Weekend escape
n u f r e Summ IN MT BULLER
Sitting at an elevation of 1,600 metres, and only a few hours’ drive from Melbourne and Albury airports, the resort village of Mt Buller is an ideal place to hit the snow. But now this pretty-as-a-picture town is transforming itself into a hub of activity in the summer months. WORDs: Michelle Hespe photography: tony harrington
I
am definitely guilty as charged. I think of Falls Creek, Hotham and Mt Buller in Victorian High Country, and I think of skiing, mulled wine, open fireplaces and snow piling up outside the windows of my toasty room in a ski lodge. But in fact there are so many things to do in Mt Buller and its surrounds in the summer, and 2021 marked the launch of long lunches at the Iron Maiden Smokehouse at The Summit to celebrate this. Here are some of the great things to get into during the hotter months.
LONG LUNCHING What better way to take in views of the Victorian Alps than with live music and a long lunch with hundreds of others seated on the top of a pictureperfect mountain? Add slow-cooked meats and vegetables prepared by chef Ross O’Meara (of Gourmet Farmer fame), and a retro ice-cream caravan serving handmade gelato, and you have the recipe for a long and indulgent day.
MOUNTAIN BIKING Quite literally get on top of the world at Mt Buller and experience the rush of mountain biking at altitude. There are thrills (and hopefully not too many spills) galore on the downhill course, an uphill road
24 TrueBlue
challenge that will have those calves burning, and myriad cross-country trails. The stunning alpine views and the cool, rejuvenating climate make this region an ideal place to mix exercise, adrenaline and exploration. If you prefer to go at a slower pace with less risk involved, there are endless walking tracks, from ‘mellow’ to ‘mountain goat’ levels.
HITTING THE TRACKS Victorian High Country is heaven on earth for lovers of four-wheel driving. There are thousands of kilometres of trails and some of the toughest tracks in Australia, so if you are not entirely confident, it’s best to book in with a 4WD club or join a tag-along tour. Make sure you visit Craig’s Hut, which is a replica of the hut that was built for the film set of The Man from Snowy River. Sadly, the original hut was burnt down in the 2006 bushfires. As the government had already spent millions on the surrounding camping and picnic areas complete with a large carpark, they decided to supply all of the materials, and the second Craig’s Hut was built completely by local volunteers.
SUMMIT SESSIONS Pack a blanket (it gets chilly at night in the mountains, even during the
hottest months) a picnic, and maybe even your dancing shoes, for Sunset Sessions at the Summit. Pick a spot on the mountain and let Faces of Group create an audio experience like no other as the sun sets over Lake Eildon, and the stars come out to play. DJ’s Zane Velu & Phil Napoli and Melbourne duo MAMI also create the beats for these magical evenings.
KICK BACK WITH BLUES When night has settled in, pop over to the Moosehead Bar and kick back on one of the leather lounges to take in some blues while indulging in a tipple. The staff mix up an awesome selection of creative or classic cocktails that’ll be sure to have you sliding into a relaxing summer’s night. Music kicks off around 8.30pm and it’s a super friendly place where locals and visitors mingle after some fun and fresh air on the mountain.
GET INTO STARGAZING If you are keen to take in the night outdoors, book in a stargazing session with volunteers from the Astronomical Society of Victoria. Gazing up into our universe in a mountainous region with barely any light pollution is an incredible way to appreciate all that we are lucky enough to have around us. TB
