Lake Mountain Alpine Resort

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is considered to be one of the premier ski resorts in Victoria. Its picturesque presentation of the city of Melbourne and the mighty Victorian Alps make the perfect backdrop for both beginning and experienced skiers as they glide past rows upon rows of abundant green trees.

Lake Mountain is not only a popular resort during the winter, it also attracts a great number of visitors during the warmer months. This is principally because several other activities like bike riding, bush walking and simple sightseeing are particularly engaging in the region amidst a vast 37 kilometres of grassy plains.

Location

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is set upon the great Lake Mountain plateau about 120 kilometres on the northeastern side of Melbourne. Getting to the resort can be conveniently done by driving along Maroondah Highway via the Healesville route.

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort can be reached 22 kilometres from Marysville with a travel time of 15 to 20 minutes.

Getting There

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort can be accessed through private and public transportation. The main route is via Maroondah Highway at central Melbourne through the eastern suburbs. An alternative is through the southern suburbs by driving past Springvale Road then on to Maroondah Highway.

From Melbourne Airport, getting to Lake Mountain Alpine Resort can be done by passing through Metropolitan Ring Road, then to Greensborough bypass, straight to Wattle and Yarra Glen, then to Healesville before finally exiting to Maroondah Highway.

From the towns of Dandenong and Gippsland, drive across Stud Road then turn to Canterbury Road, at the end of which is Lilydale that will eventually lead to Maroondah Highway.

Bus rides can also be taken as these are provided daily at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne. Simply look for McKenzie's Tourist Bus Services that will travel from Kew to Box Hill, then to Ringwood, Lilydale and Healesville. From there, it's off to Narbethong before finally taking a break at Marysville, from where Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is a mere 20-minute drive time away.

Snow bus shuttle services also operate during special days like school holidays, weekends and during days when demand for resort visits is very high. These services require prior booking by placing a call at (03) 59-633-753.

Altitude

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort stands upon the massive Lake Mountain plateau that undulates to 1,482 metres and located in the northwest end of the Great Dividing Range.

Skiing Area

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort has a vast skiable area of 2,400 hectares with about 37 kilometres of this being designated as groomed areas for cross country skiing. LMC, Rolba 150, and other grooming machines are usually utilized to prepare the slopes for trail runs.

• The peak season is between August and September
• Lake Mountain offers seven toboggan slopes and numerous trail runs with the longest set at six kilometres each for two separate events classified as beginner and intermediate.

Terrain Mix -- beginners/advanced

The skiing terrain at Mountain Lake Alpine Resort has always been intended for family events and a great part of these trails are naturally meant for beginners. Still, intermediate and advanced skiers are also welcome as the terrain has also been prepared for such types of skiers.

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort offers what is perhaps the widest array of fun-filled snow activities ranging from simple snow playing to the more extreme ski orienteering. Specifically, the activities include:

• Snow playing, which is further subdivided into sled rides, tube runs and tobogganing.
• Snow shoeing
• Cross Country Skiing
• Ski Orienteering, which is a combination of cross-country skiing skills and map reading and navigation know-how. The sport is fast becoming a popular event in many ski-oriented European countries like Austria, Sweden and Finland.

Accommodation

Although on mountain accommodation is available on the resort, this is for out of snow season only. However, nearby Marysville, just 22 kilometres from Lake Mountain, offers over 3000 beds, catering to all styles and budgets.

A fully licensed bistro bar called the Heights Bar and Bistro is also in operation at the resort where several exotic sumptuous menus can be eaten. This includes a special summer menu with a choice of toasted foccaccias that come with two extra fillings in addition to cheese, spaghetti bolognaise, heights platter, battered fish, smoked salmon, pastries, sandwiches and a wide variety of sweet desserts including muffins and cakes carrying various designs. Aside from the main dish, Heights Bar and Bistro also offers many local wines that are uniquely Australian in taste. Likewise worth checking out is the daily soup menu that is served with several pieces of crusty bread.

An excellent alternative can be the Gerratys kiosk where takeout orders are typically eaten. The orders are usually heated in the open area section of the kiosk. Tables set with chairs, are readily available in case one decides to dine in the area.

Facilities

Lake Mountain offers several important facilities that visitors will find truly useful. These include:

• Toilets, including those for differently-abled people
• Heated foyer
• Nursing room for mothers
• Coin-operated Barbecue areas
• Snow gear retail store
• Bar and Bistro