Five things to do in Mt Buller.

We hit the jackpot.

There’s nothing like going to the snow and waking up in the morning to a sea of white outside the window.

But for a few years, my experiences of the Australian snow was the exact opposite – bare trees, rocky surfaces and no need to ever wear snow-appropriate footwear. If we were lucky, there would be a few centimetres of snowfall at night, but there was never enough to cover the mountain and certainly not enough to build a snowman.

And that’s why I was practically jumping out of my thermals recently when we woke to a picture perfect morning at Mt Buller. Twenty fresh centimetres and not a bare tree in sight.

I was at Mt Buller with two of my besties – Kate and Katie – for a weekend of skiing, wine and cozying up on the couch. Katie and I used to come to Buller for school trips when we were teenagers, but it’s been years since I have come back to try the mountain as an adult (and as someone who can legally drink.)

In those couple of days, I’ve remembered what I love about a ski trip; that sore leg feeling that comes from a day of intense skiing, the rush of the cold wind on your face, the warmth of an open fire – or a mid afternoon hot chocolate.

The think I love about the snow is that there’s something in it for everyone. It can be a romantic trip away for a couple, an adventure for the family, or – in our case – a much needed girls trip. And even if you’re not a skiier or a boarder, there is plenty to do on the mountain that doesn’t involve stocks and poles.

If you are heading off, this season or one of the next, here are my tips so you can make the most of Mt Buller:

Eat and drink.

It’s been about ten years since I’ve been at Buller, and in that time the quality of the food has increased massively. No longer are patrons limited to hot chips and pies (although those are still around if you’re craving). These days there is so much on offer – hipster burger joints, pup type grub, an Asian food court called PoPo Kitchen – and plenty of them have view of the surrounding mountains. Tirol Cafe, which is at the tope of the Shaky Knees chairlift, even serves home made pasta.

For something a little nice, try Snow Pony (231 New Summit Road). Snow Pony is relatively new and probably the best food on the mountain, so you will need to book ahead. The food is contemporary, with a bit of an Asian twist, and all plates are designed to share. We ate the Ampawa saganaki (which I could have eaten for DAYS), the Penang pumpkin curry, the Pattaya soft shell crab and the Phangan crispy barramundi.

Whatever you do, make sure you leave room for desert.

For coffee on the mountain – go to Grimus Grind (224 Breathtaker Rd). It’s just a hole-in-the-wall type set up, but the coffee is excellent. Plus it’s only about a two-minute walk from the slopes of Bourke Street, so perfect for a mid morning coffee break. They also make a delicious toasted sandwich if you’re peckish.

Stay.

Stay somewhere with an open fire. There’s something about coming in after a day on the slopes and lighting a fire for the night – you can’t beat it.

The mountain has plenty of accommodation options available, from simple rooms to more extravagant apartments. We stayed in a three-bedroom, two-storey apartment called Huski Apartment 5, which is located on Chamois Road, close to Chamois ski run. The kitchen has everything you need to cook and there’s plenty of firewood to keep you warm. It was foggy most of the weekend we were there, but I heard from the locals that on a nice day, the view is fantastic.

Ski.

If there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s to wear a helmet. I invested in one a few years ago and I’m sure it’s saved my life many, many times. I know that sometimes the cool kids don’t wear them, but seriously – skis move fast and safety is important. Just do it.

For ski hire, Buller sports offers all the basics. But if you want your gear a little more fancy, go the Chalet Boutique. They’ve got skis, snowboard and all the clothing you need. (The only thing you will need to borrow/buy is Googles – they don’t hire those out for hygiene reasons)

One you’ve kitted yourself out, head to those slopes! If you’ve never skiied before, you’ll need to start on Buller’s central run, Bourke Street. And once you advance from there, there’s a whole mountain to explore. For intermidate skiiers like myself, I recommend runs like Standard and Little Buller Spur. They’re fairly long (for Australian standards) and offer a few little trails and corners to mix things up a bit.

Shoe.

If you’re not a skiier or boarder – or you just want to try something different – consider a snow shoe tour. Local guides with a great knowledge of the area will take you on a designated tour around the mountain, and to areas you might not see otherwise,

We were lucky enough to go on the tour the day after a snowfall so were walking through 20 centimetres of fresh powder snow. The air was crisp. The wind was still.

Just a note – make sure you bring snow appropriate food wear.

Tours depart twice a day at 12pm and 1:30pm. They run for about an hour and only cost $33 per person.

Pack chains.

If you happen upon a weekend like the one we did, you will need them!

See… (Yes, that’s me under the car…)

If you’ve never used chains before, fear not. When you pick them up for the hire shop, the lovely staff will show you how to use them.

My tip? Use your phone to film the demonstration.

We hired chains from the Buller Sports outlet in Mansfield (3-5 Elvins Street, Mansfield.) Chain hire starts at around $25 for one day and $60 for seven.

Anything else?

Any further info on Mt Buller can be found on the mountain website here.

Lucy and her friend Katie stayed on the mountain as guests of the resort.