Mount Hotham — Local services in Hotham Heights

SCAM ALERT!! Where to begin.... Day 1: Booked accommodation at Bright in hope to do Falls Creek on Saturday and MT Hotham on Sunday based on weather forecast. Saturday morning road to Falls creek was closed due to tree blocking the road (understandable) so I decided to give Mt Hotham a try. It took me 5, yes five hours to drive from Bright to Hotham. Left Bright at 8:00am and arrived at Hotham 12:45pm. So what was the problem? It was not the heavy snow but total disorganization by Hotham staff. At first I thought that there was an accident on the road, with resulting queue all the way to Harrietville. Instead, staff blocked all the cars at one point requesting to fit chains. There was only 1 Hoy's staff member helping people fitting chains (poor guy), and it was obvious that 95% of drivers don't know how to fit chains or are afraid to do it by themselves and needed help. The other 2 Mt Hotham staff members on the spot were doing the good old "look busy" thing. So knowing the weather situation up there, why did you allow all the cars to go up without fitted chains, blocking them all at one point, perfectly aware it would create chaos? If you don't have enough staff to help people fit the chains you should block all the cars in Harrietville where there is enough space for cars not to block the road. 12:45pm So when I finally arrived at the village (and paid the resort entry fee) there was no available parking!!! I drove to Dinner Plain and then went back to ask staff where to park, as there were no spaces available. They told me to drive towards Dinner Plain and just keep driving until I find a free spot (sure mate, there must be spots in Omeo?), and then catch the bus back to village. If I wanted to go to Dinner Plain why would I buy resort entry? If there is no available parking why do you sell the resort entry and ask for the licence plate number, threatening with fines if I park in village without resort entry fee? The only option was to drive additional 15-20min towards Dinner Plain, park the car who knows where, wait 15 min for the bus to arrive, and ride back to the village. So lets say at 1:45pm I would be able to buy a lift pass (if there is no queue), which would leave me with 2 hours of skiing at best. So icing on the cake, they only have full day price for lift pass, yes, 150$!!!! For what? What a ripoff!!!! I just drove back to Bright after that. Day 2: Having had a bad experience with driving to the resort I decided to take a bus from Bright to the resort. 7:15am Bus was on time, and everything went great until we arrived in Harrietville where the bus driver told us that the road is closed due to too much snow on branches over the road. Shortly after, he told us that the trip was canceled because the road won't be open until 11:30am and there is no point going up there so late (fair enough). He dropped us off in Bright. Now pardon me but did the resort management experience this now for the first time in history? Were your thinking of maybe trimming the branches over the road just before the season? No, lets blame it all on mother nature while continuing to charge fees!!! Conclusion: So, everything above could have been prevented if someone started thinking a little bit in advance, rather than playing a game of "If I turn my head away form the problem, the problem will disappear", "It is not how we handle the things it is about how we look" and "Look busy". In total you've cost me 600$ in accommodation and petrol alone, and having to deal with refund office with resort entry fee and lift pass (pre purchased for the 2nd day).

Now the question is do you expect to have returning customers or do you look for different...

Mount Hotham is 5 star for the majestic scenic view, wonderful snow fall experience, and convenient with free bus ride. Food are great and price is just right. Snow lessons and lift prices are just too expensive. Feels unsafe with terrains for beginners-crowded. Not so nice trainer-he showed his frustrations when we can't do what he had demo. First try what does he expect😢 Snow lessons and lifts are rip off-non refundable or transferable and no place for real beginners to practice and be confident to use the lifts. A tip for beginners or first timers with Zero exp with skiing or snowboarding. 2hrs Beginners lesson will just teach you how to do snowplow and turns. Despite of our effort to learn we were told by the trainer we are not yet ready and cannot use the lift, (it is mandatory to buy lift pass anyway with lessons, even though they know that beginners can't confidently/ not suitable to use the lift). 2nd day lift pass $191 per head was a waste too since we just felt we are not ready especially the terrain was so busy, and the mountain was too steep, prone to accidents as what we witnessed. The base of the mountain was also crowded full of people doing lessons. The terrains are for those alreAdy experts pro in skiing or snowboarding. I hope they can develop a location with mini lifts for real beginners to practice and where pro skiers can't access. We did really expect that beginners has their own space/place to ski then can hit the slopes once confident. But maybe it's deliberate for patrons to book further with lessons which are really not that so affordable 😅 We did Hire our ski gears and chains with hoys and the staffs are just lovely.

Also it is better to stay in the village rather than staying in Harrietville or Bright it is risky driving up the hill coz the road is challenging and parking is hard to find, you need to be early 8-9 to get best spots.

Won't go back, maybe falls creek or buller next year. Will try to do research where it is safer for beginners to ski. This is just our observation. I tried to go speak with the ticket people if there is a chance we can put the lift money into our account for next years visit since we did not really used the lifts coz we are not confident and we don't want ro risk our own safety and others. But the lady manager...

"Visiting Mount Hotham in wintertime was an absolute dream come true! From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by the breathtaking beauty of the snow-covered landscape and the inviting atmosphere of the resort.

The skiing and snowboarding opportunities at Mount Hotham are unparalleled. With a variety of slopes suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned experts, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The well-groomed runs and challenging terrain provided an exhilarating experience that kept me coming back for more day after day.

One of the things that impressed me most about Mount Hotham was the excellent facilities and amenities available. The ski resort offers top-notch equipment rental services, making it easy for visitors to gear up and hit the slopes without any hassle. Additionally, the on-site restaurants and cafes served up delicious meals and warm beverages, perfect for refueling after a day of outdoor adventure.

The staff at Mount Hotham were incredibly friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Whether I needed assistance with my equipment or recommendations for the best trails, the staff were always willing to lend a hand and ensure that my experience was nothing short of amazing.

Aside from skiing and snowboarding, Mount Hotham also offers a range of other winter activities to enjoy. From snowshoeing and tobogganing to snowmobiling and scenic chairlift rides, there's no shortage of ways to have fun in the snow.

One of the highlights of my visit was the stunning alpine village atmosphere. The charming accommodations nestled amidst the snow-capped mountains provided the perfect cozy retreat after a day of outdoor adventures.

Overall, my experience at Mount Hotham in wintertime exceeded all expectations. From the thrilling activities to the warm hospitality, it's clear that Mount Hotham is a premier destination for winter enthusiasts. I can't wait to return and create more unforgettable memories in this winter...