Mt Buller skiing 3 hours from Melbourne
Few people can boast a ski lift named in their honour, but Hans Grimus is part of the fabric of the Victorian alpine resort that personifies the Tyrolean charm of Mt Buller.
He is a card-carrying Mt Buller legend and the owner of the multi-award winning Hotel Pension Grimus that has been an integral part of the village since 1973.
The ski-in, ski-out hotel makes guests feel like they are cocooned in a traditional Austrian pension, with Herr Grimus the paternal figure holding court in Kaptans Restaurant at night.
When we visited he was charming guests with a mysterious German toast before joining them in downing shots of schnapps, which he sometimes follows with a serenade on his squeezebox.
The restaurant walls are crammed with photos documenting the history of Mt Buller and there is also an intricately carved wooden mantelpiece depicting pioneering scenes of the mountain, a cuckoo clock, cow bells and a mounted moose head that peers down on diners (vegetarians be warned).
As if that does not make him legend enough, Hans’ son Anton is an Olympic skier who is a very welcome sight to early morning skiers, serving delicious, hot, steaming coffee (The Grimus Grind), toasties and pastries through the hotel’s window where people eagerly queue in the snow.
It is not hard to see why Mt Buller has become the most loved ski resort in the Victorian Alps, with more than 300,000 visitors a year enjoying 22 lifts and 80 kilometres of runs.
There is 300 hectares of stunning terrain for skiers of all abilities as well as 30 bars and restaurants for apres ski festivities.
With 7000 beds on the mountain, the alpine village has an incredibly charming and family-friendly, old-world Tyrolean atmosphere – all within a three-hour drive of Melbourne.
That is something you don’t really find at other Australian ski resorts and it is the reason why it’s a favourite with families and champion skiers alike.
It is really special to stay on the mountain and immerse yourself in the alpine life, which also means you eliminate the drudgery of commuting to and from the slopes every day – and much of the accommodation at Mt Buller also offers the convenience of ski-in, ski-out.
As a first time visitor to Mt Buller, I was delighted to find it reminiscent of a European ski resort. The village square is the hub where skiers head for apres ski activities, the fairy lights in the gum trees charmingly creating a picturesque winter wonderland.
During the day the village is serviced by a constant stream of courtesy minibuses driven by cheerful drivers who ferry weary skiers to and from the lodges that are dotted up the winding summit road.
Our driver was a friendly font of information offering tips on where to ski, what is happening with the weather, where to eat and what to do after dark – the sort of service that is hard to find at most places.
It was snowing on our first morning, which is (a) very pretty and (b) good in theory because snow is good for skiing, right? But sometimes it can prove to be just too much of a good thing.
Skiers are a hardy bunch – it’s cold, it’s wet, it’s windy, it’s exhausting, there’s bulky clothes, heavy boots and risk of injury – what’s not to love?
But love it we do. We happily launch ourselves into the blizzard (OK, technically probably not a blizzard, but it’s very, very snowy).
We approach with much enthusiasm but some trepidation as average skiers who have not skied in a while.
Even though visibility is not quite what you’d like, we put our faith in our ski instructor to guide us safely to the sweet spots.
And if your ski instructor is a 50-year-old Austrian called Hans then you can rest assured he has been skiing for approximately 49 years and you are in very good hands.
Hans not only has the right accent to put your fears at bay, there’s no doubt when it comes to traversing the mountain, he’s pretty much seen it and done it all before.
The conditions meant there were limited lifts open but Hans guides us down the best paths, offering helpful tips and making us ski better.
Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, we loved the morning ski, and there is nothing like exercising in the cold to make you ravenous for lunch.
We were whisked on a skidoo (so much fun) to Tirol Cafe on the top of the Tirol T-bar for possibly the most delicious trilogy of fresh pasta I’ve ever consumed.
The cafe is decorated with intriguing memorabilia from the mountain’s history, including old wooden skis, and also has an extensive deck overlooking the mountain that offers fantastic views on a sunny day (not today!).
The pasta is served with attitude as well as altitude, a sure sign it is made with love and will be good. The sign next to the cash register says the food is made fresh to order and warns “if you can’t wait don’t order” as well as inviting those who prefer fast food to bugger off elsewhere with helpful directions to where.
Our second day offered postcard-perfect conditions. We explored the south side of the mountain and discovered pristine powder snow.
