Ski resort in Victoria, Australia
Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort is a small Australian downhill ski resort located approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Melbourne and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. The Alpine Resort is an unincorporated area which is surrounded by the Baw Baw National Park and the Australian Alps Walking Track passes nearby. The summit of Mount Baw Baw (1567m) falls within the boundaries of the resort and is accessible by lift or walking trail. The resort is also a base for cross-country skiing on the Baw-Baw Plateau.
The resort is the closest downhill ski resort to Melbourne and takes 2.5 hours to reach.[2] Road access to the resort is via the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road (from the west) or the unsealed South Face Road (from the east).
In 2018, Mt. Baw Baw is set to become the second ski resort in Australia to operate a TechnoAlpin Snow Factory[3] capable of producing snow in any outdoor temperature.[4]
Ski runs
The Mt Baw Baw alpine resort has 7 surface lifts which provide access to its 15 ski runs and toboggan areas: Maltese Cross T-Bar, Summit T-Bar, Big Hill Poma, Painted Run T-Bar, Tank Hill Platter, Hut Run Platter and the Magic Carpet. The resort categorises 25% of runs as beginner, 64% intermediate and 11% advanced.[5] Mt Baw Baw is considered an ideal resort for novice downhill skiers and boarders and for families. The resort also provides access to over 10 km of groomed cross country ski trails.[1]
Climate
The Mt. Baw Baw Summit receives more annual precipitation than most places in mainland Australia and frequent snow in winter. Frequent heavy cloud cover means the mountain is often shrouded in low cloud or mist. Summers are cool and temperatures rarely rise above 25 °C (77 °F). During the 2009 Victorian heatwave most of the state saw highs of above 45 °C (113 °F), while the temperature on Mount Baw Baw's summit reached a comparatively cool maximum of just 31.3 °C (88 °F).
| Climate data for Mount Baw Baw Summit
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °C (°F)
|
30.9
(87.6)
|
31.3
(88.3)
|
26.1
(79.0)
|
20.0
(68.0)
|
16.2
(61.2)
|
11.6
(52.9)
|
10.0
(50.0)
|
13.1
(55.6)
|
15.7
(60.3)
|
20.8
(69.4)
|
26.0
(78.8)
|
27.7
(81.9)
|
31.3
(88.3)
|
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
17.4
(63.3)
|
16.8
(62.2)
|
13.9
(57.0)
|
9.7
(49.5)
|
6.4
(43.5)
|
3.5
(38.3)
|
2.1
(35.8)
|
3.0
(37.4)
|
5.7
(42.3)
|
8.8
(47.8)
|
12.5
(54.5)
|
14.3
(57.7)
|
9.5
(49.1)
|
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
8.6
(47.5)
|
8.4
(47.1)
|
6.3
(43.3)
|
3.7
(38.7)
|
1.6
(34.9)
|
−0.5
(31.1)
|
−1.6
(29.1)
|
−1.4
(29.5)
|
−0.1
(31.8)
|
1.7
(35.1)
|
4.4
(39.9)
|
5.7
(42.3)
|
3.1
(37.6)
|
| Record low °C (°F)
|
−2.0
(28.4)
|
−1.0
(30.2)
|
−2.2
(28.0)
|
−5.7
(21.7)
|
−5.0
(23.0)
|
−7.0
(19.4)
|
−6.0
(21.2)
|
−6.6
(20.1)
|
−6.1
(21.0)
|
−6.4
(20.5)
|
−4.5
(23.9)
|
−3.1
(26.4)
|
−7.0
(19.4)
|
| Average rainfall mm (inches)
|
94.0
(3.70)
|
101.0
(3.98)
|
101.8
(4.01)
|
142.9
(5.63)
|
121.8
(4.80)
|
139.7
(5.50)
|
161.8
(6.37)
|
158.9
(6.26)
|
149.5
(5.89)
|
146.2
(5.76)
|
154.5
(6.08)
|
143.8
(5.66)
|
1,615.9
(63.64)
|
| Average precipitation days
|
12.5
|
11.5
|
13.7
|
15.3
|
15.4
|
15.5
|
19.1
|
18.7
|
15.6
|
17.4
|
15.7
|
15.0
|
185.4
|
| Average relative humidity (%)
|
71
|
73
|
75
|
81
|
83
|
88
|
89
|
87
|
85
|
82
|
77
|
73
|
80
|
| Source: [6]
|
Ownership and operation
The resort is operated by the Southern Alpine Resort Management Board who are also responsible for management of the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort.[7]
