🏔️ Guide to Melbourne’s Closest Ski Resort | Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort

🏔️ Guide to Melbourne’s Closest Ski Resort | Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort

Mt Baw Baw is Victoria’s own scrappy alpine 
outpost, just 3 hours from Melbourne, where you can indulge in skiing, 
tobogganing and even sled dog tours. In this guide, I’ll cover the various 
transport options to get there as well as what activities are available at the resort. If you’re looking for alpine adventure without the long haul to the Big Boys like Hotham 
or Buller, Mount Baw Baw is your answer. It is just around 2.5 hours’ 
drive from Melbourne—it’s compact, charming, and surprisingly thrilling. Unlike Mt Donna Buang and Lake Mountain which caters more towards toboggans and 
snow play, Mount Baw Baw is Melbourne’s closest ski resort where you can ski or 
snowboard down fresh mountain powder. Think less of a ski bro vibe 
and more of a family ski resort. In this guide, I’ll cover the various 
transport options to get there, equipment hire and the activities at the resort. I’ll also cover some of the sights you can see 
along the way on your trip to the mountain. Snow season in Victoria typically 
runs from mid June to early October. A good website to check snow forecast 
is snow-forecast.com where you can see projected snowfall up to 5 days in advance. Another website with long-range 
forecast is Snow Watch. I typically try to visit the day after 
the snowfall as there will still be snow on the ground and the sky 
is not actively snowing on me. When snow falls on you, your body heat typically 
causes it to melt resulting in wet clothing. On the day before your trip, you can check 
the snow conditions on the resort’s website where they have multiple webcams and 
you can decide if you still wish to go. Mt Baw Baw has accommodations onsite which you 
can book on their website. However, these are not cheap and you will need to book very early in 
advance for peak periods like the school holidays. Cabins and rooms are available 
from $200 to $1,100 a night. The easiest way to get there is to drive yourself. There are 2 routes to drive there: 1) via the Yarra Junction-Noojee Road which is  
shorter (156km) but is mostly country roads, and 2) via the Princes Freeway to Drouin
then up to Noojee which is longer (176km) 
but is mostly highway roads. Both routes take the same amount of time. Do check if there are any 
road closures during winter such as at the Yarra Junction-Noojee 
Road before you start your journey. Vehicles travelling to the Resort 
during declared snow season are legally required to carry snow chains. 
You can rent some at Noojee Bush Goods or Tanjil Bren Chain Hire or even 
at the Mt Baw Baw Resort Entry. If you’re just visiting for the day, you should 
be fine. However, if you plan to stay overnight, you should probably change the water in your 
radiator to anti-freeze coolant. You can get this done at your mechanic or you can buy it yourself 
at a car supply shop like AutoBarn or Supercheap. This is to prevent the water in your radiator 
freezing overnight and cracking your pipes. Vehicles using Diesel need to 
pump up with alpine diesel which is available at petrol stations at the 
surrounding towns near the mountain. If you use Google Maps for navigation, do remember to download offline 
maps as mobile signal may be patchy. I have a video on how to do that 
in the video description below. If you’re concerned about driving in snow, 
you can drive to the resort entry and take a shuttle bus from the Resort Entry Gate to 
the top of the resort for $30 return trip. You can also use public transport to get 
to Mt Baw Baw by catching a Regional Train from Southern Cross Station to either Moe or 
Warragul Stations which costs about $7 to $10. From Moe, you can take a taxi 
(a contact is available on Mt Baw Baw website) with one-way 
trips costing about $250. It is approximately a 1.5 hours drive 
from Moe train station to Mount Baw Baw. The taxi typically drops you at Resort 
Entry Gate at the base of the mountain and you’ll need to book a shuttle bus up. If 
you wish the taxi to take you up to the resort, you have to book the car entry pass ($67) but 
enter a car Registration Code of 000000 since you won’t know what the taxi’s registration no. 
will be until your arrival at the train station. You can also book a Day Tour from one of 
the many tour providers which will pick you up from Federation Square and drive 
you to the resort, stopping along the way for ski equipment hire. You can find these 
Tour Operators on the Mt Baw Baw website. The disadvantage of a day tour is that your visit 
is dictated by the tour operator’s schedule. Generally, if you need to hire 
skis, snowboards or other equipment, I would recommend hiring it at the resort. The 
prices are similar and you have the advantage of swapping out the equipment if you find 
the fit incorrect. If you rent it from providers outside the resort, then you have 
to look after the equipment wherever you go, especially when you’re tired of skiing and 
just want to explore the rest of the resort. You may want to consider renting 
ski equipment from outside the resort such as at Noojee Bush Goods 
if you are arriving late in the day and are worried that the resort may be 
booked out of equipment in your size. Also, YouTube says less than 5% 
of you are subscribed. So help a mate out and smash that LIKE and SUBSCRIBE button. The resort entry opens at 8am so I started my 
journey at 6am in order to avoid the crowds. My journey took me towards Yarra 
Junction and the drive alternated between very dark under the trees or 
foggy mist over the country roads. In my previous guide for Mt Donna Buang, I highlighted the risk of driving in 
Australia in the dark so do watch out for the occasional kangaroo standing in the 
middle of the road like it owns the place. Noojee is a good midpoint to take a 
rest stop to use the facilities. The Bennett Street Playground has tables and 
toilet facilities for a picnic as well as providing children an opportunity to 
work off some of their pent-up-energy. ☺ Nearby, you’ll also find Noojee Bush Goods if you need to rent snow chains or 
wish to hire ski equipment. Past Noojee, you’ll encounter a lot of narrow and winding roads with some stretches 
wide enough for only a single car. Gritting my teeth, it takes all 
