Mt Baw Baw
Visit Melbourne's closest alpine resort, perfect for beginners and families. Easy access, affordable skiing, and ideal learning environment just 2.5 hours from the city.
Season 2026
Opens
20 June 2026
Closes
7 Sept 2026
Days open
79
Annual snow
2.5m
The Overview
Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort offers a compact yet complete snow experience just 2.5 hours from Melbourne. As Victoria's closest downhill ski area to the capital, it provides an accessible alpine getaway without the long drive. The resort features gentle slopes perfect for beginners and families, alongside more challenging terrain for experienced skiers and snowboarders. With accommodation options ranging from cosy lodges to self-contained apartments, Mt Baw Baw delivers an authentic Victorian alpine experience on a smaller, more approachable scale.
105m
Vertical
17
Runs
86 acres
Skiable
2.5m
Annual snow
The Terrain
17 runs across 86 acres skiable
Mt Baw Baw is a very small ski area in the Victorian Alps of Gippsland, with only about 35 hectares between 1,460 and 1,565 metres and a vertical of just 105 metres. Its 17 runs split 25% beginner, 65% intermediate and 10% advanced, with no expert terrain. Those numbers describe a compact, gentle hill where the slopes are short and the pitches mild. Everything is packed into a plateau setting, so lifts are quick, distances are tiny and the whole hill is quickly understood. It is a place to learn, not a place to chase vertical.
Surface lifts do all the work, including the Maltese Cross T-Bar, the Summit T-Bar, the Big Hill Poma and the Painted Run T-Bar, plus the Tank Hill and Hut Run platters near the base. Named runs such as Tank Hill and Home Run keep things easy to follow. Intermediates make up nearly two-thirds of the terrain, but they should expect short, mellow runs rather than long descents. Mt Baw Baw suits young families, first-timers and beginner to low-intermediate skiers who value a small, friendly mountain. Experienced skiers will run out of challenge within a morning, and may find the toboggan areas more entertaining.
Terrain split
17
runs
17 runs across 4 grades
Beginner4 runs · 25%
Intermediate11 runs · 65%
Advanced2 runs · 10%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Mt Baw Baw
The Mt Baw Baw snow season typically runs from early June through September, with peak conditions usually occurring in July and August. The mountain receives an average annual snowfall of 1-2 metres, supplemented by snowmaking facilities on key runs. Beyond the winter months, Mt Baw Baw transforms into a bushwalking and mountain biking destination from November through April. The changing seasonal landscape offers wildflower displays in summer and stunning autumn colours in March and April, making the mountain worth visiting year-round.
Season 2026
20 June 2026
Opens
7 Sept 2026
Closes
79
Days open
2.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Mt Baw Baw
Daily snow reports at Mt Baw Baw go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
25 cm
Snowiest day
31 Aug 2025
72 cm
This winter · 2026
so far
171 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Mt Baw Baw, and where to stay
Located in the Baw Baw National Park within Victoria's Great Dividing Range, Mt Baw Baw sits approximately 120km east of Melbourne. This positioning in the western Gippsland region makes it the closest alpine resort to Melbourne, accessible via a scenic drive through the Latrobe Valley and Yarra Ranges. The mountain stands at 1,567 metres above sea level, often catching snow when nearby peaks miss out due to its unique position. The resort area borders magnificent old-growth forests and sub-alpine woodlands, providing a distinctive ecological setting unlike other Victorian ski fields.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mt Baw Baw, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Mt Baw Baw's ski season?
Mt Baw Baw's 2026 season typically runs from June 20 through September 7. That window is roughly 79 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Victoria, Australia often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Mt Baw Baw have?
Mt Baw Baw lists about 86 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 17 named runs (35 hectares alongside 86 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Mt Baw Baw?
Trail grading at Mt Baw Baw breaks down roughly as 25% beginner, 65% intermediate, 10% advanced. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Mt Baw Baw have?
Mt Baw Baw operates 8 lifts across 2 lift types. The fleet includes 5 t-bars and 3 surface lifts.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Mt Baw Baw?
Base elevation at Mt Baw Baw is about 1,460 m (4,790 ft), with the summit around 1,565 m (5,135 ft), giving roughly 105 m (344 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Mt Baw Baw get each season?
Mt Baw Baw averages about 250 cm (98 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Mt Baw Baw lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans A$54 to A$89, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Mt Baw Baw before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 5 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Mt Baw Baw so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Mt Baw Baw have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Mt Baw Baw. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Mt Baw Baw located?
Mt Baw Baw sits in Victoria, Australia. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Pinheiro Braathen Wins Sölden Giant Slalom Opener by 0.48 Seconds
Two days at Sölden, two races decided by a hundredth somewhere on the podium, and one very quick Brazilian. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen led from the first run to win the men’s World Cup opener by 0.48 seconds, with Loïc Meillard second and Marco Odermatt third. River Radamus charged from 15th to fourth on a rutted course, and Britain’s Freddy Carrick-Smith banked his first World Cup points. Braathen still hasn’t lost a giant slalom since Olympic gold.
25 Oct 2026
Alps Snow Forecast: Up to 64 cm Headed for the High Glaciers as the Snow Line Drops
The Alps are about to swap mild, sunny October weather for something far more wintry. A cold front arrives Tuesday, and SnowStash forecasts have Monterosa Ski out in front with 64 cm over 14 days, ahead of Blatten Belalp (55 cm) and Verbier (43 cm). The snow line should fall below 2000 metres by Wednesday night, and glaciers across Switzerland, Italy and Austria are in line for the best of it. The wind will have a say too.
20 Oct 2026
Four Dead After Avalanche Near Ski Portillo in Chile
A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.
18 Oct 2026
Europe Ski Resorts Open Now: What Is Skiable in Mid-October 2026
Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.
14 Oct 2026
Zermatt Plans World Cup Downhill Return on the Gornergrat for 2028
Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.
14 Oct 2026
Mt. Rose Begins Snowmaking for the 2026-27 Season at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.
13 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resorts 2026-27: What’s New at Alta, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and More
Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.
13 Oct 2026
Mt Hutt Invests NZ$12 Million in Base Area, Tripling Its Sun Deck
Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.
11 Oct 2026