Eastern States for Snowboarding - Which Snow Resort for August 2016?

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  Savas on 17/06/2016 - 19:48

  I was interested in a Groupon deal and then I realised the dates were for when there is no snow

  • 

    SaberX on 20/06/2016 - 16:29

    +1

    What dates were they for?

    Probably expected i guess as they would probably save all the best dates for non-discount prices.

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  serpserpserp on 17/06/2016 - 20:30

  -1

  Nar mate stay over West and ski…

  • 

    SaberX on 20/06/2016 - 16:31

    har har?

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  TheElderLegend on 17/06/2016 - 20:51

  What a coincidence, I'm heading up to Mt Hotham that weekend!

  I've been to Mt Buller and Mt Hotham, they're both wonderful resorts. I've also heard many great things about Falls Creek. Mt Baw Baw is a smaller resort than the others, so if you want a bigger area to explore, stick with one of the other three. You should have no trouble with snow at any of the resorts, as mid August is virtually the peak of the snow season.

  As you've pointed out, staying on the mountain at Mt Buller means you have to pay the ridiculous snow taxi fee. No such thing exists at Mount Hotham (and I'm pretty sure Falls Creek too). You just pay the resort entry fee for the number of days you're staying (if driving), or pay a one-off fee to enter if arriving by coach. So if you're planning to stay on mountain, I recommend Hotham and Falls for this reason.

  As an added bonus, if you drive up to Hotham and arrive after 3pm, you don't need to pay for entry that day (for example, if you are planning to stay Friday-Sunday, but arrive after 3pm Friday, you only need to pay for entry for Saturday and Sunday).

  However, I'd recommend accomodation off mountain at the base town for each resort (Mansfield for Buller, Bright for Hotham, Mount Beauty for Falls Creek) and driving up to the mountain each day as this can work out to be a lot cheaper.

  In terms of adult lift passes, Hotham and Falls are cheaper if you buy in advance.

  • 

    SaberX on 20/06/2016 - 16:34

    Great minds think alike! ;)

    Sorry, when you say entry fee to Hotham for each day - do you mean actually entering the resort costs money? I would have thought your free to go into the resort/accomodation area, but you pay obviously for your lift pass for the day? Or does Hotham charge a fee for just accessing the mountain area?

    Buller's charge is more so for the privilege of being able to (once you arrive at the mountain) take the snow taxi to your accomodation further into the resort. Then again, maybe I am just not aware of the fact that there are access fees to even go into the resorts (let alone buy ski passes) - as last time we took the V-line up, so it may have been incorporated into the fees already? I know in Japan (and even whilst I was in Whistler, Canada) you just got to your accomodation, then bought a lift pass, so it would be typical aussie if you had to pay just to even go to the general resort itself :O

    The problem is I have had a few friends pull out so if I am by myself and not familiar with driving in icey/snow conditions (having never used chains either) I'm thinking it would be alot more troublesome and also costly to hire a car and commute up from say Mansfield to Mt Buller each day? And so I'd be better off staying on the mountain?

    Is there a huge time differfence staying at the base town for Hotham (bright) and Falls Creek (Mount Beaty)?

    • 

      TheElderLegend on 20/06/2016 - 18:23

      Unfortunately, all of the Australian resorts have an entry fee just to access the resorts (unlike other countries - yet another Australia tax?), the fee is pay per day if you drive a car onto the mountain, or one-off if you take V-Line/bus. This fee is seperate from the price of lift passes, and is also seperate to the cost of the taxi on Mt Buller. I'm guessing that the cost of entry was indeed included in your V-Line ticket last time.

      In your situation, if none of your friends are able to drive you to and from the mountain, then definitely stay on mountain. Even though it is more expensive than staying off mountain, the amount you'd save by staying off mountain would be significantly outweighed by the extra cost of hiring a car or catching a bus to the resort each day. Because you'd be staying on the mountain, I'd recommend Hotham or Falls over Buller (as I said above) so that you can avoid the ridiculous snow taxi fee.

      For each of the three resorts, their base town is about an hour's drive from the mountain.

      Have a look at HothamBus and FallsBus for bus services that run direct from Melbourne to the respective resorts.

