The closest downhill skiing to Melbourne. About 2 hours drive, 160Km ENE of Melbourne. Mt Baw Baw is just over 1500m high, and is roughly centre south of the Baw Baw plateau. Eastern end is Mt.Erica. North centre is Mt St.Gwinear, a comfortable XC day trip away from Mt Baw Baw. There are about 30 club lodges, one commercial lodge, one set of apartments for hire. A couple of restaurant/bars and one shop, one ski-hire/school. Good for beginners, families, day trips from Melbourne or Gippsland/Latrobe Valley. Views south to the Strzelecki Ranges and the smog of the Latrobe Valley power stations, north towards Mt.Buffalo.

By car: 160 Km via Lilydale and the Powelltown Road (part gravel), 180Km (but sealed, about the same time) via Princes Hwy, Robin Hood, Neerim South. From Central or East Gippsland, go via Moe or Trafalgar to Willow Grove (~80Km from Princes Hwy) or from West Gippsland via Warragul or Robin Hood (Drouin West) through Neerim South (~90Km). Ticket collection box now relocated to Neulyne's Mill (new road junction) about 3Km from the summit. If coming through Willow Grove, road is fully sealed from Hill End to Pennyweight Creek (junction with Noojee - Icy Creek Road). Chains must be carried above Icy Creek. June 2008 saw the opening of South Face Road for those approaching from Latrobe Valley or further east. Travel through Moe to Erica, or through Traralgon to Tyers and Rawson on the Thomson Dam road, as for Mt St Gwinear. Just above the Rawson Junction there is a new gravel road on your left signposted South Face Road. Following this will bring you to Neulyne's Mill where the BawBaw ticket office has been relocated.

Opens on the Queens Birthday weekend (early June) (More for partying etc. Skiable cover usually by end June) Closes around mid-September (sometimes due to 'lack of interest' rather than snow, everybody assumes that there is no snow so the lift co. closes.) Baw Baw often gets snow first when the cold fronts hit, as the southernmost mainland resort, but it rarely gets over a metre depth, typically 20-30cm max and a week of good weather (or rain) sees it melt away due to the lower altitude. Often gets a dump of wet porridge (spring snow) in late August early September. Check Victorian school holidays for busy times.

Good beginners' and intermediate trails cut around the village. Marked trail(s) to Mt St.Gwinear . Scope for off-track touring and snow camping.

Three T-bars, three platters and one poma lift. About 15 - 20 runs, mostly short, nearly all intermediate and beginner. Only one lift company, and if snow is thin, they don't run all lifts during the week, to conserve snow for the weekend day-trippers.

• Mt Baw Baw Snow Report Line .....................(03) 5165 1126
• Alpine Region Commission Mt Baw Baw Office
  [Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort Management Board]
  • Tourist Information ...(03) 5165 1136
  • FAX ...................................... (03) 5165 1125
• Baw Baw Ski Tows Pty. Ltd. ..................... (03) 5165 1122
• Mt Baw Baw Medical Centre,
  Mount Baw Baw Village, Mt Baw Baw 3833 .........(03) 5165 1128
• Mt Baw Baw Accomodation Booking Service: Freecall .. 1800 629578
• Mt Baw Baw Hotel, Alpine Village, Baw Baw 3833 .. (03) 5165 1124
• Baw Baw Snow Chain Hire, Icy Creek .............. (03) 5621 0180
• Baw Baw Shire Council Road Maintenance [Quality Roads],
  Emergency Freecall .............. 1800 000720
• State Emergency Service Warragul
  Emergency Number .............. (03) 5623 1028
• Parks Victoria [Baw Baw National Park]
  Parks Information & Emergency Calls ........... 13 1963

• Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort Website
• Baw Baw Reports and Snowcams
• Victorian Alpine Weather Forecast

Village is sewered and has reticulated water, gas and electricity. Surrounded by National Park, so no pets, firearms and so on. Last reliable petrol is at Noojee (Melbourne direction) or Willow Grove (Gippsland direction).