The first timer’s guide to skiing at Mt Buller

By Steve Madgwick
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Mt Buller is a winter satellite of Melbourne’s social scene, making this perhaps Australia’s most vivacious après village.

Thanks to the largest lift network in Victoria, the AM action is solid too, especially for free-riders and snowboarders.

What it’s good for?

Buller embraces the freestyle philosophy, with plenty of opportunities to show off among its 300 hectares (and 22 lifts), including Skyline Park for those wanting to play Winter X Games-style.

Mt Buller Ski and Snowboard School

Mt Buller ski and snowboard school in session.

Intermediates should sample the distinctly un-standard Standard run for its length, breadth and off-shoots. Head to the Summit chair for that bluebird-day Instagram moment.

Where to stay in Buller

In the heart of the village the Mt Buller Chalet Hotel & Suites’ two-king Delatite Suite yields supreme top-floor High Country vistas, plus an antique grizzly bear.

 

The Duck Inn’s recent makeover makes it a contemporary choice in a ‘quiet’ neck of town.

 

Ski-in options abound from the sauna-equipped AMO Lodge to the Austrian-style Buller ‘institution’ Hotel Pension Grimus.

Après time

Sample a Pony Iced Tea at intimate fireside cocktails favourite Snow Pony.

 

Powder Bar in Village Square purveys fine Euro-style snacks and craft beer, plus a cultured range of local vino.

Skiing off snow's edge Mt Buller

Dropping off the edge, Mt Buller

Breathtaker Hotel will keep the family distracted; a massage at the loftiest spa in Australia for mum, while the rest of the fam head to The Loft Bar for pizza and films on beanbags.

How to get and ski there

Mt Buller is three hours’ drive from Melbourne and the Mt Buller Ski Express connects from downtown Melbourne and the airport.

 

Mansfield is the place to hire gear and chains.

 

You can find your friends on the slopes using the Glympse feature in the Mt Buller Live app.

 

Hot tip: Schuss up to the ski-thru espresso window (at the front of Pension Grimus, off Bourke Street run) for your morning caffeine face-slap.

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This new trail winds through one of Victoria’s best wine regions

    By Taylah Darnell
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    There’s a new way to discover the Rutherglen.

    Victoria is favoured among Aussies for many reasons – from its cool capital city to its incredible coastline. But the state’s biggest drawcard has to be its famed wine regions, from the Yarra Valley to the Pinot Coast.

    Venture a little further and you’ll stumble upon the Rutherglen, home to historic towns and rolling vineyards boasting crisp whites and robust reds. It’s a remarkable region that has been flying relatively under the radar – until now, thanks to a series of new nature trails with a twist.

    Introducing the Rutherglen Loops

    Sprawling across 48 kilometres in northeast Victoria, the new Rutherglen Loops is a network of tracks connecting the region’s namesake with nearby landmarks like Wahgunyah and Lake Moodemere. Passing through bucolic countryside, the journey offers visitors a fresh perspective on Victoria’s pastoral heartland. But that’s just the beginning.

    Rutherglen Loops in Victoria

    The Rutherglen Loops trace 48 kilometres of northeast Victoria. (Image: Karen Webb)

    Much to the delight of oenophiles, the Rutherglen Loops also incorporate a variety of local wineries and vineyards. In fact, 14 cellar doors feature on its map, transforming this seemingly ordinary series of nature tracks into a dreamy local wine trail. Accessible for both bikers and hikers, the Rutherglen Loops can be enjoyed as a multi-day adventure or broken down into four separate tracks.

    The four-kilometre Town Loop winds through Rutherglen’s charming streetscapes and past local coffee shops. It’s perfect for an evening stroll, stopping in at Jones Winery & Vineyard and Anderson Winery along the way.

    Rutherglen Loops in Victoria

    See the best of the region on a bike. (Image: Karen Webb)

    And while the River Loop covers the same distance, it’s geared more towards nature lovers keen to explore the Murray River shoreline. It’s the only track that doesn’t include a winery pit stop, so enjoy it in the morning before checking out the rest of Rutherglen’s offerings.

    The Lake Loop can be completed by foot or on wheels. But at 14 kilometres long, it’s more of a trek than a walk, so jump on a bike if you’re short on time. The track makes for a great day out, circling Lake Moodemere and passing Cofield Wines, Dinah Wines, Pfeiffer Wines and Lake Moodemere Estate.

    Rutherglen Loops in Victoria

    The Lake Loop is great for a hot day. (Image: Karen Webb)

    Aptly titled the Wine Loop, the fourth and final track offers an unrivalled wine country experience. The picturesque loop takes visitors to 12 cellar doors across 23 kilometres, from All Saints Estate in Wahgunyah down to Rutherglen’s own Buller Wines. Similar to many of Australia’s great rail trails, it truly showcases the best of the region.

    All trails are accessible year-round and feature toilets, water stations and repair posts along the way. Bikes are available for hire at the Visitor Information Centre, which offers onsite parking as well.

    Rutherglen Loops in Victoria

    Stop in at local wineries along the way. (Image: Karen Webb)