The Ultimate Passport to… Snow Season

What’s the best season to be in Bright & Surrounds?

All year round of course! But if we have to pick a favourite time of year… it’s a bit like saying which child you love the best… okay fine it’s winter. The air is fresh and crisp, the scenery is particularly gorgeous (all those picturesque snow-covered peaks), the woodfires are pumping out heat, and when it rains you just walk around with a grin on your face because hey, it’s snowing on the mountaintops.

We’re spoiled for choice in the winter, with the choice of Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain or Mount Buffalo for our snow activities. Beginner or expert, ski or snowboard, downhill or cross-country, snowplay or snowsports – we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the exclusive snow season offers featured in The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds:

Join Adventure Guides Australia on a Cross-Country Ski Adventure at beautiful Mount Buffalo, two for the price of 1. Start with a cross-country ski lesson – an hour & a half of expert tuition followed by a 2-hour ski tour exploring the many kilometres of trails on the great granite plateau. Whether it’s your first time or you’re looking to brush up on your skills, Mount Buffalo is the ideal location – friendly & welcoming, only a 45-minute drive from Bright, and no entry fees. Adventure Guides Australia has been offering amazing outdoor experiences for more than 30 years in a range of locations, with particular emphasis in the Mount Buffalo region of northern Victoria, their ‘spiritual home’.

Your trip to the snow just got a little more affordable with this 2-for-1 gear hire deal from Absolute Outdoors on the Great Alpine Road in Porepunkah. Stop in on your way to Mt Hotham or Falls Creek ski resorts to pick up your skis or snowboard for yourself and a friend, and save some real $$.

Ashwood Cottages offers two great value deals. Stay either Friday & Saturday nights and add an extra night (Thursday or Sunday) for FREE, or stay 4 nights, pay for 3. These one-bedroom self-contained cottages feature a king sized bed, ensuite, spa, kitchenette, Free WiFi, log fire, and BBQ facilities. The cottages are spread out over one hectare of tranquil bushland, offering privacy & seclusion, though only an easy 5-minute cycle or 25-minute walk from cosmopolitan Bright. On the banks of the Ovens River adjacent to the Canyon Walk.

An intimate alpine experience at Rundells Alpine Lodge Dinner Plain (pictured) is not to be missed. Breakfast and dinners are catered and the well-appointed guest rooms are serviced daily. Drive to the lodge door. Tobogganing, dog sleds, cross country trails and a beginner ski run are a few steps away. During ski season, from 14 June to 22 September, Stay 2 nights (mid week Sunday to Thursday) and receive two additional nights for FREE. Exclusive through The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds.

Book your ski holiday at Frueauf Village and receive a complimentary cheese platter & bottle of Prosecco as a welcome gift. Frueauf Village is a luxury oasis in the heart of Falls Creek village, with ski-in, ski-out access. Featuring 25 architect-designed apartments, ranging from studios up to 6-bedroom chalets, Frueauf Village is the perfect base for your Falls Creek holiday. Apartments are self-contained and elegantly furnished, most featuring European appliances in fully-equipped kitchens, many with private outdoor hot tub. milch café (bar), with its buzzy, fun vibe (and the best coffee on mountain) is located at Frueauf Village. Whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic snow getaway or part of a large, fun-seeking group, there is an apartment or chalet at Frueauf Village that will suit you.

Get a taste of winter with this great-value winter accommodation package from Adina Lodge. Stay 4 nights for the price of 3, and your stay includes guaranteed late checkout, FREE bicycle hire, 1 day FREE snow chain hire, and FREE toboggan hire. Adina Lodge is just a 35-minute drive to Mount Buffalo for snow play, tobogganing and cross-country skiing. Or stay in the valley, ride the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and admire the wintry mountain scenery – it’s up to you! Adina Lodge may be Bright’s best kept secret. With the Rail Trail on one side of the property and the Canyon Walk on the other, Adina Lodge feels like a secret garden haven and yet it is still only an easy stroll into the centre of Bright with all its cafes, restaurants and boutiques.

