Koomerang – Mount Buller:

Located some 250km north east from Melbourne. The car trip takes approximately 3 hours on sealed road. Once you have passed through the Parks Victoria gate and paid the entrance fee, you will drive the car parks and be taken to your lodge by a 4WD taxi.

There is a toll payable to gain entry to the National Park which includes parking based on how long you stay. The car parks are well below the village with transport to your lodge by Toyota Troop carriers with your luggage on the roof (about $12 per person). Count your luggage and many hands make light work of this busy time.

Your car needs antifreeze, snow chains (these can be hired), a shovel, a brick to chock a wheel as you should leave the handbrake off (it can freeze on) and the car in gear, tilt your wipers out otherwise the weight of a heavy snowfall can bend them and if your tyres are well worn, replace them before a ski trip. Koomerang lost the record to Peter Brock 25 years ago and it can't be beat. So take it easy, take a break, and make it back safely.

Koomerang – Falls Creek

Falls Creek Alpine Resort is located high above the Kiewa Valley in North East Victoria and adjacent to the natural beauty of the Bogong High Plains.
Falls Creek is 4 hours from Melbourne, an easy days drive from Sydney and the closest alpine resort to Brisbane by road.

The Bogong High Plains Road winds gently uphill for around 30kms from Mt Beauty to Falls Creek before continuing on through to Omeo. Around 30kms of road from Falls Creek to Omeo is currently gravel however this should be completely sealed by the end of 2009.

In winter access to Falls Creek is only via the township of Mount Beauty with the road to Omeo closed at Falls Creek. During the declared snow season the road from Mt Beauty to Falls Creek is regularly cleared of snow and while carrying chains is a legal requirement they are rarely fitted on this road.

To get there from Melbourne, take the Hume Hwy to Glenrowan, have a break at "Maccas", then just further on take the turnoff to Myrtleford along the Snow Road to the Ovens Hwy. continue through myrtleford after which you can choose to either turnoff on the Happy Valley Rd (the scenic route) to the Kiewa Valley Hwy and on to Mt Beauty.

Or you can travel on down through Bright and at Germantown take the Tawonga Rd (the hilly route) to Mt Beauty.
After Mt Beauty follow the Bogong High Plains Rd up to Falls Creek. Although a couple of hours further to drive from Melbourne compared to Mt Buller, it can often be worth it as Falls Creek is well inside the Great Dividing Range on the Bogong High Plains, which usually attracts greater snowfall.

Alpine Driving Tips

There maybe sign that will instruct you to fit chains, so please obey these instructions for your own safety. Nevertheless when driving in winter conditions such as snow, ice, fog and wind remember these following tips. Ensure your headlights are on, keep off of the brakes as much as possible and generally lower your speed. Remember prevention is better than cure. Don't forget to put antifreeze in your radiator and take a shovel in case you're lucky enough to have the car snowed in. When parked, tilt your wipers out, chock a wheel, put the car in gear and leave the handbrake off.

If you need new tyres, then replace them before the ski trip. If chains are required then drivers will be notified by signs along the road 'Fit Chains Here'. These signs will differentiate, depending on whether 4WDs are impacted or not. No petrol is available at Falls Creek so make sure you fill up before you come up. In winter, diesel vehicles should fill up with Alpine Diesel from Mt Beauty or other local suppliers to ensure their vehicle works correctly in the cold conditions. Drivers should also check at the local service stations their anti-freeze levels. This can be done with a 'Glycometer' and may save you a lot of time and money.

Local Tip

Avoid Peak Times for Oversnow Transport. If you are going to be using Oversnow Transport to get to your accommodation, be aware that Friday nights and Sunday afternoons are the busiest times for these services and regularly incur waiting in excess of one hour. If you can avoid these peak times at Oversnow Transport by arriving Sunday morning or Friday throughout the afternoon before the service really gets busy you will enjoy a much smoother transfer experience. Traveling on other days may also be an option if they can match with your accommodation.

Phone the info desk at Falls Creek Resort Management on 03 5758 1200 for more advise on the Oversnow Transport service.

Koomerang – Mount Hotham:

To get to Mt Hotham from Melbourne, take the Hume Freeway to Glenrowan, and then either the Snow Road, or the Great Alpine Road, through Myrtleford, Bright and Harrietville. See the Mt Hotham website for more information.

There is a toll payable at the village entrance which includes parking off road. With no actual car park, the more people there, the further down the road you have to park and there is no carpark to lodge transportation. You can however, drive the car up near the lodge and unload before parking. A free bus service runs till 3am servicing the car parks up to the village centre.

