MT HOTHAM ALPINE RESORT

In 1883 the road from Harrietville to Omeo was upgraded from a packhorse track to a road wide enough for horse drawn coaches. This road serviced the gold fields of the Ovens Valley, Dargo, Omeo, Cobungra and beyond and is now known as The Great Alpine Road. Where the Bright to Omeo Rd met the road to Dargo, about 10kms from Mt Hotham (known then as ‘Baldy’) on the Harrietville side, a Lady, Mother Morrell, established St Bernard’s Hospice in 1863 providing accommodation and food to passing travellers. It was mostly in operation, under different owners, until it burnt down in the 1939 bushfires.  Today, it’s worth stopping beside The Great Alpine Road, on the bend near the Dargo Rd (best to do this if no snow around as parking will be difficult during Winter) and visiting the Hospice site where a stone cairn sits. You can still see the hole in the hillside that was used as a cellar and admire the view, opposite, to Mt Smythe.

On the hillside behind the Hospice was a ski run that was used from the early 1900’s and was the first in the area around Mt Hotham. In the late 1800’s, the Harrietville to Omeo mailman, gold miners and other travellers used skis made from planks of wood to cross the snow-covered alps. Back then, they were called snowshoes and it is said that the famous artist, Tom Roberts stayed at St Bernard’s Hospice in Winter 1889 and painted ‘The Mailman to Omeo’, on a cigar box lid and at the time called it ‘Snow Shoes’. The painting appears to show the mailman heading towards Hotham, along the ridge up what is now CRB Hill, next to the Great Alpine Road.

In the 1920’s the first accommodation was established on Mt Hotham (pictured here, those that know Hotham, will be able to identify where Hotham Central, the Corral Carpark and the Summit Run are today) and gradually, over the years, has become a world class Winter destination. Mt Hotham Alpine Resort sits at 1750 metres altitude, about 10km from Dinner Plain Alpine Resort, about an hour driving from Bright or about 45 minutes from Omeo. The resort is situated on The Great Alpine Road, the highest year-round accessible sealed road in Australia, almost at the highest point of the road, affording spectacular views in all directions.  During the snow season a Resort Entry Fee is required to be paid upon arrival.  No cost if travelling through to Dinner Plain or beyond and not stopping in Mt Hotham Resort.

High Country visitors and locals keep returning to Hotham for the world class skiing and snowboarding terrain, catering from beginners to advanced and the renowned snow conditions that have led to the resort being dubbed ‘the powder capital of Australia’. The Snow Stuff Park is a snowplay area located at Wire Plain, which is also a great spot to retreat to if it’s a windy day up in the main resort (accessible via the village bus and open when snow conditions permit). Here you’ll find tobogganing, snowplay, snowmobile sled tours, including sunset tours and also kids snowmobiles for hire (for kids 5 – 14 years old and up to 50kg). Follow this link for further details & operating times for Snow Stuff Park.

Skiers and snowboarders wanting a variety of terrain are spoilt for choice with options from the Summit and Big D for beginners through to intermediate and advanced terrain favourites like Heavenly Valley and those accessed via Gotcha, Keogh’s and The Orchard chairlifts. Some of the best expert terrain in Australia is found at Hotham and reaching some of the back country terrain is easy with a FREE ride in an 8 seater snow kat machine with a valid lift pass, leaving from the top of Spargo’s every 15 minutes (weather and snow dependant). 

Private and group lessons are available for all skill levels from age 3 and up, with half and full day program options for Children aged 3-14.  There’s also Ski and Snowboard Masterclasses for the advanced, where an elite coach will guide you through fine tuning a series of specific skills across the resort. Sessions available for a day or a week, generally through July and August. Contact the Ski and Ride School on 03 5759 4450 for details.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are wonderful Winter activities to enjoy throughout Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain’s 35km trail network that includes the 12km Hotham Dinner Plain Trail through snowgum woodlands and alpine plains along an undulating trail with some steep sections. Equipment can be hired from local stores and there’s no cost to use the trails. For those using the trail in one direction there is a shuttle bus between Hotham and Dinner Plain (fee applies) that operates about every 30 minutes from 7am until 6pm daily (usually during July and August and less regularly for the rest of the snow season).

Hotham offers a snow guarantee which allows you to book your holiday with confidence that if there are less than 3 lifts operating 2 days prior to your check in date, you may choose to receive a credit or full refund on all pre-paid accommodation and lift company products. Be sure to contact your accommodation provider for all the conditions of the guarantee.  Lift tickets can be purchased that include the whole resort (including Falls Creek and Dinner Plain), Big D Lift Only or Dinner Plain Lift Only or a Beginner ticket giving access to the Summit Quad Chairlift, Summit Trainer, Playground, Road Runner, Big D and Dinner Plain. 

For Lift, Lesson and Resort Entry prices, see our Activities and Attractions link at the bottom of this page.

View a Winter map of Hotham here

Mt Hotham is a highlight for many travelling The Great Alpine Road year-round, but during the non-Winter seasons, with generally easier driving conditions and less traffic, the alpine landscape transforms into a destination for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. Numerous alpine peaks can be reached by using Mt Hotham as a base, including Mt Feathertop, known as the ‘Queen of the Alps’, and some say, the only true alpine peak on mainland Australia. Hiking out to Feathertop along The Razorback Ridge is truly one of the most rewarding alpine walks in Australia. At times the ridge is metres wide at best and 360 degree views are enjoyed most of the way. Although the hike out to the summit, 11kms each way, can be done in one day, camping overnight near Federation Hut is a memorable experience, with a dawn climb to the summit, on the bucket list of many. The final summit ridge hike is steep and should only be attempted in clear weather, or at least when cloud is not likely to obstruct your visibility, as the summit ridge is very narrow and has extremely steep sides, with names such as ‘Hellfire Gully’ and ‘Avalanche Gully’.

Stunning sunsets, wildflowers, historic huts and spectacular views await visitors to Mt Hotham during Summer, as does cooler temperatures, generally about 10 – 15 degrees cooler than the valleys below. Hotham is 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. 

The 12.5km (one way) Cobungra Ditch walk is an interpretive walk following the course of an abandoned water race for mining in 1884.  It can be undertaken with a car left at the opposite end, as both ends of the track are accessed by The Great Alpine Road.

Follow these links for:

• Bushwalks around Mt Hotham
• Great Alpine Road Touring Route (Historic Guide featuring fascinating video’s re-enacting the lives of the pioneers of the Great Alpine Road)
• Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing
• Cobungra Ditch Walking Trail
• Cross Country Trails Map
• The High Country Back Roads Tours Guide explores parts of the High Country with some touring routes that take you South and East of Dinner Plain, off the main roads.

To contact Mt Hotham Skiing Company, phone: 03 5759 4444