Hot chocolate by the open fire, your kids decked out in their cute cable knit woollen beanies making snow angels… Let the Falls Creek ski adventure begin!
Have you long dreamt of taking the kids on a Australian snow holiday but have placed it in the ‘too hard basket’ due to a) needing a removalist truck to carry all your snow gear b) have no idea how you or your family will cope in sub-arctic conditions c) it seems like a logistical nightmare or d) it seems too expensive?
If you answered yes to any of the above, it’s time to close your eyes and dream. Falls Creek in Victoria is not only a cheaper ski holiday destination, it will squash all the misconceptions you may have about a family snow trip.
All about Falls Creek in Victoria
Falls Creek is Victoria’s largest ski resort offering 14 lifts, 92 runs and the perfect mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain. A four-hour drive from Melbourne and you will arrive at this ski in-ski out village, a picture-perfect winter wonderland for families. The winter snow season at Falls Creek runs from June to October.
There is something to be said about getting up high in the clouds with unmatched panoramas of the Victorian Alps, the crunch of fresh snow underfoot, giant crisp snowflakes landing gently on your cheek and the rugged snow-capped mountains glistening in the afternoon sun.
Falls Creek is perfect for beginners of all ages
Firstly, you don’t have to be an expert skier to enjoy Falls Creek. Sure, there is enough terrain to keep the elite satisfied, but Falls Creek also offers a vast array of beginner and intermediate runs to keep the whole family happy.
It also has an excellent Snowclub to introduce children aged three to six to the snow, as well as Junior Workshops for those aged seven to 14 to sharpen their skiing and snowboarding skills.
It is true that kids have no fear when it comes to learning new skills, so starting them young is a good idea. In a matter of days, our nine-year-old daughter had mastered the blue runs in stunning bluebird conditions and our five-year-old enjoyed two full days of Snowclub, where he made new friends and learnt how to ski for the first time.
Night skiing and boarding is held on Wombat’s Ramble, Australia’s longest green run, on Saturday and Wednesday nights
Falls Creek family activities - off the slopes
Each day we would ski as much as our aching muscles would allow, but also ensure we indulged in the après-ski activities, including soaking in hot tubs under the stars, toasting marshmallows in front of an open fire, sipping on schnapps, or wandering the streets lined with fairy lights.
Head to the Village Bowl from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm for Twilight Tuesdays throughout July and August for loads of fun and games for kids. There’s music, fire pits and marshmallows to roast, plus Pete the Snow Dragon loves to make an appearance! A Weekly Fireworks Spectacular is also held in the Village Bowl on Thursday nights at 7 pm.
Where to eat at Falls Creek with kids
In terms of family friendly options around the mountain, Falls Creek has you covered, whatever your budget. Huski Kitchen offers a great range of family friendly Southeast Asian style dishes and is family friendly casual dining at its best.
Located in the historic heart of Falls Creek’s famous Village Bowl at the base of the Summit, the Frying Pan Inn offers a great kids’ menu in a rustic inspired pub atmosphere with craft beers. It’s also the perfect spot to watch the weekly firework display.
Located right next to Ski School, Cloud 9 is great for cheap breakfast waffles and a barista-made coffee before you hit the slopes, or a woodfired pizza for lunch to thaw out from all your skiing.
Family-friendly accommodation at Falls Creek
Ski holidays have a reputation for being expensive, but Falls Creek offers plenty of family-friendly accommodation options, from budget rooms and shared lodges to self-contained units and luxury hotels.
We chose to stay at Astra Falls Creek, which was awarded Best Boutique Ski Hotel Australia by the World Ski Awards for the past six years in a row. The warm and cosy alpine lodge has an open fireplace, magical views of the mountain, ski-in and ski-out access to all lifts, a kids’ room with toys, and a fully cooked breakfast is included – did someone say waffles?
Oh, and when the kids are all tuckered out from a day of skiing and you are looking for something a little extra, it even has a private wine cellar showcasing wines from around the world, which you can experience in the comfort of your own room. Tick, tick, boom!
Plan your budget Falls Creek family holiday
How to book lift tickets and lessons
Book your lift tickets and lessons in advance online via the Falls Creek website. You can collect your pre-purchased tickets from the ticket machines dotted across the mountain, before heading straight to the lifts.
Budget-friendly ski gear hire
To keep the costs down, we used our own snow jackets and pants and then just hired our snow equipment from Falls Creek Ski Lifts on arrival, to ensure the kids were fitted out properly with the correct size ski.
Save money with a season pass
If you really love skiing and decide to return more than once during the season, then it’s definitely worth exploring the Epic Australia Pass, which provides access to Perisher in NSW and Falls Creek and Hotham in Victoria, allowing your family cheaper adventures for the whole snow season!
Follow Meg and her family’s adventures on Instagram @traveltalesblog
The writer was a guest of Falls Creek Ski Lifts, Traverse Alpine Group and Vail Resorts.
Opening image: Daisy enjoying the views on an easy ski run
