SnowStash
ForecastsCompareNews
SnowStash Logo

Live snow, webcams and expert resort guides for the world's mountains - plan your next day on snow.

hello@snowstash.com
Download on the App Store

Destinations

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Company

  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore

  • Compare Resorts
  • News & Updates
  • Snow Forecast
  • Mobile App

© 2026 SnowStash. All rights reserved.

    Victoria, Australia · Ikon / Mountain Collective

    Mt Buller

    300 hectares of terrain and Victoria's biggest lift network, three hours from Melbourne. Ikon Pass access, open June to October.

    Season 2026
    Opens
    6 June 2026
    Closes
    4 Oct 2026
    Days open
    120
    Annual snow
    2m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Mt Buller is Victoria's most popular ski resort and the most accessible major alpine resort in Australia, sitting approximately 235km north-east of Melbourne and reachable in around three hours — closer to an international airport than any other large resort in the country. The mountain covers 300 hectares of skiable terrain across 76 runs between 1,375m and 1,805m, split across two distinct aspects: a south-facing shady side and a north-facing sunny side that together provide varied conditions throughout the day. Skiing has taken place on the mountain since 1924, making it one of the longest continuously operating ski areas in Australia.

    The terrain breakdown is 45% intermediate, 35% advanced and 20% beginner — well suited to a resort that draws heavily from Melbourne's day-trip and weekend market. At the advanced end, runs including The Chamois and Federation offer genuine challenges, while three terrain parks cater to different freestyle levels. The alpine village sits at the heart of the mountain with ski-in ski-out accommodation, more than 30 dining and bar options, and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia — the national high-performance snow sports training centre — located on the mountain.

    430m
    Vertical
    76
    Runs
    741 acres
    Skiable
    2m
    Annual snow
    Ikon / Mountain Collective
    Pass
    The Terrain

    76 runs across 741 acres skiable

    Mt Buller spreads 76 runs across 741 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 15 beginner runs to find your feet and 27 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    76
    runs
    76 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner15 runs · 20%
    Intermediate34 runs · 45%
    Advanced27 runs · 35%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit Mt Buller

    The 2026 season at Mt Buller runs from 6 June to 4 October, a four-month window that aligns with the Victorian alpine season calendar. Average annual snowfall reaches 2 metres, and the resort's snowmaking system covers approximately 78 hectares — around 26% of the total skiable area — providing early-season and low-snow-year insurance across the key corridors including Bourke Street and Burnt Hut Spur. The snowmaking system is capable of operating in above-zero daytime temperatures, extending its effective window compared to systems at higher-altitude resorts.

    Mt Buller sits on the south-western edge of the Victorian Alps, which makes it more exposed to cold airmasses moving up from the Southern Ocean than resorts further north-east. This positioning contributes to some of the lowest recorded maximum temperatures in regional Victoria — a useful buffer during warm spells that affect other resorts. The Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective both include Mt Buller, connecting the resort with Thredbo, Mammoth, Niseko, Coronet Peak and a broader global network.

    Season 2026
    6 June 2026
    Opens
    4 Oct 2026
    Closes
    120
    Days open
    2 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Mt Buller, and where to stay

    Mt Buller is located in Victoria's Alpine National Park, 47km east of the town of Mansfield and approximately 235km north-east of Melbourne via the Maroondah Highway and Mount Buller Road. The 16km sealed access road from Mirimbah climbs steadily to the village with an average gradient of 6.2%, and all vehicles are required to carry and fit wheel chains when directed. A resort entry fee applies to all vehicles, which includes parking. The drive from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport takes around three hours under normal conditions.

    Coach transfers from Melbourne operate throughout the season via V/Line services connecting with Mansfield Mount Buller Buslines, and various private transfer operators run direct services from the city. Mansfield, 47km below the resort, provides a range of accommodation and services as an alternative base for visitors seeking lower-cost options. Adjacent Mt Stirling — managed by the same resort authority — offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing accessed from the same road, with no resort entry fee required for those visiting Mt Stirling on foot.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Mt Buller, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

    2 Sept 2026
    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

    1 Sept 2026
    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

    28 Aug 2026
    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.

    27 Aug 2026
    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.

    26 Aug 2026
    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.

    26 Aug 2026
    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.

    25 Aug 2026

    Mt Buller Lift System

    Nineteen lifts serve Mt Buller's 300 hectares, the largest lift network of any Victorian ski resort. The fleet includes two six-person high-speed chairlifts, eight quad chairlifts, three triple chairlifts, one double chairlift, four T-bars and four surface lifts, with a combined uphill capacity of around 40,000 skiers per hour. The two six-person express chairs form the backbone of the high-volume terrain, providing fast access through the busiest sections of the mountain on peak weekends.

    The day car park chairlift connects directly from the lower parking area into the ski area, allowing day visitors to reach the slopes without first navigating the village. A permanent race course — the Rossignol Racecourse — is served by the lift network and used for club racing throughout the season. Three dedicated terrain parks operate at different skill levels, each maintained by a separate snow grooming crew, and two toboggan parks with their own snowmaking infrastructure are located near Celia's and in the village.

    22lifts across 6 types
    2
    6-Person Chairs
    8
    Quad Chairs
    3
    Triple Chairs
    1
    Double Chair
    4
    T-Bars
    4
    Surface Lifts

    Mt Buller lift system

    Mt Buller is served by 22 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.

    More Mt Buller intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.