Mount Buller
Discover Mount Buller
Mount Buller, often called Buller by locals, is an alpine village and ski resort around 250 km northeast of Melbourne. In winter, the mountain contained 263 ha of terrain for skiers and snowboarders, satisfying a wide range of skiers, from total beginners to ultra-advanced. In summer, Mount Buller has rapidly expanded from just an 'off season' to a significant destination for hiking and mountain biking, with more to come. At only 3-4 hours drive from Melbourne, Mount Buller is popular with day trippers from Melbourne, but also boasts 7,000 beds on the mountain. The mountain itself rises to 1,805 m (5,922 ft) above sea level, with average snow depth during winter of 1.5 m. Extensive snowmaking takes place to ensure a longer season.
What to Experience in Mount Buller
Taste of Mount Buller...
Mount Buller offers a variety of restaurants, from cheap-and-cheerful to luxury options. Due to the limited number of eateries, it is important to book tables, especially if you are with a larger group or visiting during busier times. Mount Buller has a variety of eateries located on the ski fields, meaning that skiers can have lunch without having to return to the village. Mount Buller has many types of accommodation, ranging from upper class hotels to backpackers lodges. Be aware that even 'cheap' options can be expensive compared to most destinations, and that accommodation books out very quickly, particularly in busy periods. International workers on working holiday visas are fairly common at Mount Buller, with local workers often in short supply due to the remote location of the mountain. These jobs are mostly in the hospitality sector or at the ski school. A list of available positions can be found here. Most jobs also offer subsidised on-mountain accommodation as part of the remuneration, but if your position doesn't, on-mountain accommodation is very expensive, and off-mountain accommodation, often in towns near Buller like Mansfield, Merrijig and Sawmill Settlement, is still at least a 20-minute drive from the village.
Climate
Mount Buller can be divided into two seasons, winter and summer. The winter season, dominated by skiing and snowboarding, lasts from the King's birthday long weekend in June through to the October school holidays, depending on seasonal conditions. The mountain is usually busiest during the June school holidays and Victorian Interschools week (21-27 August), where large numbers of families come up to Mount Buller. During these times, it can be very hard to get accommodation, and if you do, expect long lift waits. August is generally the month with best snow, with most to all of the mountain being open. In winter, Mount Buller is very cold, with temperatures regularly below 0°C, so it is important to wear appropriate clothing. Most skiers and snowboarders wear thermals, warm jackets and (most importantly) waterproof jackets and pants, especially in peak season. Even if you are only visiting for snow play or sightseeing, wearing warm clothing is important.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere is only one paved road into Mount Buller, the Mount Buller Road (C320) which starts in Mansfield, a small town 55 km away. Most of the Mount Buller Road is fairly safe and easy to drive, but the road starts getting complicated once you drive past the Sawmill Settlement as the road begins climbs up the mountain. Extreme care is needed to navigate the road up the mountain with many blind corners and natural hazards such as ice and loose rock falling onto the road. The maximum speed limit is 60 km/h in good conditions, if the weather deteriorates, the safe speed can be reduced to 40 km/h (25 mph) or less. If you are departing from Melbourne, leave at about 8:30 to 9AM to arrive in Mansfield to arrive at around noon for lunch. Stop at the Mansfield Bakery for award-winning pies, or go to the Mansfield Coffee Merchant for a more gourmet meal, with great coffee....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
To get around the Mount Buller village, there are free village bus services available for you to catch to allow you to reach the slopes from different points such as Chamois, Village Plaza, Ski School and Bourke Street. The buses are equipped with special clamps to secure your skies or snowboards on to remove the hassle of bringing your snow gear inside the bus and upsetting other users. There are three routes, all starting and ending at the -37.14621146.450531 Village Centre; to the top of Summit Road, along The Avenue and around Stirling Road and the south side of the village. It's possible just to enjoy the view of the many mountains surrounding Mt. Buller, which provides a memorable day out in itself. Skiing and snowboarding are the main choices of activity for many visitors. However, there are some other activities that you can do if you are not a keen skier or snowboarder. There are snow shoe activities and sightseeing available. See the Buller website for more details.
Where to Stay
Mount Buller has many types of accommodation, ranging from upper class hotels to backpackers lodges. Be aware that even 'cheap' options can be expensive compared to most destinations, and that accommodation books out very quickly, particularly in busy periods. International workers on working holiday visas are fairly common at Mount Buller, with local workers often in short supply due to the remote location of the mountain. These jobs are mostly in the hospitality sector or at the ski school. A list of available positions can be found here. Most jobs also offer subsidised on-mountain accommodation as part of the remuneration, but if your position doesn't, on-mountain accommodation is very expensive, and off-mountain accommodation, often in towns near Buller like Mansfield, Merrijig and Sawmill Settlement, is still at least a 20-minute drive from the village.
Money & Budget
Mount Buller offers a variety of restaurants, from cheap-and-cheerful to luxury options. Due to the limited number of eateries, it is important to book tables, especially if you are with a larger group or visiting during busier times. Mount Buller has a variety of eateries located on the ski fields, meaning that skiers can have lunch without having to return to the village. Mount Buller has many types of accommodation, ranging from upper class hotels to backpackers lodges. Be aware that even 'cheap' options can be expensive compared to most destinations, and that accommodation books out very quickly, particularly in busy periods.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Due to the mountainous, isolated nature of the mountain and the danger in traversing the mountain, safety can be a concern. -37.14639146.450782 Mount Buller CFA is on the junction of Stirling Road and The Avenue and the -37.1463146.45143 Mount Buller Police Station is nearby, on Chamois Close. The -37.14609146.445324 Medical Centre and the -37.14608146.445675 Ski Patrol are located on Summit Road, at the top of Athlete's Walk. Be careful on Athlete's Walk, as it is very steep and sometimes slippery, although the installation of heaters has remedied this to an extent. Downloading the Mount Buller app is a must, as Ski Patrol can be called using a quick-to-access button on the app. There is one chapel on Mount Buller, the -37.14621146.451116 Mount Buller Chapel, located at the top of Chamois Close, next to the Police Station. There is also an aerial bridge from the Village Centre building to the top of Chamois Close, to access the Chapel.
Glimpses of Mount Buller
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes
Surviving the extremes