From the ski school, the high-speed six-seater ABOM express delivers us to a point where the entire mountain opens up.
The snow is glistening, the sun is shining and, with the mountain trail map in hand, we are determined to try as many runs as we dare and are delighted to find it surprisingly easy to navigate.
There are so many options for intermediate and advanced skiers that it is easy for hot shots and wannabes to ski close together and rendezvous on the slopes for lunch.
We stopped at Koflers, where we sat looking at the spectacular view, enjoying a scrummy hot lunch finished with a delicious homemade apple pie and hot chocolate.
Refreshed, we returned to the slopes, skiing run after run, repeating those we enjoyed the most with virtually no queues.
The only disappointment was the highest chairlift, Grimus (1780 metres), was closed and there was also one mightily humiliating incident falling off the T-bar and tumbling inelegantly down the slope with legs akimbo.
The popularity of spring skiing has stretched the season in recent years with the help of the 223 snow guns operating at Mt Buller.
Additionally, meteorologists are predicting good spring snowfalls, making the conditions ideal for those who love to ski towards the end of the season.
The beautiful spring weather is a big factor attracting late season skiers as well as the advantages of shorter lift queues and fewer skiers. The resort offers many tempting deals to attract spring skiers, including free parking, discounted lift passes, cheaper accommodation and children stay free deals.
SPRING SKIING IF YOU GO
2016 Season Memberships will be on sale from September and include access to all the lifts for September 2015, as well as every day of the 2016 season, for $799 for adults and $449 for children (up to year 12).
MT BULLER SPRING EVENTS
The 2nd Annual Corona Extra Pond Skim National Championships on September 19 will see some of the craziest costumes and silly stunts as participants slide down a temporary dam on the Bourke Street ski run.
On September 5, Mt Buller is going back to the 1980s. Bust out your fluoro ski suit and leg warmers for a fun-filled day of ’80s cheese across the mountain.
FOR SPRING ACCOMMODATION SPECIALS CHECK
email at info@skibuller.com.au
Bookings on 1800 810 200
* The writer travelled as a guest of Mt Buller
Supplied image of ambassador Cam Staveley at the Bull Run Bowl at Mount Buller, Victoria
Latest News
Top four airports report return to profit after post-Covid period comes to an end
The aeronautical operations of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports returned to profit in 2022-23, the first full financial year since the end of COVID-19 travel restrictions, the ACCC’s latest Airport Monitoring Report shows. In contrast, all four monitored airports reported losses on their aeronautical operations in 2021-22. A return to profit was helped by […]
COMO launches new family-sized farmhouse in the heart of Tuscany
COMO Hotels and Resorts has launched its new farmhouse apartments in the heart of Tuscany, just in time for Australians to escape our wet winter. And it’s also an ideal time for Aussies of Italian ancestry to explore their home country as 2024 has been declared the year of Roots and Heritage Tourism by the […]
Green light, green fuel for Townsville Airport as passenger numbers set to double to 3.7m
The Townsville Airport Master Plan, including the expansion of the airport terminal and development of the surrounding precinct, has been given the green light by the Federal Government. The 2023 plan outlined Townsville Airport’s strategic vision and growth objectives over the next two decades, with a detailed focus on the initial eight years. Townsville Airport […]
New Caledonia in lockdown and airport closed after violent riots rock Noumea
New Caledonia officials have announced a 6pm-6am curfew, a liquor ban and have closed the country’s main airport after overnight riots in which vehicles were torched and roads blocked in the wake of proposed constitutional reforms. Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued an alert informing visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in metropolitan […]
‘Appalling’: Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO describes gaming rules at sea after P&O death
Gambling reform policy makers are shocked at the news surrounding the passing of a guest onboard last week.
Sydney gets excited for Vivid at the city’s favourite entertainment venues
Get lit! Well maybe not the kiddies, but there is a heap of bright and colourful events on at Vivid Sydney 2024.
Novotel Cabramatta launch reveals the start of new hotel and F&B partnership
Brothers will offer hotels bang for their buck in Sydney's booming southwest.
Roots & Heritage Tourism in 2024 with Italian Tourist Board’s Emanuele Attanasio: Travel Weekly TV
Don't blame us if you're yearning for a carb-filled pasta lunch after watching this week's episode!
Aeronology accepted into Virtuoso network as travel-tech company continues to thrive
Aeronology's the new kid on the block making big waves and lucky for you, we're here to get you up to speed.
