Victoria's
Alpine Ski Fields
| Many visitors
to Australia don't associate Australia with snow skiing
but in fact, Victoria and New South Wales have a larger
area of ski fields than Switzerland! Australia is a
big country. The quality of skiing can be inconsistent
with most runs below the tree line, but skiing between
eucalypt trees is a unique experience. The Victorian
ski towns border on the extensive Alpine National Park
which runds into southern New South Wales. Prices are
very competitive compared to Europe. The season is quite
short, usually from June to August. |
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Map
of Victoria's High Country (202kb)
There are only two ski resort
regions in Victoria. Mt Buller is closest to Melbourne while
further to the north-east there are several towns near the
ski fields at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek. The high country
in general is dotted with picturesque towns set amidst extensive
ranges and stretches from the Dandenong and Yarra ranges near
Melbourne, past Lake Eildon and through the Victorian Alps
into New South Wales. The area is excellent for non-winter
activities too, such as bush walking, horse riding and trout
fishing.
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Catch breakfast from
the Delatite River near Mansfield. |
Just me and my horse
in the wide open spaces. |
The
Grampians National Park
About 250 kms north-west of Melbourne, the Grampians Ranges
have extensive rock formations ideal for climbing and sight
seeing. The area is rich in Aboriginal and colonial bushranger
history as well with informative displays in national park
centres and at Halls Gap, the major town. Pass through the
historic gold mining town of Ballarat on your way from Melbourne.
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| Lake
Bellfield provides a soothing background to a typical
Grampian rock outcrop. |
The
Murray River Valley
Australia's
longest river, the Murray begins in the Snowy Mountains of
New South Wales and flows down into the Southern Ocean from
South Australia. The Murray and Goulbourn Valleys are prime
agricultural areas mostly for orchards. There's lots of fresh
local produce to buy at road-side stalls.
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Restored
paddle steamers whisper of a bygone era at
the port of Echuca on the Murray River. |
