Alpine Ranges

The Australian Alpine Ranges and wilderness areas are a combination of many national parks including the Victorian Alpine national park in Victoria (Australia), northeast of Melbourne. The Alpine ranges covers much of the higher areas of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, with most of Victoria's skiing resorts, the alpine ranges area of the subalpine woodland and grasslands of the Bogong High Plains which are Victoria's highest point, Mount Bogong.

With 80% of the 320ha terrain at Mt Hotham marked intermediate and advanced, this resort attracts the professionals. Perched atop a mountain, Mt Hotham is known as the "powder capital" of Australia as it holds the record for the highest annual snowfall of any Victorian resort over the past decade. Offering spectacular scenery and a range of terrains, Mt Hotham includes 21.7 miles of tree-lined cross-country trails and a network of 13 lifts. The longest run at Mt Hotham is 1.55 miles long.

There's an abundance of beginner runs for skiers and boarders of all standards and the Terrain Park and Half Pipe are ideal for freestyle skiers and boarders who want a bit of loop-de-loop action. The resort's more challenging runs are Mary's Run and the Chute. The majority of the park was affected by a large bushfire in early 2003, the largest since fires in 1939. Most facilities for tourists were relatively unaffected. Fires are a periodic feature of most Australian ecosystems.

Unusually for an Australian national park, agricultural activity is conducted in the park, with quotas of cattle controversially allowed to graze on the High Plains during the summer months.

The park's eastern and north-eastern boundary is alone the border with New South Wales in some parts; on the other side of the border is the Kosciuszko National Park.

Alpine National Park is divided into six sections:

* Wonnangatta-Moroka * Mt. Buller-Stirling * Mt. Hotham-Feathertop * Bogong High Plains * Wombargo-The Cobberas * Tingaringy

The mountain resorts are filled with great restaurants and small cafes where you can enjoy and relax with some of the finest food on the mountain why not enjoy a great australian barbeque on the outside deck and enjoy the scenery.

Mt Hotham airport is located right on the mountain giving complete access to all the mountains world class facilities. You can get there real quick without having to prepare for that long drive to the resorts up and down the mountain.

QantasLink has launched discounted one way fares from as low as A$119 plus taxes fees and surcharges of A$40* ex Sydney, and A$69 plus taxes fees and surcharges of A$38* ex Melbourne for the 2005 Mount Hotham ski season.

Qantas Executive General Manager Regional Airlines Narendra Kumar, said the airline would again operate Dash-8 36 seater aircraft to the popular Victorian snowfields from 26 June until 11 September 2005.

"The QantasLink schedule includes a newly timed Friday service to arrive in the snowfields in the early afternoon from both Sydney and Melbourne.

"QantasLink Dash-8 services ensure that enthusiasts are on the Mt Hotham snowfields in only 85 minutes from Sydney, and just 50 minutes from Melbourne. Flights depart Sydney on Thursday through to Monday and depart Melbourne on Thursday, Friday and Sunday," he said.

Mt Hotham Airport is located just 20 kilometres from the area's ski in - ski out chalets, apartments and lodges, making it one of the most popular resorts with skiers for its accessibility to transport and accommodation choices. The section of The Great Alpine Road from Harrietville to Mt. Hotham & Omeo started as a gold road & was based on a trail blazed by 19th century cattlemen seeking summer pastures in the high country.

The road can be covered in snow during winter & you must carry chains which can be hired in Harrietville & left at Omeo. Special passes must be purchased at a control point if you plan to stay for any length of time at Mt Hotham during winter.

Gold was discovered around Omeo in the 1850s & because of its remote location there was no law enforcement for several years. The locals built the log gaol, which still stands, in an effort to keep the wilder elements under control.

In the 1920s the first ski hut was constructed & Mt. Hotham township is now a boom town with millions of dollars being pumped into the region by the Mt. Hotham Skiing Company. New chairlifts & accommodation have been built & there is a regular helicopter shuttle in winter to ferry skiers to & from Falls Creek.

The airport, capable of handling 70-passenger jet aircraft, opened in 1999 at Horsehair Plain about 10km past Dinner Plain. You can now make direct flights from Melbourne & Sydney.

Summer attractions1. Chair lift. The Village Chairlift operates between Christmas & New Year from 11am to 2.30pm down to Swindlers Valley, the Plains of Heaven and the Silver Brumby Hut.2. Mountain Bike Hire. "Herbies" operate a mountain bike hire service.

Walks & Lookouts1. Lookouts. Anywhere you are standing will take in a great view, but Dannys Lookout, which is on your left before you reach the village, is an especially good vantage point. You will come across a number of signs with the Great Alpine Road logo & interpretive panels detailing the landscape & other features in the vicinity.

2. Walks. There are at least 13 designated walking tracks around Mt Hotham, Dinner Plain & Mt Feathertop. Parks Victoria have produced a brochure detailing these walks. Call them on 13 19 63 or go to their web site. Here are just a couple near the Hotham Village. You will be on the Australian Alps Walking Track which extends from Walhalla (Gippsland, Victoria) to Canberra (ACT).a) Mt. Loch summit (8km return/2 hrs). Park at the Mt. Loch car park (before the village) & walk 3.5km to Pole 60 then follow a vehicle track north past the rocky basalt columns for another 0.5km. Climb to the summit along a track on the northern side. Return the same way.b) Derrick Hut (9km return). Follow the Australian Alps Walking Track pole line from the Mt Loch car park to Pole 94 & Derrick Hut.