The last time I went on a ski trip, I was a child taking beginner lessons with my sister and family friends at the ski school on Mt Buller. I remember picking it up quite easily and the thrill of sliding down the sparkling white slopes remains a core memory to this day.So when I received the invite from Visit Victoria for a Mt Buller ski trip, I was excited to recreate my childhood memories - yet apprehensive about my skiing abilities now that I was old(er) and stiff and frankly unfit.Oh the joys of being young and fearless.Despite my apprehension, I was comforted by the fact that my partner had never even seen snow, let alone skied in his life. If I was going to make a fool of myself on the slopes, at least I would have good company…and good company is all you need for a great day out :)We were up at the crack of dawn to catch our tour bus to Mt Buller. With a 3-hour drive each way to and from Mt Buller, it was imperative that we set off as early as possible to maximise ski time.We made a pitstop at Mansfield to pick up ski gear including helmets, skis and poles. If you're not a seasoned skier like me, you may not own ski pants or even gloves but fear not, all you will need for the snow can be hired at various rental places around Mt Buller and even in the Village itself. If you choose to drive down yourself, you can hire wheel chains for your tyres (required in winter) en route as well.點擊圖片放大 +2 The Mt Buller Village is situated at the foot of the ski slopes and comprises everything you'll need for your ski/snowboarding adventure - restaurants, gear hire and lift pass purchasing services. A lift pass is purchased and activated on your B-TAG, which is a reusable RFID card that allows you to access the chair lifts and ride up the slopes. You just have it in your jacket pocket and it automatically scans like your car's tollway tag. And the best thing is you can use the same B-TAG the next time you visit.To get to The Village, you can board one of the shuttles that operate regularly to and from the carpark. Alternatively, you can opt for a more scenic transport route and take the Northside Express chairlift directly from the carpark to the slopes. If you've got your gear ready, you can start hitting the slopes right away or enjoy some refreshments at the Spurs Cafe while enjoying the view. Otherwise, you can also just treat it as a sightseeing ride and take the chairlift back down.There is nothing that beats the feeling of riding a chairlift up a snow mountain. 點擊圖片放大 +3 Despite the crowds swarming the slopes on a Sunday, the noise melted away once we were up in the air. The people became tiny moving figures against the vast white backdrop of snow. Breathing in the crisp, refreshingly cold mountain air, I took in the sight of the surrounding snow-tipped mountain ranges rising and falling against the azure blue sky. For a few beautiful minutes, I marvelled at the relative insignificance of our existence in the face of nature's wonders. A calm peacefulness washed over me, the invisible weight on my shoulders lifted, and I felt light and free...Then once my skis touched the snow for dismount, adrenaline coursed through my veins as I prepared for the rush down the slopes.Getting off at the first stop halfway up the mountain, you have three options. You can ski all the way down back to the base, halfway down to the ski school for lessons, or halfway down to get on the next chairlift further up the mountain. We seriously considered ski lessons (yes they offer them for adults too) but didn't want to chip into our time as we were only here for the day. I would highly recommend some beginners lessons or even just a refresher if you have more time on Mt Buller, preferably if you’re staying overnight or multiple days.After taking the second chairlift, you are graced with the view of the 100 megalitre reservoir for recycled water snowmaking. A massive body of water surrounded by snowy peaks is quite a sight to behold. This reservoir is also probably the reason that Mt Buller has a money-back guarantee for insufficient snow cover. While it wasn't quite bluebird 'pow' (fresh powdery snow on a sunny cloudless day following a recent snowstorm) that we got, we had fairly decent snow coverage for a reasonably warm day on Mt Buller. As for the actual skiing: the crunch of snow beneath your skis, the sun and cool air on your face, the exhilarating feeling of hurtling down a slope at top speed while navigating an obstacle course of people. Skiing is ASMR and rollercoaster ride rolled into one.點擊圖片放大 +4 There are many more slopes for intermediate and advanced skiers but we stuck to the beginner's Baldy slope for obvious reasons. If I were to actually get into skiing and possibly snowboarding, I can see how Mt Buller would be a treasure trove of thrill-seeking adventure with a broad range of slopes and trails waiting to be explored.And if you discover that skiing or snowboarding isn't for you, or simply get tired (it is an exhausting full-body workout), there are plenty of other activities you can do including tobogganing, sightseeing chairlift rides, waging war with snowballs, then calling it a truce and making snow angels instead. Oh and how could I forget building your own personal Olaf (come prepared with a carrot).So if you're looking for weekend plans, why not plan a trip to Mt Buller especially while the weather's still a bit chilly? Your inner child will thank you for it.