Stay 3 nights for the price of 2, or 6 nights for the price of 4, and enjoy a warm welcome from your hosts Ros & Brendan at Bright Mystic Valley Holiday Units. With 5 one- and two-bedroom units on 3 acres of tranquil gardens, complete with tennis court, kids’ play area, BBQ gazebo and solar heated swimming pool & spa, right at the base of Mystic Mountain in Bright, this is a great winter getaway. All units have a fully-equipped modern kitchen, reverse-cycle air-conditioning and a veranda for relaxing, reading or just sitting & reflecting. The units have a cosy and rustic feel thanks to the striking stone feature walls, built by hand with Glenrowan stone. Superior linen, fluffy towels and high-quality toiletries complete the package.

Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 at Panoramia Villas, the ultimate in luxury and relaxation. Located on 60 acres of private bushland, just 4 kilometres off the Great Alpine Road in Myrtleford, the villas offer full panoramic views of the Ovens Valley from their floor-to-ceiling windows. Each of the two villas is elegantly appointed with a range of unique and exotic furniture, homewares, and objets d’art, as well as all of the accoutrements you expect from a deluxe property – fully equipped kitchen, free WiFi, balcony with barbeque, wood fire (firewood supplied), premium linen & towels, and undercover parking. Panoramia Villas is just 45 minutes from Mount Buffalo National Park and 1 1/2 hours’ drive from Falls Creek and Mount Hotham Ski Resorts.

Ellie Mae’s Bed & Breakfast offers a luxurious getaway in a charming historical building. Ellie Mae’s Bed and Breakfast, located in a cottage built around 1890 in Bright, retains all the charm and character of yesterday while providing all the contemporary touches you expect from a deluxe accommodation property, including free WiFi throughout. Book a minimum of 2 nights mid-week in July at this wonderful traditional bed & breakfast, and receive a complimentary gourmet platter for two.

If it’s spring skiing you’re after, stay 3 nights for the price of 2 at the Harrietville Hotel Motel, located at the base of Mt Hotham and Mt Feathertop on the Great Alpine Road. Fabulous off-mountain location, directly across from Hoy’s ski hire and the departure point of the Snowball Express service to Mt Hotham ski resort, and right on the Ovens River in beautiful Harrietville. Valid September, outside of school holidays.

On your way to Falls Creek? Don’t pass by without stopping at Sweetwater Brewing brewery bar, on the Kiewa Valley Highway in Tawonga South. Sample their range of craft beers – order two tasting paddles with a selection of 5 beers, for just $10, and enjoy the magnificent views of the Big Fella as you sip.

Blackbird Café in Bright is one of the cosiest dining options around in wintertime. Lounge on one of their comfy couches in front of the woodfire, and indulge in a celebratory start to the day with the great value Sparkling breakfast special. Order two coffees, two of their amazing cooked breakfasts (try the scrambled with salmon or Spanish-style baked eggs with chorizo) and two glasses of local sparkling wine for just $40.

Other accommodation options include:

G.G’s By The River is a luxury 2-bedroom self-contained cottage at the foot of Mount Buffalo in Eurobin, taking pride in their attention to detail and warm hospitality. Elegantly appointed, comfortable bedrooms feature king beds, full luxury bathrooms and superior quality linen & robes. Stay 4 nights, pay for 3, and receive a complimentary welcome hamper.

Merrimeet Cottages has a superb location in a hectare of rambling English-style gardens which flow on to the Canyon Walk alongside the Ovens River, just a few minutes’ walk from Bright town centre. Stay 4 nights, pay for 3 in either a self-contained garden apartment or a spacious cottage. Your hosts Alistair and Kellie look forward to welcoming you.

Motel on Alpine offers warm country hospitality in a superb location, right on the Great Alpine Road and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 in one of 20 spacious suites and cabins, featuring tea & coffee making facilities, well-stocked minibar, flat screen TVs and off-street, undercover parking.

Molly’s@Wandi is great value for those on a tighter budget. Again choose from one of two offers. Either stay Friday & Saturday nights and stay an extra night (Thursday or Sunday) for FREE, or stay 4 nights, pay for 3. Molly’s@Wandi is a comfortable, cosy 2-bedroom miners’ cottage in the charming historical gold-mining village of Wandiligong. Molly’s@Wandi is close to the iconic Wandi pub and to the river walks along Morses Creek. This cosy little home includes a full kitchen (with oven), tidy bathroom, TV & DVD player and a washing machine. The polished floorboards and wood fire-place (wood supplied) enhance the period feel of the home.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and most require advance booking.