FALLS CREEK ALPINE RESORT

The Bogong High Plains is a beautiful, undulating, alpine landscape, featuring historic huts, trout filled lakes, Summer wildflower meadows, a snow covered wonderland in Winter and it’s on the edge of Falls Creek Alpine Resort. Back in the 1850’s, the first mountain cattlemen to start grazing cattle in the area were Jim Brown and Jack Wells. They named many of the natural features like Rocky Valley, Pretty Valley, Mt Jim, Mt Feathertop, JB Plain (near Dinner Plain) and Baldy (now known as Mt Hotham) amongst others.

Many mountain cattlemen families from the surrounding valleys grazed cattle across this part of the High Country and built huts, some of which still stand to this day, including the iconic Wallace’s Hut, built in 1889. Some of the original huts have burnt down over the years but many have been rebuilt. The first hut built as a base for skiing was Cope Hut, built in 1929 and in 1940 the Rover Scout Chalet was built between Cope and Wallace’s Huts.

These skiing accommodations were on the eastern edge of the Bogong High Plains about 10kms from where Falls Creek is today. From 1938 the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme was being constructed between the Bogong High Plains and the township of Mt Beauty at the top of the Kiewa Valley. Around 1940, staff from the hydro scheme started skiing on the nearby slopes and gradually over the years, huts and then accommodation lodges were built as Falls Creek Alpine Resort became established. In 1957 the first chairlift in Australia was built at Falls Creek.

This year round resort affords spectacular views across to the highest mountain in Victoria, Mt Bogong and various other dramatic, alpine peaks, with the highest point in the resort being Mt McKay, at 1849m. The towns of Bright (just over an hour from Falls Creek) and Mt Beauty (at the base of the mountain, about 40 minutes from Falls Creek) are popular choices if you are basing yourself off the mountain. The small sub-alpine town of Bogong Village is halfway between Mt Beauty and Falls Creek and has a small range of accommodation options.

This picturesque village has a real European, alpine feel about it, seemingly draped across the gentle slope at the base of the resort, inviting you to explore the snowy streets, stroll to dinner or a luxurious day spa treatment. The design of the resort allows Falls Creek to be a true ski-in, ski-out village. Carparking, (day and overnight) during the snow season, is at the base of the resort, which provides easy access into the village. If staying overnight and depending on the location of your accommodation, generally oversnow transport will be required for you and your luggage (at a per person cost). Cars are restricted from driving into the village streets during the snow season and a Resort Entry Fee is required to be paid upon arrival.

If you haven’t been to Falls Creek before, during the snow season you can meet a Guest Services Representative at the bottom of Halleys Comet Chairlift for a free Mountain Orientation Tour on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday at 11am and Sundays at 2.30pm. A lift ticket for Falls Creek is also valid for use at Mt Hotham Alpine Resort. With so many of its slopes facing south, and therefore the snow lasting longer, Falls Creek is generally able to stay open longer in the season, often into October.

There are many favourite runs out on the slopes at ‘Falls’, from the beginner’s runs and even a beginner’s terrain park accessed via the Drovers Dream Chairlift through to the Summit area where the experts find the steep slopes and tree lined trails of The Maze. Terrain parks for all abilities are a highlight for those wanting a little more fun and some new challenges from Victoria’s largest alpine resort.

Pete the Snow Dragon, Falls Creek’s mascot, is a favourite with the kids. Apart from sometimes touring the slopes and kids snowsports school, Pete can be found at the FREE Twilight Tuesday Parties in the Village Bowl from 4.30 – 5pm and the FREE Night Show Spectaculars in the Village Bowl on Thursdays at 8pm, in July and August (weather permitting).  There’s also an enclosed ‘magic carpet’ surface lift, called Mouse Trap, keeping you out of the weather as you head back to the top of the slopes it services. Magic carpets are like conveyer belts, or travelators, that take you along as you stand and wait to get off at the end. 

Private and group lessons are available for all skill levels from age 3 and up, with half day program options for Children aged 3-14.  Night skiing/boarding is available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6 – 9pm when the whole 2.2kms of Wombats Ramble is lit up (the longest beginner’s run in Australia).  Adults $22, Children 5-17yrs $14.  There are plenty of other Winter activities at Falls Creek like back country tours, snowmobile tours, tobogganing and snow tubing.

Falls Creek offers 65kms of groomed cross-country trails and an enormous area of back country to explore across the Bogong High Plains/Alpine National Park. All skill levels are catered for, lessons are available and there is no extra charge to use the trails. Beginners enjoy the Nordic Bowl which is quite close to the village and nearby is where beginner and intermediate trails start. Advanced trails include the route taken by competitors in the world class annual event, the Kangaroo Hoppet (held late August). Snowshoeing is another easy and fun way to discover the snow covered landscapes of the High Country, out amongst the snowgums and at your own pace.

Summer brings warmth back to the alps, but it’s still refreshing at altitude, where we find it about 10-15 degrees cooler than the valleys bellow and wildflower meadows, historic huts, trout streams and lakes await your arrival. Falls Creek is a true year round alpine resort and is renowned for its activities and Summer is the season many visitors and locals alike, go camping, bushwalking, mountain biking, road cycling, trail running and fishing.

Mountain biking is huge at Falls Creek with over 40kms of trails and also the highlight and signature trail, Flowtown, which is 6km of descending, flowing thrills all the way to the ticket box. This can be combined with other trails off the summit making up 10kms of descent. The views along all of these trails are spectacular and during busy times a shuttle service operates to take you back to the top! The mountain bike season usually operates from the end of Nov to the end of April.

Bushwalking and car touring will both allow you to access breathtaking scenery, historic huts and picnic spots beside lakes and alpine meadows. Although there are several huts across this region, a couple of huts popular with visitors to the High Country are Wallace’s and Cope Huts. Wallace’s, a mountain cattlemen’s hut, was built in 1889 and Cope was originally a skier’s hut built in 1929. Both huts have a superb character about them and are easily accessed on foot from nearby carparks.

Falls Creek is also a great base for those wishing to experience the 37km ‘Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing’, which is a 2 night, 3 day hike between the Falls Creek and Mt Hotham Alpine Resorts. Bookings are required for the tent platforms at both Cope and Dibbin’s huts along this trail that follows the Australian Alps Walking Track across alpine plains, snowgum woodlands and sparkling alpine streams.

Weddings are often held at Falls Creek with numerous options for ceremonies, from cattlemen’s huts, mountain tops, to superb properties within the village that also make for memorable reception venues with stunning backdrops. Falls Creek has a good range of year round accommodation options, dining and retail, all within this picturesque alpine village and is a perfect place to base yourself for exploring this part of the High Country.

A busy calendar of events attracts visitors year round and the village is on the 680km Australian Alps Walking Track and is also on the Bogong Alpine Way, a sealed road across the Bogong High Plains, linking Omeo and Mt Beauty. This road is closed during the snow season between Falls Creek and the Omeo Highway and re-opens once conditions allow. While crossing the high plains you might see wild brumbies, a unique and often stunning sight.

Follow these links for:

Village Map

Winter Ski & Snowboard Trail Map

Summer Mountain Biking Trail Map

Cross Country Skiing Trail Map

Bushwalking Trails: Bogong High Plains

Wallaces Hut Information

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

To contact Falls Creek Alpine Resort, phone 03 5758 1000