Overview
Mt Baw Baw
Just two and a half hours from Melbourne, Mt Baw Baw Resort in Gippsland offers snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing, tobogganing and snow-play in a unique village atmosphere. This year Mt Baw Baw introduces a Snow Factory, which has the capability to produce snow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, guaranteeing that lifts will be operational all season.
With 30 percent of the Mt Baw Baw runs designed for beginners, the mountain is an ideal destination for young children or beginner adults. Mt Baw Baw snowfields offer the downhill skier and snowboarder a variety of graded ski runs in a sheltered and picturesque environment. The ski lift network allows you to move freely around the village, ski and car park areas.
With a terrain park for the freestyle rider, open runs for the carver and unlimited natural terrain to explore, Mt Baw Baw has also become a major snowboarding destination.
For cross-country skiers, there are 10 kilometres of well marked, groomed trails to accommodate all levels of ability.
Mt St Gwinear
Located at the north-east end of the Baw Baw National Park, Mt St Gwinear offers both cross-country trails and toboggan slopes.
You can cross-country ski across the Baw Baw plateau to Baw Baw ski village. Travel time is 2–4 hours depending on conditions and experience and the distance is approximately 9 kilometres.
During the snow season toboggan hire is available at the car park and a ski patrol operates on weekends. The closest ski hire is in Erica. Year-round facilities are limited to toilets and a day shelter.
Access to the Mt St Gwinear car park from Melbourne is via Erica, Thomson Valley Road and 13 kilometres of dirt road. Wheel chains must be carried at all times.
Further afield
To find more skiing and snowboarding opportunities, head north from Bairnsdale along the Great Alpine Road, passing through Omeo to get to Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham. The enchanting village of Dinner Plain is perfect for a snowy weekend with the kids, while Mt Hotham – the 'powder capital' of Australia – is famous for its double black diamond terrain.