Qantas suspends flights to Shanghai due to low demand
Low demand prompts Qantas to drop its Sydney-Shanghai flights like a hot dumpling.
From Castle Hill to Paris, local wellness cosmetics brand makes good in world’s best hotels
The harsh glare of our monitors on the news desk have been relieved somewhat by this local brand done good...
Ponant’s $2500 flight credit reward for polar expeditions booked by ANZ travellers
Tap into your inner explorer an save a couple of $K on flights? The trade-off will be frozen fingers.
Portugal, Spain or Morocco? Here’s how to spend a European summer in 2024
Hit a festival in Spain, enjoy a Portuguese tart or take in the raw beauty of North Africa. This feature has it all!
Vietjet’s summer lucky draw event, plus business flights slashed in half
It's not even winter yet and Vietjet's already talking about summer. We certainly aren't judging them!
ERDI offers a path for hospitality leaders of the future, says hotel group CEO
Teaching the next gen in hospo how to serve drinks, take a restaurant order and hold a conversation - yep we're in!
Marketing costs double for tourism operators as Australia’s global footprint shrinks
Cost of living crisis? Forgeddaboutit! If you run a tourism business, your costs have doubled since Covid.
APT adds fourth ship to Travelmarvel fleet in Europe to meet demand
APT punches above its weight in European river cruising - let's see what its got when it comes to naming conventions.
Getting married? W Melbourne has three new packages perfect for the special day
The 'W' themed lights and settings are optional, we hope!
SKYE Suites gets behind Australian Fashion Week, partners with Shark Beauty
We were hoping to get a start at a fashion week event, but apparently our dress sense wasn't up to scratch...
Roadshow Vietnam focus on Ho Chi Minh City heads to Sydney and Melbourne
It's all happening tomorrow in Parramatta and we're sure you'll be able to find a good bahn mi somewhere.
NCL announces two new Aussie BDMs as cruising goes from strength to strength
Cruising may be getting stronger, but we want to know which new BDM is the strongest. We should arrange an arm wrestle.
Inspiring Vacations announces Josh Grocke to new partnerships role
We're sure the best partnerships come about over a long lunch, something Josh will certainly be looking forward to.
Dondra Ritzenthaler announced as Azamara’s new CEO
Dondra's got big news to celebrate, meanwhile we're celebrating a break in the rain today in Sydney.
TTC’s hosting a masterclass series for Aussie agents unlocking the secrets of its five brands
Become an agent of many hats with TTC's new masterclass series!
Dorsett Melbourne appoints new director of sales Maggie Wong
This top female team at the Dorsett Melbourne aims to take the hotel to new heights - even the lucky eighth floor.
Western Sydney Tourism unveils fresh board ahead of ’26 airport opening
'Connect-Stay-Experience', that's the Western Sydney's tourism taskforce's motto. We sort of prefer 'West Is Best'!
From Olympians to mindset coaches, Helloworld’s OMC conference wraps in style
Say hello to a good time and make sure you're at 2025's edition!
Bunnik Tours welcomes KJ Phillips as the new BDM for QLD
We apologise in advance for winding Karen up as our State of Origin sledging begins to ramp up.
Drifter to usher in new age of affordable hybrid accommodation in Christchurch
Sort of like a hostel, but far, far ritzier!
Icebergs restaurateur Terzini joins Mangan at Sydney International Airport
Forget McDonald's or the sushi that's been there all day, dining at Sydney Airport just got a whole let better!
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge: A beacon of luxury in the Kruger
If the lead image wasn't enough to convince you this is next-level luxury, take a peep inside.
Delegates ready for Africa’s travel showcase Travel Indaba at Durban ICC
How's it? We've requested a bag full of biltong on our reporter's return from this shindig.
APT’s world-first hydraulic-powered restaurant and bar ‘will be the envy of river cruises’
It may have been laughed off at first mention in the APT offices, but now it's here, APT are on top of the game!
Administrators appointed in wake of Air Vanuatu collapse – but there is hope
Another one bites the dust. We hope you sang to the tune when reading that!
South Australian beach crowned best ‘hidden gem’ in the country
Stoked baby! Or was that a typo?
Avalon Airport champions low-cost rail connection from Melbourne CBD
Avalon rail connection? Bring it on! In two years, say officials, but we say they've got Buckley's.