Getting there

How to get to Opal Ski Club

Mt Buller is part of the Great Dividing Range on the East coast of Australia and is situated in the state of Victoria; approximately three hours drive from Melbourne. It's an easy drive through some very beautiful countryside via excellent road conditions. During the winter months vehicle access is restricted so parking is provided 1 - 2 kilometres beneath the village. In the spring, summer and autumn you can drive into the village and parking is available outside Opal Ski Club.

Getting to Mt Buller is very easy as there is only one road to the mountain. There are however a number of ways of leaving Melbourne so refer to the maps to point you in the right direction. The most common route is via Maroondah Highway, through Ringwood - Yarra Glen - Yea - Mansfield. Travel time is about three hours from Melbourne to Mirimbah at the base of Mt Buller and then a further 30 minutes or so to the lodge door. It's a good idea to allow extra time for a break or some sightseeing along the way.

Google Map

How to get to Mt. Buller Map

Before you arrive

As with most trips into the country, fuel stops need to be planned. The last petrol station along the way to Mt Buller is on the departing outskirts of Mansfield, so if you have a quarter or less of fuel in the tank, this is the best place to fill up before continuing on to the Mountain. During the winter months, make sure there's antifreeze in your radiator. Most new cars do have antifreeze or coolant as standard, but it's wise to check with your garage before you go; you don't want to find out the expensive way by engine damage or a cracked radiator!

In winter you will also need to carry chains, regardless of whether you have a 4WD or if the road is clear of snow. It is law. If you don't have chains and are caught without, not only is it a monetary fine, you also get demerit points on your driver's licence. Chains can be collected in Melbourne (most ski hires do pick up Friday/drop off Monday). You can also pick up chains at petrol stations/ski hire shops along the way, eg. Bonnie Doon, Mansfield or Merrijig. The last petrol station in Mansfield on the way to Mt Buller also hires chains for the weekend. It's also a good idea to have a torch and pair of waterproof gloves handy because if you do need to fit chains on the side of the road, it will usually be dark and cold. It pays to double check that the chains fit your tyres when you pick them up. Don't wait until you need to fit them to find out that they are the wrong size.

Once you get there

At Mirimbah (at the base of the mountain) you will have to stop at the ticket office and pay the resort entry fees. Fees are charged per car, not per person.

From Mirimbah follow the road up the mountain where you will be met by someone who will direct you into a car park (there is no parking in the village for private cars, so you have to leave your car in the car park). When you park your car, leave it in gear, handbrake off and pull the windscreen wipers up vertical to the windscreen (this avoids damaging the blades in freezing conditions and makes it easier to clear the windscreen if it snows over the weekend).

4WD taxis operate from the car park to take you to the Opal Ski Club. These taxis have a capacity of 12 people and will pick you up from your vehicle. Your luggage is loaded onto the roof of the taxi so don't put anything too small or valuable up there. Also, make sure all your luggage is securely packed, shut tight and above all, waterproof. It can be a 20-minute trip by the time the taxi is loaded and has driven around the village dropping off others before they get to the Opal Ski Club. If it is snowing heavily, your luggage may get quite wet.

Resort entry prices and 4WD taxi costs can be found online at http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/plan-your-visit/getting-here/resort-entry-parking-and-taxi-pricing

Your taxi driver will tell you which car park and on what level you are parked. It's probably a good idea to write this down as after a long weekend of skiing and drinking, it's easy to forget. You'll need to tell the taxi driver where you're going: Opal Ski Club, bottom of Goal Post Rd, next to Duck Inn.

If there is a lot of snow in the village, the 4WD taxi may not drop you directly outside the lodge as it is situated at the bottom of a steep road. If you get dropped at the junction at the top, Opal Ski Club is the very last lodge, 50 metres at the bottom on the right - but it could be icy and slippery, so take care. See map below:

Download the Opal Map in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. (You will need the Acrobat Reader to use this file.)