  • 

    SaberX on 20/06/2016 - 16:35

    Oh, and assuming I don't rent a car is it as easy to get to Hotham or Falls Creek, and back? I.e. with BUller there is the V-line.

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  downhillmtbr on 18/06/2016 - 02:10

  Few points, for on mountain accommodation, it's hard to beat Schuss lodge for value at Buller & Falls.

  For public transport, Hotham is also doable but a lot harder than Buller. You'll need to take a train to wangaratta, then bus to bright, then another bus up to Hotham itself.

  If you want to save on accommodation/taxi stay off the mountain, but you'll then have to cover fuel, parking, resort entry and time going up and down the mountain.

  • 

    SaberX on 20/06/2016 - 16:37

    I did find schuss not bad at Buller - i'm just wondering can you get anything cheaper than the $109 per night or so Buller's Schuss would charge and still get your own room/bed? Doesn't have to be anyhting fancy.

    So Hotham doesn't have a v-line equivalent? Not exactly public transport, but is there a return coach/transportation system that services Hotham or Falls Creek?

    Yeah, the driving worries me, especially if my friends continue to bail I may be by myself, so just looking for a mountain where i can stay for an affordable amount and snowboard for a good 3 or 4 days then get out of there.. :)

    Can anyone remember how much the v-line to Buller or any other transportation methods to Hotham or Falls Creek were?

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      downhillmtbr on 20/06/2016 - 18:45

      I don't recall Schuss being that much, but I went earlier in June. Cheapest option at buller might be the YHA or one of the other hostels. There's always a few keen (and well equipped) people who camp in the snow.

      In regards to public transport to Hotham, you can get there with V-line, it just takes a bit longer/more effort to co-ordinate (although probably cheaper) . See this comment of mine here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/228672#comment-3759187

      The V-Line bus to Buller is $145 return: https://www.vline.com.au/Escape-with-V-Line/Preview-Event-De…

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        SaberX on 22/06/2016 - 15:02

        haha I would freeze to death before i make it to the mountains if i tried to camp.. never done it before either :(

        HMm hostel might be an option. I'm thinking something that doesnt' cost too much if im by myself i.e. in japan i could do a room for 3 nights at $210 aud (included breakfast). At least then I got my own shower and privacy, a hostel is alot cheaper but i figure on a snowboard trip you want your down time as your dead tired, whereas on normal holidays i could probabyl take a few snorers or bad room mates…

        Yeah I'm happy with the vlines or any other coaches,, the vline strangely only shows to mansfield, the base mountain town? But last time I swear our vline went through to the town then up to the resort, from which we had to disembark and then take the snow taxi up to the accomodation area. On the vline link you sent me they seem to connect a buller - mansfield bus, so perhaps the vline just converts into the bus that goes all the way up to buller later on??

        I'm happy with Hotham or falls creek either, but i thought for simplicity sake if i can catch a bus or something from melbourne and go all the way to the resort that's the easiest. ALl the way as in even past the base town at the bottom of the mountain, as i'd likely stay up mountain so i can hop onto the shuttle buses and get to snowboarding in/out pretty easily.

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        SaberX on 22/06/2016 - 15:04

        I saw your ozbargain comment - interesting, although i'd have to hire a car to get out to that hariet part of town right?

        I also saw above (older comments) that they ranked hotham, falls creek then buller in terms of recommendation.

        Is it true Hotham is better for snowboarders than falls creek? we have some beginners and im an intermediate, some comments post some very steep slopes? As long as it's nothing black, would Mt Hotham be a better goto in august for snow wise over buller and falls? Recommendation wise…?

      • 

        downhillmtbr on 25/06/2016 - 21:08

        @SaberX:

        No, you can get all the way from Melbourne to your accommodation on Mt Hotham with public transport. This bus http://www.omeobus.com.au/#!timetable/cyg leaves from Bright to Hotham.

        I don't snowboard so can't comment on whether Hotham is better than Falls, but it's definitely better for boarders than Buller (Buller has a flat top which requires most boarders to walk). Hotham definitely has a lot of black runs. Buller has more snow making, but Hotham tends to get more natural snow.

        For ease of getting to the mountain: Buller
        For best snow/runs: Hotham
        Best variety/beginners: Falls Creek