Falls Creek
Falls Creek is a ski resort surrounded by Alpine National Park in northeast Victoria. It's one of six ski resorts in Victoria and ten in Australia.
Understand
[edit]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.
Get in
[edit]
By car
[edit]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 to Mount 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 and Omeo, 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.
- Falls Creek Resort entry. Day passes from $56 per vehicle online, season passes from $550.
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.
By bus
[edit]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.
- 1 Falls Creek Coaches, 233 Kiewa Valley Highway, Tawonga South (Ampol Service Station), ☏ +61 3 5754 4024, reservations@fallscreekcoachservice.com.au. Coach services from Mount Beauty, Melbourne, Albury, Myrtleford. Return fares from Mount Beauty are $84 adults and $64 children; $10 per night car parking at Mount Beauty.
- FallsBus, toll-free: 1300 781 221, info@fallsbus.com.au. Coach services from Melbourne, Albury, and Adelaide. Melbourne return from $154.
- Albury Wodonga Snow Transfers, ☏ +61 416 042 046, info@awsnowtransfers.com.au. Minivan transfers from Albury airport or the Albury-Wodonga region. Return for 4 passengers from $850.
Accomodation Transfer
[edit]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:
- 2 Accommodation Transfer Service (ATS) terminal. 3 pieces of luggage allowed per passenger. Return trips should be booked at the ticket office on arrival. $47 return adults, $30 return children, $130 return 2 adults+2 children.
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.
By helicopter
[edit]- 3 Alpine Helicopters, 25 Embankment Drive, Mount Beauty, toll-free: 1300 189 686, sales@alpinehelicopters.com.au. Helicopter transfers from Mount Hotham, Mount Beauty, or Jindabyne. From $210 per person from Mount Hotham in a group of 4 or more, up to $880 from Jindabyne.
Get around
[edit]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.
See
[edit]- 1 Falls Creek Museum, Slalom St, ☏ +61 3 5758 1200. Tu-Sa 11AM–3PM.
Do
[edit]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.
Skiing
[edit]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.
- 1 Ski and Snowboard Lessons (top of Halley's Comet chairlift). Falls Creek offers half-day group lessons for adults aged 15+ years, full day lessons for children 7–14 years; and full day lessons with an indoor childcare centre for children 3–6 years. Private lessons are available ranging from 90 minutes to a full day. Lessons meet at the top of the Halley's Comet chairlift; riders who can't yet use chairlifts can carry their skis or board up the lift, and can also ride the lift down the mountain until ready for the long beginner runs that return to the village.
- 2 Falls Creek Cross Country, Windy Corner Day Shelter, Bogong High Plains Road, ☏ +61 3 5758 3408, fallscreekxc@ymca.org.au. Provides cross-country lessons, clinics, and equipment hire.
Lift Tickets
[edit]- 3 Falls Creek Sports, Slalom Plaza, 17 Bogong High Plains Rd (St. Falls Resort Complex, Slalom Plaza, near base of the Halley's Comet chairlift), tickets@fallscreek.net. Su-F 8AM–6PM (W -9PM), Sa 7:30AM–9PM. 2023 single day high season ticket prices are $240 adults, $132 children 5–17 years, $192 seniors 65+ years. Purchasing online more than 7 days in advance results in a discount, as does purchasing a multi-day ticket.
- 4 Falls Creek Sports, Village Bowl, 27 Falls Creek Road (Village Bowl, near base of the Eagle Express chairlift), tickets@fallscreek.net. Daily 8AM-6PM.
Falls Creek is owned by Vail Resorts, and thus lifts can also be accessed using the Epic or Epic 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.
Summer
[edit]Falls Creek is also popular in summer, offering outstanding walking, cycling, canoeing, photography, and sightseeing opportunities, as well as festivals.
Buy
[edit]Numerous ski hire outlets are located in the village, among them Falls Creek Sports and the Village Ski Hire.
Eat
[edit]Village
[edit]- 1 Windy Corner Cafe, Bogong High Plains Rd, ☏ +61 3 5758 3408. M-F 9AM–4PM, Sa Su 8:30AM–4:30PM.
- 2 The Man Hotel, 20 Slalom St, ☏ +61 3 5758 3641. 5–11PM.
- 3 Huski Kitchen, 3 Sitzmark St, ☏ +61 3 5758 3863. Tu-Sa 5–10PM.
- 4 Last Hoot Pizzeria & Bar, 9 Slalom St (Shalom Plaza, above the bottom of the Halley's Comet chairlift), ☏ +61 3 5758 3088. Casual pizzeria at the bottom of the Wombat's Ramble ski run and also accessible on foot.