The Koomerang lodge is towards the Dinner Plains end of the village. To get there, drive past the Arlberg, down the road to the corner near the Big D Quad Chair. From the Bar next to the Big D, the Koomerang Lodge is four along the Davenport Rd next to Asgard.

Hotham is a skiers and boarders heaven and probably the best skiing in Vic. There are also good beginners facilities and a ski school. Check out the Hotham Web Site for all the information on lessons, lift tickets and the Hotham Airport!

Alpine Driving Tips

Depending on weather and snow conditions, you may have noticed by now that driving the magnificent Great Alpine Road can be a little tricky during winter. On the Harrietville side, Hoys Roadside Chain Service can help you fit and remove snowchains wherever they are required. Signs may have or will instruct you to fit chains so please oblige these instructions for your own safety. Never the less when driving in winter conditions such as snow, ice, fog and wind remember these following tips. Ensure your headlights are on, keep off the brakes as much as possible and generally lower your speed. Remember prevention is better than cure.

Don't forget to put antifreeze in your radiator and take a shovel in case you're lucky enough to have the car snowed in. When parked tilt your wipers out, chock a wheel, put the car in gear and leave the handbrake off. Need new tyres, then replace them before the ski trip.

Koomerang – Thredbo:

Fly, drive or kick back in a coach with regular links from Sydney, Canberra and other locations. Thredbo is open 365 days a year and is a gorgeous alpine playground located half way between Sydney and Melbourne.

Getting to Thredbo    

National park entry fee: The National Parks and Wildlife Service requires all vehicles in the Park to have an entry permit displayed on their vehicle. The daily rate (24 hrs) per car for the summer months 2008/09 is $16. Alternatively an annual pass is $190. The annual pass is valid for one year from date of purchase and allows you entry into all NSW National Parks.

You can purchase your pass from:

-    The National Park Entrance Station on the Alpine Way 13km before Thredbo
-    Snowy Region Visitors Centre in Jindabyne
-    National Parks Visitors Centre in Khancoban
-    Thredbo Newsagency
-    Thredbo Office, Nuggets Crossing in Jindabyne

Driving from Sydney

Sydney to Thredbo is about a six-hour drive. Follow the Hume Highway from Sydney then just south of Goulburn take the Federal Highway and travel south to Canberra. This section of the trip is on a mainly divided road. At Canberra follow the signs to the Monaro Highway to Cooma. The road then joins the Kosciuszko Road that you follow through the town of Berridale and onto Jindabyne. Just past Jindabyne Town Centre take a left onto the Alpine Way to Thredbo. You will go through the National Park Entrance Station, and then it is only 13km to Thredbo.

Parking your car and use of the shuttle bus

Koomerang is located on Jack Adams Path directly opposite the Youth Hostel and between Happy Wanderers and Berghutte lodges. Pedestrians can access Koomerang from the private car park behind Berghutte (accessed from Banjo Drive under Lantern apartments) or along Jack Adams Path from Brindle Bull Lane off Buckwong Place.

Thredbo has the capacity to park 2,200 cars in designated car park, mostly at Friday Flat which is about ten minutes walk to the lodge. So to load and unload gear, drive up the small steep incline of Buckwong Place into Brindle Bull Lane and temporarily park whilst you take your gear 100 metres up Jack Adams Path to the lodge.

During the winter months a free shuttle bus service operates around the village to pick up and set down guests from designated bus stops and between Friday Flat and the village. A shuttle service operates around the village until 9pm Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

NSW Parks Permit

Visitors to Thredbo require a New South Wales National Parks entry permit that must be displayed on the car windscreen. There is an entry gate on the Jindabyne approach to Thredbo but none on the Victorian approach from Khancoban. However, permits can be purchased from the Thredbo News Agency in the village centre. If visiting for more than one or two days it is best to purchase a twelve-month National Parks permit.

Displaying permits is closely policed throughout the village all year, so if arriving at night be sure to purchase a permit early the next day.

Alpine Driving

Signs will instruct you to fit chains if required so please comply for your own safety. When driving in winter conditions such as snow, ice, fog and wind remember these tips: ensure your headlights are on, lower your speed, keep off the brakes as much as possible and drive steadily and smoothly. Remember prevention is better than cure.

Be alert to wandering wildlife and fallen branches on the Alpine Way, particularly at night or during and after storms.

Don't forget to put antifreeze in your radiator and take a shovel in case you are lucky enough to have the car snowed in. When parked chock a wheel, put the car in gear or "park" and leave the handbrake off. If you need new tyres replace them before the ski trip.