Mt Stirling

An exhilarating destination for ski enthusiasts and for those who are looking for a variety of winter sports activities, Mt. Stirling is the perfect place to be. This top tourist spot is the last alpine resort with untouched areas, providing a one-of-a-kind experience with nature, not to mention the unique features of Mt. Stirling which are sure to challenge all the other skiing destinations in Victoria. For one, its serene environment and lush surroundings provide the perfect spot for those who wish to experience a close encounter with Australia's natural alps – magnificent places which are better off visited than just viewed from an aeroplane. Secondly, some of Australia's endemic plants and animals thrive on this natural wonder. Moreover, because of Mt. Stirling's variety of facilities and terrains ranging from beginner slopes to advanced trails, this resort is a very popular place for educational trips, family outings and winter sports enthusiasts.

Before becoming a top tourist destination especially during winter season, the open summit of Mt. Stirling originally served as a grazing area for cattle. The forests were a source of high-quality timber during the seventies and early eighties under the Forests Commission. In 1985, Mt. Stirling was managed by the Alpine Resorts Commission and was transformed into a first-class winter sports resort.

As a host of many winter sports competitions, the most awaited event of the year is the Stirling Silver Cross Country Ski Race. This competition is open to the whole family with two slopes appropriate for beginners and advanced skiers. Another skiing competition held at Mt. Stirling is the AdventurePro Freeheel Festival which is a competition between skiers from Mt. Stirling and its neighboring ski site -- Mt. Buller.

Because of Mt. Stirling's picturesque views, several movies have been shot at this location. A favorite tourist spot is Craig's Hut which was included in the highly acclaimed movie "The Man from Snowy River."

Location

*Situated just 30 minutes away from Mt. Buller, Mt. Stirling's snowy alps are also very accessible since it is less than 240 km away from Northeastern Melbourne within a 3-hour trip.

Getting There

To get to this wonderful location, visitors can pass through the nearby town of Mansfield located at the Maroondah Highway and drive along the Mt. Buller road. Once visitors get to the Mirimbah toll gate, they will be asked to pay a fee but only during winter season. After Mirimbah, visitors need to turn left and drive along the Stirling road wherein they will see the Telephone Box Junction or TBJ. During dangerous weather conditions especially in winter, travelers are not allowed to drive past TBJ but in summer, visitors can drive through the 47-kilometer Circuit road which serves as the starting point for the highlands.

Because the terrain during winter season is too rough for two-wheel vehicles, visitors can take advantage of four-wheel drives and services to get to the mountain from the Circuit Road.

Many bus companies and coach services with several pick-up points located in major cities such as Canberra and Adelaide are available for travelers and visitors going to Mt. Stirling.

Because of its proximity to Melbourne and other key destinations and Australian cities, several Australian airports also fly passengers going to cities near Mt. Stirling.

Altitude

* The summit rises to a total height of 1749 metres with a base height of 1340 metres. From the summit, visitors can see a 360-degree view of the neighboring mountains.

Skiing Area

Because of Mt. Stirling's average snow fall of 99 centimetres, the total length of its maintained trails reach more than 65 kilometers and 35 kilometers of it are groomed. Travelers can also enjoy scenic views of Snow Gum and Alpine forests that are endemic to Australia. To protect visitors from getting lost, orange markers are strategically scattered all throughout the area.

The open summit area is also a top tourist spot for cross-country skiers although this site is only for advanced skiers because of its dangerous slopes especially during winter season.

Terrain Mix - beginners/advanced

Compared to other ski destinations, Mt. Stirling is relatively more challenging. It is better for travelers to know first the difficulty rate of each slope before trying it out to prevent any accidents. Twenty percent of the ski slopes are for amateurs and beginners, 60% of the trails are for intermediate skiers and the remaining 20% are for advanced skiers. The slopes are generally smooth and well-maintained.

For amateur skiers, the perfect terrain is the one along Circuit road since it has many practice slopes. For professional and advanced skiers however, challenging slopes include the trails going to the summit. For safety purposes, a snow pole is erected with arrows and markers directing the travelers to the nearest hut.

Travelers can also enjoy a wide array of winter sports and activities that include:

• Cross Country Skiing
• Snow Boarding
• Telemarking
• Tobogganing
• Snowshoeing
• Snow Play
• Snow Camping

Accommodation

Since there are no accommodation sites located at Mt. Stirling, travelers can stay at nearby hotels, lodges, inns and cottages located at Mansfield, Merrijig and Mt. Buller. Visitors have also the option to camp out at the resort. Visitors can also stay at the huts scattered all over the ski resort. However, travelers are advised to bring tents in case the huts are already occupied. For reservation and inquiries, contact High Country Reservations through their hotline -- 1800 030 049.

During winter, visitors can take advantage of "Snow Packages" that include a mix of accommodation sites outside Mt. Stirling and ski lessons with equipment hire.

Facilities

The facilities, with most of them open only during winter, are situated near the Telephone Box Junction or TBJ. Located at the Visitor Center situated near the TBJ are public restrooms, the headquarters for ski patrols and a first-aid center. Public toilets are also located at several main sites --Razorback Hut, GSS Hut, Cricket Pitch, Bluff Spur Hut and King Saddle.

Other facilities include:

• A toboggan hire outlet
• ski school
• ski equipment rentals
• The Bistro
• car park
• public shelter
• chain rentals for vehicles
• four wheel drive tours to Craig's Hut
• Winter Bus Service station located near the old Stirling Bridge