Overview
Of all the epic skiing opportunities in the world, Australia has some pretty bloody lovely options. One of those gems is the famed upside-down ski town of Mt Hotham, Victoria.
Here, you'll find the usual blueprint of a ski village flipped on its head, where the accommodation and dining sit on the Great Alpine Road above most of the runs, as opposed to at the base of the mountain.
Another bonus of the altitude (which ranges from 1450 to 1861 metres above sea level) is a series of jaw-dropping views in all 360-degrees of snowy vistas. If you want to tick off some of Australia's most photographic angles, read on.
Mt Hotham Village at Sunrise
The village of Mt Hotham is readily accessible thanks to the Great Alpine Road. After you've wandered through the fantastic town on foot, take it all in in a single scenic moment on Mt Higginbotham. Don't worry — it's not a whole other mountain trip; it's actually accessed via a short walk from the Corral Car Park in the centre of the village.
If you want to complete the full Higginbotham loop, it's approximately 2.6 kilometres long and should take 45 minutes to complete. The trail is easiest outside of the snowy season but with the proper gear you'll make easy work of the trail. If the going is tough, fret not — the views can be seen early on as you're headed uphill, less than 100 metres from the southern end of the Corral Car park. Head here first thing in the morning to grab a view of the village and distant Mt Feathertop, Victoria's second highest mountain.
Razorback Ridge and Mt Feathertop from Mt Hotham
The fabulous view from Higginbotham isn't the only good spot to catch the sun slipping above or below the horizon. One of the best sunset views on the mountain is north towards Razorback Ridge and Mt Feathertop. You can get a glimpse of Razorback from most of the on-mountain accommodation and the village since the high-altitude ridgeline stretches northwards from the Hotham summit itself.
Mt Feathertop is visible from most areas of the mountain, even the road, being Victoria's second-highest peak. For the best, uninterrupted views of Feathertop, we recommend hitting Loch Track at the top of the Keogh chairlift. You can access Keogh by combining blue or black runs from Loch Carpark or Hotham Central.
Après Views from Hotham Village
Another point in favour of Hotham is the fact that you don't even need to hit the slopes to get a fantastic view. Thanks to the village above the slopes, the views are guaranteed throughout town. That's why it's perfect for a dash of Après ski bevvies and bites as the sun goes down.
Zirky's Bar & Bistro offers all-day menus with views of Feathertop to pair, with a similar view on offer at the downstairs cocktail Asian-fusion bar Miss Mary's. On the other side of the mountain, you'll find western views over the Victorian Alps. If you're in Hotham Central, the busy Hotham Hotel has one of those views, perfect for enjoying a cold drink and a hot pub feed. The same goes for the appropriately named all-purpose eatery The General, which is great for any pre or Après ski meal.
The Orchard from Loch Track
Of all of Hotham's areas, Orchard is the furthest from the village, but it's absolutely worth your while to make it out there. With the highest density of blue runs, it's also one of the more accessible areas for intermediate and confident beginner skiers and snowboarders. Of the 11 runs accessible by the Orchard chairlift, nine are rated for intermediate skiers, sans the Big Slope and Spargo's Access black runs.
The best spot to take stock of all the Orchard has to offer is on approach on the Tele Treat blue run or any of the black runs that chase the Keogh chairlift. The image above is of the Zirks and Big Slope runs, taken from across the Watershed gully.
The Sunrise on First Tracks
Ask anyone versed in snowsports what the best time to hit the slopes is, and they'll likely say first thing in the morning. There are many reasons why: the snow is at its freshest and is largely untouched, the majority of skiers and boarders are still asleep, and just look at that misty golden view.
The smartest way to get the first run all to yourself is to book outside of the busy season and in the spring months. Not only are prices discounted across the mountain, you get the added benefit of blue skies and sunshine on your face more frequently, perfect to enjoy all the scenery mentioned above.
There's a lot more than just great views to be discovered on Mt Hotham, so start planning a winter adventure before its too late. To learn more, visit the website.
Images: Mt Hotham Skiing Company and Mt Hotham Resort Management.