
Mt Buller
300 hectares of terrain and Victoria's biggest lift network, three hours from Melbourne. Ikon Pass access, open June to October.
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.
Mt Buller is the largest ski area in Victoria, covering about 300 hectares with 76 runs between 1,375 and 1,805 metres, a vertical of 430 metres. Its profile is 20% beginner, 45% intermediate and 35% advanced, with no expert-rated terrain. That advanced share is higher than many resorts of this size, and it gives the mountain a sporty character. Fourteen chairlifts of various types serve the slopes, supported by T-bars and surface lifts, so the whole mountain is easy to cover. The village sits high on the ridge, with runs descending on several sides, and the terrain feels varied from top to bottom.
Bourke Street is the main green thoroughfare from the summit area back towards the village, served by the Bourke Street Express six-seat chair. Chamois and Federation are the best-known advanced runs, steep and often bumped, while the Cresta Run provides more of the same for strong skiers. Boggy Creek and the lower slopes suit newer skiers and families. Intermediates fill the middle of the mountain with long, groomed cruising. Mt Buller suits confident intermediates and advanced skiers who want a sustained, technical day, and families can still find a gentle area to learn. Experts will want something steeper, but few will feel short-changed.
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.
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.
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
The 2026 season at Mt Buller closed on Sept 6, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from A$73, with peak rates up to A$209.
Full day access to all 19 lifts and 76 runs at Mt Buller, Victoria's largest alpine resort. Dynamic pricing - book early to save up to A$30 on peak dates at Melbourne's closest major ski resort.
Buy passGreat value kids lift pass for ages 5-18 with full access to all Mt Buller lifts, beginner terrain and ski school zones. Significant savings over adult pricing at Victoria's most popular ski resort.
Buy passComplimentary lift access at Mt Buller for children under 5. Free skiing for the youngest mountain riders at Victoria's largest ski resort, just three hours from Melbourne.
Buy passSenior lift pass for ages 65-69 at Mt Buller with A$30 off adult pricing. Full access to all lifts and 300 hectares of terrain across Victoria's most accessible alpine resort.
Buy passComplimentary lift access for skiers aged 70+ at Mt Buller - the resort's gift to its most experienced mountain riders. Free skiing all season across Victoria's largest lift network.
Buy pass3 consecutive days at Mt Buller with significant per-day savings over single-day tickets. Dynamic pricing applies - maximum savings during value periods at Victoria's largest ski resort.
Buy pass5 consecutive days at Mt Buller with significant per-day savings. Best value for extended stays at Melbourne's closest major alpine resort with 300 hectares of skiable terrain.
Buy passUnlimited Mt Buller access all 2026 season with exclusive member benefits, discounts across the village and Take a Mate vouchers. Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective holders receive included days.
Buy passUnlimited Mt Buller access all 2026 season for kids aged 5-18 with exclusive member benefits and Take a Mate vouchers. Great value for families making multiple trips from Melbourne.
Buy passMore Mt Buller intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.