my concentration to wrestle with the winding roads…. making me question why I 
didn’t just take a day-tour or taxi instead. ☺ The ticket entry booth is located at 
the base of the mountain and this is also where you’ll be instructed to put on 
snow chains if the conditions require it. Tickets for a car typically costs about $67. Driving up, the roads were very clear 
as there wasn’t any snow the day before. For day trip visitors, your pass 
allows you to park at any carpark, with Car Park 1 being the closest to the resort. You will be given this pass. 
You’ll need to pop this on your dashboard as it represents which carparks you can park at. Next to the Car Park, you’ll find the Guest 
Services building which also houses the toilets. The origins of Mt Baw Baw as a recreational alpine 
destination, dates back to the 1940s, when skiers and bushwalkers first began venturing up the 
rugged terrain. By the 1970s, basic ski lifts and lodge accommodation had been built, evolving 
over time into today’s fully functioning resort village, complete with toboggan slopes, snow play 
zones, and ski runs. This is a place where winter isn’t just a season — it’s a personality. And like 
all big personalities, it’s got a little charm, a little danger, and a knack for making 
you spend more money than you intended. ☺ Unlike the towering, remote ski fields 
of the High Country, Baw Baw is more accessible and beginner-friendly, making 
it the go-to for families, first-timers, and people who want a dose of snow 
without signing up for Mt Everest. Walking in, you can see the many cabin 
accommodations lining the street. At the central square, you’ll 
find the Equipment Rental shop, opposite the Village Central Restaurant. Ski and snowboard rental is easy, with the shop offering everything from snowboards 
and skis to jackets, gloves, and helmets. Rental packages are available for kids and adults, so if you show up in nothing but a hoodie 
and running shoes… they’ll sort you out. Walking on down the main road, you’ll find 
the Warm Eating Area near the Dingo pens. This is a free public shelter with plenty of 
tables and an electric BBQ to cook your food. You can bring your own food and 
sizzle up a sausage while watching the snowfall—a classic Aussie winter picnic. Further on down, you’ll find the Ski School where you can buy your ski lift passes 
or sign-up for Skiing Lessons. Mount Baw Baw has 7 lifts, including 
5 T-bars and 2 magic carpets, making it perfect for learners and intermediates. Don’t come here expecting back-country
Double Black Diamond madness —but do expect smooth 
runs, chilled vibes, and easy glides. Key ski runs include the Hut Run, 
Summit Run, and the Champagne Run. Also nearby, I can see the Snow School instructors 
giving lessons to a group of shaky first-timers. If you have never skied before, it is 
highly recommended to take some lessons to nail down the basics before you hit the slopes. I had injured my elbow the week earlier so I 
had decided not to do any skiing this visit. I was hoping to take a hike up the mountain but I 
didn’t realise that hiking in winter would require snow shoes which I had not rented.
Lesson learnt for my next visit. One of Mt Baw Baw’s signature attractions 
is its Howling Husky Sled Dog Tours where you take a ride through postcard-perfect snow 
trail pulled by teams of real Siberian Huskies. They are located next to the Skiosk 
Cafe and you can hear that from far away as huskies are very active and social 
animals and love howling to each other. The sled rides aren’t cheap though, as a 30min 
ride will set you back $330 while the Summit Sunset Tour of 1 hour will set you back $700. There is also the cheaper Pat n Play for $20. For those who crave a little less adventure, 
there is a family-friendly Toboggan Sledding area towards the centre of the resort 
— pure joy for kids and for adults who’ve had just enough wine to forget that 
their knees aren’t 20 years old anymore. Opposite the Toboggan run, you’ll find 
Cafe 11 for some hot food and drinks. They serve up some good food and 
coffee but be prepared for the resort prices which is expected 
as the resort is very remote and they need to transport the food and 
supplies all the way up the mountain. I availed myself to a cup of hot coffee, 
which is quite good, to warm myself up. I made my way back to the carpark where 
I made myself a simple and quick lunch. Packing your own food is a convenient 
way to save money on your trip here. I had previously bought this gas 
cooker from KMart which is a great kit. I had also bought this Camping Mess Tin 
from Aliexpress which I was keen to try out. It is quite large and one 
of the things I liked was that it had a lid to speed up boiling of water. This was my first time using it so I kept 
it simple and just made instant noodles. I also used this small kettle to boil some water 
for a coffee. The size is just right for one cup. After lunch, I made my journey 
home to avoid the traffic later. As I was leaving, I could 
see the crowds building up. On my way back, I stopped by the Noojee 
Trestle Bridge, Victoria’s Hidden Timber Giant. Located just outside the town of its namesake, 
the trestle bridge stands as a relic from another era —a towering, wooden monument 
to Australia’s rail history, surrounded by ferns, mountain ash, and the 
faint whisper of steam engines long gone. The bridge was built in 1919, rising out of the ashes—literally—of repeated bushfires that 
destroyed earlier railway infrastructure. Part of the Noojee Railway Line, this 
100-metre-long, 21-metre-high timber trestle bridge helped connect the local timber 
industry to Melbourne, via the town of Warragul. It was one of seven trestle bridges along the line 
and is now the last remaining survivor—and the largest of its kind in Victoria still standing. After the railway line closed in 1958, 
the bridge faded into obscurity… but it never truly disappeared. Today, it’s been lovingly restored 
as a heritage site and walking trail, offering one of the most photogenic—and 
unexpectedly majestic—spots in regional Victoria. So come stretch your legs, 
breathe in that mountain air, and take a walk across history—timber by timber. This is where I end this guide. Thank you 
for watching and if you found it useful, please do hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE button.