- 5 Snonuts Donuts, Slalom Plaza, ☏ +61 417 572 228, deb_howie@hotmail.com. 9:30a–6p winter. Freshly made hot cinnamon doughnuts and churros, milkshakes, and other end-of-day snacks.
- 6 Frying Pan Inn, 4 Village Bowl Court, ☏ +61 3 5711 9100, info@fryingpaninn.com.au. M–F 11AM-late, Sa Su 9:30AM–late. Large pub specializing in barbecue and craft beer.
Slopes
[edit]- 7 Cloud 9 (Top of Halley's Comet chair. Can only be accessed via chair lift.), ☏ +61 3 5711 9109, info@cloud9fc.com.au. Same as ski lifts; winter 8:30AM–5PM. Central on-slope lunch-time eatery; it is a large building with cafeteria-style tables and is as busy and noisy as you'd expect. A bar and a smaller cafe-style counter serve the same venue. Located right next to the children's ski school and a short distance from the top of all of the Halley's Comet, Tower's, and Drover's Dream chairlifts.
- 8 Blue Brumby (bottom of the Tower chairlift, only accessible via Tower downhill runs or the Sun Loop cross-country trail). On-slope cafe serving sweet treats, coffee, and deluxe hot chocolates.
- 9 Dicky Knees (bottom of the Scotty's chairlift. Only accessible via the Scotty's and Ruined Castle downhill runs or the Sun Valley cross country loop). Medium-sized on-slope cafe, cozier place to get lunch than Cloud 9.
Drink
[edit]- 1 The Man, Slalom Street, ☏ +61 3 5758 3641, info@themanatfalls.com. M-W 5PM–late, Th-Su 11:30AM–late. The Man is the main party venue.
- 2 Falls Creek Hotel Bar, 23 Falls Creek Road (Village Bowl, near the Eagle Express chair), ☏ +61 3 5758 3282, enquiries@fallscreekhotel.com.au. 11AM–5:30PM. The bar of Falls Creek Hotel is open for non-guests during the day. Harvey Hour (happy hour with Harvey Wallbangers) Tu-Th from 3:30–5:30PM is popular with mountain staff members.
Sleep
[edit]Many lodges offer a Ski Guarantee, which means that a partial or full refund will be given if less than three lifts are operating.
- 1 St. Falls Resort, 17 Bogong High Plains Road (Slalom Plaza, near the Halley's Comet chair), ☏ +61 3 5732 8000, reservations@stfallsresort.com.au. A magnificent fully self contained apartment-style resort hotel, offering contemporary Falls Creek accommodation, a luxurious day spa, restaurant, bar and picturesque event venue.
- 2 Falls Creek Hotel, 23 Falls Creek Road (Village Bowl, near the Eagle Express chair), ☏ +61 3 5758 3282, enquiries@fallscreekhotel.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Family-run hotel at the top of the village, a 100m walk to the Eagle Express lift each day. The building has a heated pool, steam room, and spa for guests. Hot breakfast included, dinner packages available. All rooms have great views of the Summit runs.
- 3 Snow Ski Apartments, 1 Village Bowl Court (near the base of the Eagle Express chairlift), ☏ +61 3 5758 3356, managers@snowcrystal.net.au. These self-catered apartments are some of the cheapest in the village, and among the closest accommodation to the Eagle Express. Some of the apartments accommodate large groups with up to 4 bedrooms. The bedrooms are tiny but the shared spaces more spacious.
Stay safe
[edit]- Falls Creek Ski Patrol, ☏ +61 3 5758 3502. 8AM-5PM during the snow season. Ski Patrol provides first aid and emergency transport and evacuation to anyone injured on the ski runs. Store their number in your phone and contact them if you or another rider are injured. Resort workers can also contact ski patrol for you.
In an emergency outside of the ski patrol hours, contact the ambulance service on 000.
Stay healthy
[edit]- 1 Falls Creek Medical Centre, Bogong High Plains Road (Near the base of the Gully chairlift), ☏ +61 3 5758 3238. 10AM–12:30PM and 2–4:45PM during the snow season.
- 2 Altitude Physiotherapy, 4 Schuss Street (within Frueauf Village, ground floor), ☏ +61 3 5758 3766, admin@altitude.physio. 7 days during the snow season.
Outside of the snow season, the nearest medical services are in Mount Beauty. The nearest pharmacy is also in Mount Beauty, and will deliver medications to the mountain on weekdays during the winter season.