Falls Creek is a ski resort surrounded byAlpine National Park in northeast Victoria. It's one of six ski resorts in Victoria and ten inAustralia.
Boasting a charming ski in ski out alpine village nestled in snowgums and 450 ha of skiable terrain served by 14 state-of-the-art lifts, and a 280 m vertical drop. It has the best snowmaking system in Victoria, covering most beginner and intermediate terrain, served by Australia's highest significant body of water, the Rocky Valley Reservoir.
Falls Creek is 388 km from Melbourne, approximately a 4.5 hour drive. It is reached via the Hume Freeway, Great Alpine Road and Kiewa Valley Highway toMount Beauty, followed by a 30km drive up the Bogong High Plains Road.
Bogong High Plains Road is a hazardous road, subject to rockfall and landslides. Carrying snow chains is compulsory at all times during the nominated ski season (June-October). 2WD vehicles will be instructed to fit chains after fresh snow, 4WD vehicles far more rarely but they must still carry chains. Chains can be hired in Mount Beauty.
There is no fuel available at Falls Creek, or anywhere between Mount Beauty andOmeo, a 115km distance, so cars should leave Mount Beauty with a full tank. Diesel vehicles will require alpine diesel in winter.
Vehicles must pay to park at Falls Creek. Parking passes regularly sell out on weekends or after heavy snowfall and should be purchased at least a day in advance. If not sold out, they can also be purchased on the approach to the resort. If purchased online, they should be printed and placed on the car's dashboard.
Parking is outdoors and above the snow line; cars should carry an ice scraper and a shovel in case of their vehicle being snowed in.
When arriving at the resort, day visitors should follow signs to a day car park. Overnight visitors should drive to the Accommodation Transfer Service terminal to unpack, and then they will be directed to an overnight car park and transferred back to the terminal by minibus. Late arrivals can park at the late arrivals car park for their first night but must move to a regular spot by 10:30AM the next day.
Buses to Falls Creek will usually deliver passengers to the Accommodation Transfer Service terminal and unless the accommodation is on Bogong High Plains Road, passengers may also need to pay for transfer to their accommodation. Fares may include the Resort Entry Fee, check with the service.
(updated Aug 2023)Self-drive in the village other than on Bogong High Plains Road is not allowed in winter. Unless staying on or near Bogong High Plains Road, all visitors will need to use village transport to transfer to their accommodation.
If transferring with luggage, visitors should unload luggage at the Accommodation Transfer Service terminal and then pay for a transfer to their accommodation by snow cat or van:
(updated Aug 2023)Parking at the ATS terminal is short-term and intended only for loading and unloading luggage from vehicles.
If travelling in a group, a smaller part of your group can transfer with your luggage and the remainder without luggage on the free village transport at Slalom Plaza.
(updated Aug 2023)Falls Creek is Australia's only entirely ski in, ski out village. It is located between 1600 and 1520m, and has nine streets, the main ones being Falls Creek Road and Slalom Street. The main buildings include the Falls Creek Hotel, Freauf Village, Huski, the Hub and Saint Falls.
A free village shuttle service also operates, as well as a taxi which is able to take you to and from restaurants to your lodge. The village has a year round speed limit of 30km/h, which is expected to be observed by skiers, but often isn't.
Snowsports are the main attractions, but in winter and summer there are a range of activities. Snow biking, snow tubing and tobogganing are popular, as well as snow bocce, a kid's show, a night show, and bungy trampolining.
Falls Creek has the largest amount of skiable terrain in Victoria, at 450 ha, as well as 200 ha of advanced and expert terrain accessed by a snowcat. 17% of resort terrain is beginner, 60% is intermediate, and 23% is rated as advanced. The resort is divided into 2 sides, the Sun Valley side and the Village Side. The Sunvalley side is colder, as it faces south, and needs less snow to open, and thus is normally the first part of the mountain to open at the beginning of the season, due to the extensive snowmaking coverage. Half of the village side consists of gentle runs, including gently sloping roads which serve as 'home trails'. The other half is covered by three lifts, and contains the resorts black terrain, including the 'Summit', 'The Maze', and the 'International' run.
The resort rises from a base of 1500 m below the village to 1780 metres above it, with all the runs on the back side being above 1600 m, meaning that can be raining down below but nice snow on over the back. The ski school is located at Cloud Nine, at the top of a quad detachable chairlift. It has a fenced off beginners area, and is near to Australia's first covered lift, Mousetrap, a moving carpet.
There is extensive XC ski terrain and groomed trails leading away from the resort and at Windy Corner at the end of the road in a shelter, small cafe, ski hire and ski school.
(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)Falls Creek is owned by Vail Resorts, and thus lifts can also be accessed using theEpic orEpic Australia season passes.
Since the ski school is located at the top of the Halley's Chair, non-riding parents and carers can obtain a free no-equipment lift pass to allow them to pick up and drop off their children. These passes can be obtained in person at Falls Creek Sports.
Falls Creek is also popular in summer, offering outstanding walking, cycling, canoeing, photography, and sightseeing opportunities, as well as festivals.
Numerous ski hire outlets are located in the village, among them Falls Creek Sports and the Village Ski Hire.
(updated Nov 2021)(updated Nov 2021)(updated Nov 2021)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)Many lodges offer a Ski Guarantee, which means that a partial or full refund will be given if less than three lifts are operating.
(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)In an emergency outside of the ski patrol hours, contact the ambulance service on000.
(updated Aug 2023)(updated Aug 2023)Outside of the snow season, the nearest medical services are inMount Beauty. The nearest pharmacy is also in Mount Beauty, and will deliver medications to the mountain on weekdays during the winter season.
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