Mt Buffalo Ski Resort

The mountains of Victoria, Australia have been known for their all-season tourist destinations and have also gained a reputation for having the best skiing resorts in all of Australia. Among these mountains is Mt. Buffalo.

Mt. Buffalo is the haven for the inexperienced and beginners. This is not to say that the runs on the mountain are uninteresting, they are just easier for new skiers to navigate. If you aren’t a skier or need time out from skiing, there are other activities on the mountain one can partake in.

Location

Mt. Buffalo is a 325 kilometre-drive through the northeastern route from Melbourne. The stretch is a scenic 4-hour drive before reaching the resort which overlooks the neighboring towns of Oven Valley and Bright Town. From Albury it is a 2 hour drive. Most motorists will have to pass through the Great Alpine Road, a window to the magnificent scenery of Mt. Buffalo. Lyre birds, exquisite rock formations and wallabies are some of the things that may be seen along this drive.

Getting There

As the resort of Mt. Buffalo is located close to the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, tourists have several transportation options to choose from at their convenience. These options include:

Drive - Visitors can choose among two of the most scenic routes in the country if they do decide to drive to the resort. One of the routes to Mt. Buffalo is through one of Victoria's major roads -- the famous Hume Highway. For a more scenic view, drivers can pass through another route by using the scenic and famous Great Alpine Road.

Train - Visitors can board a train at Southern Cross Railway Station, Spencer Street in transfer to buses that can move them to Porepunkah -- the gateway to Mt. Buffalo.

Taxi - From Porepunkah, tourists may head straight to the alpine resort by taxi. Bookings for this transport service may be placed through phone lines.

Airplanes - With airports of Albury and Mt. Hotham located near the alpine, air travel lists as among the convenient ways to get to Mt. Buffalo. Several daily to Albury airport depart from Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne and from some regional centres.

Altitude

The summit of Mt. Buffalo rises to the height of 1,695 metres above sea level, only 85 metres higher than where is publicly accessible. At this height, Mt. Buffalo provides visitors with a scenic view while connecting them to a series of exciting ski runs. A village, which welcomes snow sports enthusiasts and nature-lovers, is settled on the alpine at an elevation of 1,490 metres.

Skiing Area

With a skiing area of almost four hectares, Mt. Buffalo definitely has space enough to accommodate each skill level. There are 2 double ski lifts and 5 pomas on the alpine, which are operated to move beginners and intermediate skiers to easier slopes, while moving the advanced skiers to the steep and long runs of the alpine resort. If looking for a ski challenge, you may want to take on the longest possible ski run on Mt. Buffalo that is about 480 metres. For other snow sports, toboggan runs and tubing parks are also part of the alpine resort.

Terrain Mix - beginners/advanced

The 15-kilometre groomed terrain of Mt. Buffalo is basically comprised of fifty percent beginner slopes, forty percent intermediate runs and ten percent for the advanced skiers. To help the tourists easily identify the level of difficulty of the runs and slopes, markers are placed on each ski location varying in color. Markers of green circles signify easy runs, blue squares for quite difficult runs and black diamonds mean the hardest runs.

Accommodation

With lots of places and activities to visit and do in Mt. Buffalo, a whole day is certainly not enough. As part of the alpine's great services, Mt. Buffalo offers distinct accommodation to its tourists through the Chalet. A historic and appealing guest house, the Chalet has been accepting alpine tourists hospitably since 1910. Within the Chalet are several room types that can cater to different conveniences and scenery for the discerning tastes of the tourists. Among the room types available are:

• Tower Suite
• View
• Heritage
• Classic View and Classic Standard
• Guest House Rooms

Mt. Buffalo also has a handful of food establishments to satisfy diverse appetites. These licensed establishments include:

• Accommodation dining rooms
• Restaurant
• Cafes
• Bars

Facilities

Along with natural spectacular views and excellent services, Mt. Buffalo still has more to offer. To help them within their stay on the alpine, tourists can make use of a lot of facilities such as:

• Viewing rooms with television and DVD player
• Public telephones
• Secure car parks
• Internet connection
• Museum
• Tennis courts
• Functional Rooms
• Gift Shop for souvenirs and tour necessities
• Postal services
• First aid posts

Although many of the ski resorts today have expanded as multi-purpose, Mt. Buffalo has stayed with its traditional theme. It is still the resort committed to providing the perfect ski vacation for those who are worn-out by the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Tourists may not find night bars and parties within the resort, but they will sure find moments of relaxation and serenity on their stay on the alpine. Because it's a small resort, Mt. Buffalo is indeed an unspoiled place for city dwellers who are craving for a change of scene.