Mt Baw Baw is Victoria’s own scrappy alpine outpost, sitting up in the Baw Baw National Park, just a few hours from Melbourne if you’re willing to wrestle with winding mountain roads and the occasional kangaroo staring at your headlights like it owns the place.

In this guide, I’ll cover the various transport options to get there as well as equipment hire and what are the activities at the resort.
I’ll also cover some of the sights you can see along the way on your trip to the mountain.

If you enjoy my videos and like to support me, you can buy me a ☕ coffee at the link below. 🙂
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Our recommended Tours
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Google Maps links of the places in the guide
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7CgjJbpTNusnYM8y7

Mt Baw Baw website (snow cams, Tour operators, etc.)

Melbourne’s closest ski and snow resort

Snow Forecast
https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Mt-Baw-Baw/6day/mid

Snow Watch (Long Range Forecast)
https://www.snowatch.com.au/long-range-forecast/

Seasonal Road Closures
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/safety-in-nature/seasonal-road-closures

Downloading Offline Maps

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TARKA Cooking Mess Tin
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oC6pxb1

CampMaster Stove
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/campmaster-portable-gas-stove-42486701/

DJI Osmo Action 2
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0:00 – Preview
0:36 – Overview
1:16 – Checking Weather
2:05 – Accommodations
2:23 – Getting There – Car
3:58 – Getting There – Public Transport
4:43 – Getting There – Getting There
5:02 – Equipment Hire
5:38 – Driving to Mt Baw Baw
6:12 – Stopping by Noojee
6:56 – Mt Baw Baw Ticket Entry
7:25 – Mt Baw Baw Car Park
7:55 – Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort
8:51 – Mt Baw Baw Equipment Rental
9:27 – Warm Eating Area
9:50 – Ski Pass & Ski Runs
11:55 – Hiking Trails
12:18 – Howling Huskys Sled Tour
13:19 – Toboggan Run
13:53 – Cafe Eleven
14:23 – Lunch
16:14 – Noojee Trestle Bridge

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