Falls Creek, Victoria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Falls Creek | |
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| Location: | Mount Beauty |
| Nearest city: | Melbourne |
| Coordinates: | |
| Top elevation: | 1842m |
| Base elevation: | 1600m |
| Skiable area: | 450 ha. |
| Runs: | 92 |
| Longest run: | 3km |
| Lift system: | 15 lifts |
| Snowfall: | 4m (overall per season) |
| Web site: | Falls Creek |
Falls Creek is a car-free ski resort in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. It is located about 350 kilometres by road from Melbourne in the Alpine National Park, with the nearest town Mount Beauty, approximately 30 kilometres away at the foot of the ranges. The resort lies between an altitude of 1,500 and 1,600 metres, with the highest lifted point at 1780 metres. Skiing is possible on the nearby peak of Mt McKay at 1,842 metres, traveling by snowcat from the resort. It is Victoria's largest ski resort.
The high plains in the area have been in use for summer cattle grazing since grazing licenses were first issued in 1851. Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest mountain, is nearby. Some of the cattlemen's huts still survive and are a tourist attraction in summer. After World War II a hydroelectric power scheme was started in the Kiewa River valley by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.
On land previously used only for summer cattle grazing in the natural alpine grasslands, the first ski lodge was built in 1948 by workers from the scheme. The first lift, a rope tow, was built in 1951 and the first chairlift in Australia was constructed there in 1957.
The resort now features 15 ski lifts and 40 kilometres of groomed cross-country skiing trails, ranging from gentle nursery slopes to expert runs. The best beginner skiing is located near the cloud 9 area, on runs such as Drovers Dream and Wombat's Ramble. 17% of Falls Creek's runs are of beginner standard. Intermediates are catered for on most Sun Valley runs, such as Highway 83, Ruined Castle, and Scott's. 60% of Falls Creek's runs are of intermediate standard. Advanced skiers will be home on the summit runs off of the Summit Lift and International Poma, such as Exhibition and International, as well as runs in the maze area, such as Wishing Well. 23% of Falls Creek's runs are of advanced standard.
Falls Creek, with its higher altitude, is regarded as having better runs for proficient skiers than Mount Buffalo or Mount Buller and ranks with Mount Hotham as Victoria's best. However, Australia's notoriously fickle snow conditions ensure that snowmaking using the water from the nearby Rocky Valley Dam is sometimes, particularly early in the season, the main source of skiable snow. Consequently, like all Australian snowfields, Falls Creek's customer base is almost entirely domestic, however many international cross country skiers travel to Falls Creek for the Kangaroo Hoppet, Australia's Worldloppet event on the last Saturday of August.
The resort features 4,500 accommodation beds, and consequently a large number of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to amuse the guests at night. Some apartments are privately owned, but the resort's management requires that they must be available for hire when not occupied.
The resort also serves as a summer base to explore the massive national park surrounding the resort.
