Mount Hotham

Australia

Mount Hotham is a ski resort in the High Country of Victoria, Australia, catering to both beginners and advanced.

Visitors are treated to stunning views of the surrounding mountains but the village itself is all about snowsports.

  • Ski or snowboard. 2011 season lift passes cost from $106 for 1 day ($53 for children) to $497 for 7 days ($248 for children). Season passes are available, as are combined lift and hire prices.
  • Learn to ski or snowboard.

Ski or snowboard. 2011 season lift passes cost from $106 for 1 day ($53 for children) to $497 for 7 days ($248 for children). Season passes are available, as are combined lift and hire prices.

Learn to ski or snowboard.

No petrol or other vehicle fuel is available at Mt Hotham, or in the alpine area at all. You will need to travel down to Bright or Omeo for fuel.

There are plenty of stores selling skis, snowboards and other gear. By the base of Big D is a bottle shop and grocery store carrying the essentials.

The General Store offers delicious and affordable pizza with the best views and is open all year round.

The two main (and competing) drinking holes are Swindlers at Hotham Central and The General (The Jenny) close to Big D. Swindlers seems to attract the younger, fashion-conscious crowd while The Jenny is more down to earth. Both stay open late and often put on live music and DJs. Both get suitably messy as the night wears on with mountain staff trying to relieve the cabin fever.

Other places to go include The Snowbird Inn and Zirky's both of which are located within the village.

Medical facilities are provided by:

  • Mt Hotham Medical Centre, Great Alpine Road (At the Hotham Central carpark opposite Hoys and the Transit Centre, +61 3 5759-3551. The Mt Hotham Medical Centre specialises in treating skiing and boarding injuries, although it provides a general practice service. The Mt Hotham Medical Centre is expensive because unlike public hospitals it receives very limited Government subsidy—it does not bulk bill for Australian Medicare card holders. The nearest public medical services are at the Wangaratta public hospital, some 2 hours drive away.

In winter months Ski Patrol will assist injured people on the snow, providing first aid and transferring you to an ambulance or to the medical center as needed. Ski patrol wear red and black jackets with a large white cross on the back and smaller white crosses on the arms. Resort employees such as the lift operators can summon Ski Patrol to assist you. If there is an accident on the snow, someone should be sent down to the nearest lift to alert the operators and tell them where to send the patrol. Flying injured skiiers off the mountain by helicopter is fairly common, make sure your insurance cover this or sign up for an ambulance membership.

Mt Hotham Medical Centre, Great Alpine Road (At the Hotham Central carpark opposite Hoys and the Transit Centre, +61 3 5759-3551. The Mt Hotham Medical Centre specialises in treating skiing and boarding injuries, although it provides a general practice service. The Mt Hotham Medical Centre is expensive because unlike public hospitals it receives very limited Government subsidy—it does not bulk bill for Australian Medicare card holders. The nearest public medical services are at the [[Wangaratta]] public hospital, some 2 hours drive away.