national park is situated approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Melbourne and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Latrobe Valley. The park contains the forest covered Baw-Baw Plateau and surrounds the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falls Creek Alpine Resort</span> Ski resort in Victoria, Australia

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 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 above sea level, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Alps</span> Bioregion in Australia

The Australian Alps is a mountain range in southeast Australia. It comprises an interim Australian bioregion, and is the highest mountain range in Australia. The range straddles the borders of eastern Victoria, southeastern New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. It contains Australia's only peaks exceeding 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in elevation, and is the only bioregion on the Australian mainland in which deep snow falls annually. The range comprises an area of 1,232,981 ha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Baw Baw</span> Mountain in Victoria, Australia

Mount Baw Baw is a mountain summit on the Baw-Baw Plateau of the Great Dividing Range, located in Victoria, Australia. The name is from the Woiwurrung language spoken by Eastern Kulin people. It is of uncertain meaning, but possibly signifies, echo, or ghost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Bogong</span> Mountain in Victoria, Australia

Mount Bogong,, located in the Alpine National Park and part of the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, is the highest mountain in Victoria, Australia, at 1,986 metres (6,516 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Alps</span>

The Victorian Alps, also known locally as the High Country, is a large mountain system in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. Occupying the majority of eastern Victoria, it is the southwestern half of the Australian Alps, the tallest portion of the Great Dividing Range. The Yarra and Dandenong Ranges, both sources of rivers and drinking waters for Melbourne, are branches of the Victorian Alps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bogong High Plains</span> Mountains in Australia

The Bogong High Plains, part of the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, are a section of plains located in the Alpine National Park in the Australian state of Victoria and are situated south of Mount Bogong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount St Gwinear</span> Mountain in Victoria, Australia

Mount St Gwinear is a mountain in Victoria, Australia, located at the north-east end of the Baw Baw National Park in the Gippsland high country. It is popular with families looking for a cheap and accessible snow-play/tobogganing destination and cross-country skiers. The Baw Baw Plateau provides an abundance of easy touring terrain. Mount Baw Baw downhill ski village is approximately 9 km away across the Baw Baw plateau to the south-west and trails link the resorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Feathertop</span> Mountain in Victoria, Australia

Mount Feathertop is the second-highest mountain in the Australian state of Victoria and is part of the Australian Alps and is located within the Alpine National Park. It rises to 1,922 metres (6,306 ft) and is usually covered in snow from June to September. Unlike most mountains in the Australian Alps, Mount Feathertop has steep summit slopes instead of a rounded summit dome. Snow remaining in the summit gullies until late spring gives the appearance of feathers, hence the name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Alps Walking Track</span> Hiking trail in South East Australia

The Australian Alps Walking Track is a long-distance walking trail through the alpine areas of Victoria, New South Wales and ACT. It is 655 km long, starting at Walhalla, Victoria and running through to Tharwa, ACT near Canberra. The track weaves mainly through Australian national parks, such as Alpine National Park and Kosciuszko National Park, though it is not exclusively restricted to national parks. It ascends many peaks including Mount Kosciuszko, Mount Bogong, and Bimberi Peak, the highest points in N.S.W., Victoria, and the A.C.T. respectively. The AAWT crosses exposed high plains including the Victorian Bogong High Plains and the Main Range in NSW. To walk the whole trail can take between 5 and 8 weeks. Food drops or a support crew are necessary, as the trail passes through no towns, although it passes close to the ski resorts of Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Perisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter sport in Australia</span> Overview of winter sports practiced in Australia

Winter Sports in Australia encompasses a great variety of activities across the continent of Australia, including winter sports played in snow and ice such as ice hockey. Climate varies considerably from the tropical North to temperate South in Australia, and sporting practices vary accordingly. Ice and snow sports like Skiing in Australia are conducted in the high country of the Australian Alps and Tasmanian Wilderness. Australia has relatively low mountain ranges, but a long history of participation in recreational skiing and the Winter Olympic Games. Australians have won olympic gold in ice skating, skiing and snow-boarding events. Australia's generally flat geography and usually mild winter climate otherwise provide ideal conditions for international non-snow/ice winter sports and team games like Rugby Union Football, Rugby league Football and Association Football (Soccer), which are all popular sports during the Australian winter and in which Australia has enjoyed considerable international success. Australian rules football is a home-grown winter football code with a wide following throughout Australia. Many other sports are also played or watched in Australia through the winter season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bush Search and Rescue Victoria</span>

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria (BSAR) is a volunteer search and rescue group active in the state of Victoria (Australia) and is affiliated with Bushwalking Victoria. Bush Search and Rescue participates in land-based search and rescue activities for persons lost in the bush, in conjunction with and under direction from the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skiing in Australia</span> Overview of skiing practiced in Australia

Skiing in Australia takes place in the Australian Alps in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory as well as in the mountains of the island state Tasmania, during the Southern Hemisphere winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skiing in Tasmania</span>

Skiing in Tasmania takes place in the high country of the state of Tasmania, Australia, during the Southern Hemisphere winter. Cross country skiing is possible within the Tasmanian Wilderness and two small downhill ski-fields have been developed at Ben Lomond and Mount Mawson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Hotham Alpine Resort</span> Alpine resort in Victoria, Australia

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort is an Australian alpine resort, is located in the Alpine region of Victoria. Set on the slopes of Mount Hotham, the ski resort comprises an alpine village, situated at an altitude of 1,750 metres (5,740 ft) AHD, making it the second highest resort village in Australia after Charlotte Pass village, in New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort</span> Ski resort in Victoria, Australia

Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort is a small Australian downhill ski resort located approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Melbourne and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. The Alpine Resort is an unincorporated area which is surrounded by the Baw Baw National Park and the Australian Alps Walking Track passes nearby. The summit of Mount Baw Baw (1567m) falls within the boundaries of the resort and is accessible by lift or walking trail. The resort is also a base for cross-country skiing on the Baw-Baw Plateau.

References

  1. "Highest Mountains - Geoscience Australia". Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  2. "AAC - History". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  3. "Australian Alps National Parks - Parks in the alps - mount-buffalo National Park". Australianalps.environment.gov.au. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  4. "Environment - A Short History of Mt Buffalo - Mt Buffalo Resort". Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  5. Miletic, Daniella (13 December 2006). "Lodge destroyed on Mount Buffalo". The Age. Melbourne.
  6. "Mount Hotham - History". Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  7. "Grand Ridge Brewery Rail Jam - Mt Baw Baw". Mountbawbaw.com.au. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  8. "Mount Buller - Culture and History". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  9. "History of the Resort - Falls Creek". Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  10. 1 2 Upe, Robert; Darby, Jim; Holt, Russell; Bredow, Susan (6 June 2009). "50 reasons to love Australian snow". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  11. "50 reasons to love Australian snow". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 June 2009.
  12. See "Kosciuszko National Park: Contemporary Management". New South Wales Department of Education and Training, Riverina Environmental Education Centre.
  13. "XC - The Australian cross country skiing site". Hoppet.com.au. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  14. "Australian Alps - Tourism Australia". Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2013.