A family getaway at the snow
If your children have never seen snow because you reckon it's too cold, too expensive, too far away or too much hassle, try Lake Mountain.
Taking a baby and toddler to the slopes had me in preparation hyperdrive, but the first thing you discover about Lake Mountain is it's ridiculously convenient. It's just over two hours by car from Melbourne, albeit with a long, winding, child-unfriendly drive up the Black Spur. I thought my partner was mad -- and somewhat lacking in alpine spirit -- when he started unpacking the pram in the Lake Mountain car park. But our pram was one of several parked slopeside, metres from the snow's edge. It was a 30-second walk from our car to the information centre, cafe and ski hire centre, but make sure you get there early to get into the top car park. From the warmth of the cafe, our snow-shy daughter had a prime view of the thrills and spills on the 50m-long toboggan slope right outside. She was converted. One minute later, we're at the top of the toboggan slope, our gear conveniently stowed in the pram, and the kids are building a snowman.
In my past visits to ritzier resorts, I've stuck out like a sore thumb in ill-fitting, borrowed gear while ultra-glam snow bunnies swoosh down the slopes. This time, I'm almost overdressed -- and certainly overheated -- in my Big W gumboots, borrowed waterproof gear, beanie, neck warmer and puffy vest. It's not as cold at Lake Mountain because it's not as high as Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller. Its average July maximum is 5-6C -- much warmer than the 0-1.5C averages at the big three. You must check snow reports before visiting. Apart from the main toboggan run, kept white thanks to a snowmaker, there are only scattered patches on our visit.
We enjoyed a couple of hilarious hours of snowman building, toboggan rides and snowball fights between our 10-month-old baby's morning and afternoon sleeps in the car on the road up and back. You can take a family day trip to Lake Mountain for under $70, including $35 per car for entry on weekends ($25 on weekdays), $12 to hire a toboggan and petrol. Take sandwiches and a thermos and eat in one of the public shelters, where there are tables, chairs and baby facilities. While we're there for snow play, Lake Mountain is well-known for cross-country skiing, with more than 30km of groomed trails, all repaired since Black Saturday. Snow mobile rides are new this year.
Accommodation is limited nearby. Most was at Marysville, 20 minutes' drive away, all but wiped out in the Black Saturday bushfires. Healesville is almost an hour from the mountain, but suits families, with varied attractions including Healesville Sanctuary. Lake Mountain Resort was almost wiped out in the February 7 fires, which caused about $8 million damage. Temporary buildings (previously used at Melbourne's Formula 1 Grand Prix)stand where buildings were razed.
The resort's three-storey main building amazingly survived unscathed -- then was devastated by another fire on July 1 (two days after our visit) that caused more than $500,000 in damage. But the area bounced back quickly and is reaping the rewards of recent heavy snow dumps. Knowing how short children's memories are, we're determined to make the snow an annual pilgrimage.
boarding pass
getting there: Lake Mountain is just over two hours northeast of Melbourne via the Eastern Freeway and Maroondah Highway.
entry: $35 a car on weekends, $25 on weekdays. Use the toboggan runs at no extra cost. Pay $12 fee to access ski trails.
gear hire: $12 for a toboggan, $30 for PVC pants, parka and boots (adult or child), ski lesson package $64 adult, $52 child, including 90-minute lesson, equipment and trail pass.
stay: Sanctuary Park Cottages, behind Healesville Sanctuary, has two to three-bedroom cottages on 8ha, with goats, chickens and a playground. From $185 a night. www.sanctuaryparkcottages.com
com.au, ph. 5962 6240. Check out www.lakemountainresort.com.au or 5957 7222 for closer options.
More: www.lakemountainresort.com.au
