Why you should visit Mount Buller Ski Resort this snow season

Mount Buller Ski Resort has just celebrated 70 years of lifted skiing. Lisa and Cara Wagstaff embrace the 8.5 hour drive down from Sydney to discover the resort run by families, for families.

Mount Buller Ski Resort is visited and loved by thousands of families each year. It is one of the only Australian ski resorts with ski-in, ski-out accommodation and lively apres ski.

Here’s everything you need to know about skiing Mount Buller with kids.

Exploring Mount Buller ski resort

Mount Buller Ski Resort summit sits at 1,805 metres high with 300 hectares of skiable terrain. The resort’s 22 lifts make it easy to explore the various pockets on the mountain.

For day-trippers, you’ll find access to the mountain from the bottom car park via the Northside Express. Families staying on the mountain can use the new, six-million-dollar Bourke Street Express, whisking you up in just over two minutes.

Hot Tip

Mt Buller’s two ‘SnowFactories’ produce 220 cubic metres of snow daily, on top of the 256 snow guns across the resort. You can keep an eye on the snow with Mount Buller snow cams. The live Mount Buller weather cameras are updated every three minutes between 6am and 5pm through the snow season.

Found out more here:

• Mount Buller Snow Cam

Skiing and Snowboarding at Mount Buller ski resort

The longest, and seemingly most favourite, run at Mt Buller Ski Resort is Little Buller Spur. The run spans 5.7kms and ends at Wombat Chair, named in honour of the fury little mammals that can sometimes be found on the sidelines of the run.

The slopes are 20 per cent beginner, 45 per cent intermediate and 35 per cent advanced. No matter what your level there’s something for everyone in the family.

At night we cruised down the near-empty Bourke St Express run as part of Mt Buller’s weekend twilight skiing. ‘Twilight Sessions’ run every Saturday and Sunday night from July to August. You can ski and snowboard freely or take a class up until 8:30pm on these nights.

Found out more here:

• Night Skiing at Mount Buller

Mount Buller Accommodation

The Breathtaker Hotel offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well the Breathtaker Suite that sleeps up to 10. The apartments have fully-equipped kitchenettes and luxurious bathrooms stocked with their signature, all-natural ‘Breathe’ products.

Breathtaker Hotel & Spa is our favourite spot for rejuvenation at Mount Buller Ski Resort. There’s a steam room, a 20-metre lap pool, a hot tub and massages on offer. The spa is adults only however there is a toy-filled kids’ playroom and a family-friendly hot tub on another floor if they want to tag along.

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Restaurants

Mount Buller Ski Resort has a family-friendly atmosphere. On warm days the decks of the family-owned on-mountain restaurants – Koflers and Tirol Café – are filled with families sipping hot chocolates in the sunshine.

Breathtaker has the Loft Bar for casual dining as well as the stunning Signature Restaurant, serving a la carte dinner and a complimentary buffet breakfast in front of a blazing log fire. Another option on the property is BT Pizzeria. The Greek lamb, tomato and feta pizza is our favourite.

In the village there are even more choices, with over 40 cafes, bars and restaurants. Our favourite picks were Little Villager for soups and sandwiches, and corn fritters at The Birdcage. We also loved the South American fare at Snow Pony, where kids can roast giant marshmallows over an open fire.

Happy birthday Buller

In July 2019, Mt Buller Ski Resort celebrated its 70th anniversary. The first skiers on the mountain were pulled to the top of the slope in 1949 by a simple tow lift known as the Bourke Street Rope Tow.

Mount Buller Ski Resort is now home to the most modern lift network in Australia – and as we have discovered, some of the best family facilities in the snow. It’s certainly worth hitting the road for the long drive from Sydney!

Hot tip

Book Breathtaker’s Below Snowline Transfer to be transported up the mountain by an expert driver. This eliminates the need to bring snow chains or pay the resort entry fee. It is only available for guests of Breathtaker Hotel & Spa.

Fury Friends

Mt Buller is home to pygmy possums, which are honoured by the resort’s mascot, Barry the Pygmy Possum. You’ll see him snowboarding with his friend Blake the Flake. They love stopping in at the Ski & Snowboard School for cuddles and photos.

To see some of Mt Buller’s canine residents we head to Australian Dog Sled Tours. Many of the working huskies are rescues and loved being patted in a meet and greet before our sled tour. Kids can drive the sled and control the dogs with a series of commands. The Sled Dog Tours run during the whole winter season and offer tours from ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. These tours are popular so be sure to book in advance.

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