After careful consideration of the new restrictions in Victoria due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, Vail Resorts is suspending ski-lifting operations at Hotham and Falls Creek Ski Resorts, effective Thursday, 9 July through at least 19 August, consistent with the current stay at home directions. We did not make this decision lightly as we know our employees, guests and the communities where we operate have already endured so much hardship this year. However, we are focused first and foremost on health and safety, following local health guidelines and doing our part to support efforts across Victoria to address the recent rise in coronavirus cases.

We made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, guests and the communities where we operate and we want to do our part to support efforts across Victoria to address the recent rise in coronavirus cases. We will continue to assess the situation, follow the guidelines of the state health authorities in evaluating if it is advisable or feasible to reopen either resort this season.

We have suspended operations from 9 July through at least 19 August. We will continue to assess the situation, follow the guidelines of the state health authorities in evaluating if it is advisable or feasible to reopen either resort this season.

Perisher currently remains open and is following the COVID-19 guidelines set out by the state health authority in NSW. In Victoria, operations will be suspended through at least 19 August but we will continue to assess the situation, follow the guidelines of the state health authorities in evaluating if it is advisable or feasible to reopen either resort this season.

Unfortunately access reservations and/or advance purchase lift tickets are non-transferrable. Perisher is operating at approximately 50% of normal capacity to enable physical distancing measures per our COVID-19 Safe Operating Plan and we are also constrained by challenging snow conditions. Please know that our team is working hard to open as much terrain as possible, which will allow more access for all guests.

We are currently evaluating all scenarios and will do what’s required to keep our guests, employees and communities safe. At this time, access reservations for pass holders are required through 19 July and for all weekend access until further notice.

All lift ticket, lesson and equipment hire bookings will be refunded and we will email guests directly today regarding the refund process. We are currently experiencing significant delays in our call centres so we kindly ask guests to be patient as we process these refunds.

If you need to cancel your accommodation, please contact the property directly regarding that reservation. 

Guests who purchased a 2020 Epic Australia Pass, who have not used the pass and do not wish to proceed with their pass purchase, may obtain a refund by making a request here no later than Sunday 12 July. After the 12 July refund deadline, the 2020 Epic Australia Pass is non-refundable except as provided for under Epic Coverage and under Australian Consumer Law.

The Epic Australia Pass will remain on sale until Sunday 12 July 2020 for $889 for Adults, $499 for Students and $685 for Seniors. Passes can be purchased here.

Guests who are permitted to travel and are not from a lockdown area (Metropolitan Melbourne & Mitchell Shire) may visit Hotham and can stay overnight in the resort.

All people staying in the Hotham resort overnight will be able to purchase their multi-day Resort Entry permit unrestricted, but will need to purchase it online and in advance of their arrival. 

The chairlifts at Hotham will not be operating until at least 19 August 2020. 

However there are lots of other winter activities that are available - see the update dated 10 July above, please keep checking our website for more information.Save

Snow chains must be carried now until the end of the declared winter season. Only diamond-pattern wheel chains are permitted in Mount Hotham Alpine Resort. Ladder chains, spider chains and snow socks cannot be used, with fines applicable for not carrying specified diamond-pattern chains. Chains are not available for hire once on-mountain and must be carried with you from the beginning of your mountain ascent in Harrietville and Omeo. More information here.

Our restaurants, bars and takeaways will be operating as per current public health guidelines, with takeaway and dine-in available at various establishments. We encourage our visitors to support them but please check with them to confirm their offerings and processes for this season.

Planning in advance is suggested due to potential delays, so please book early for your dine-in and takeaway needs. Please check our Restaurants and Bars section for more nformation.

Tobogganing will be available as soon as there is sufficient snow at the tobogganing and snow play area. You will need to book your session in advance.  Session times will be 1.5 hours long and only a limited number of tickets per session will be available to ensure effective social distancing. 

Tobogganing sessions must be booked on the Alpine Easy Access website, and when available, links will be provided on both Alpine Easy Access and the Hotham website to enable this.

The Village bus service will run until midnight Sunday 12 July.

From Monday 13 July guests will be permitted to use nominated Village parking car parking areas for long-term parking, please see the FAQ in this section for more details.  

With lifting operations at Hotham suspended until at least 19 August and given the expected visitor numbers over the next 6 weeks, the Village bus service will cease operations this Sunday 12 July at midnight.

With this change and the fact that people will be moving around the resort by car, we are also instituting changes to carparking in the resort. Please refer to our Village map if you are not familiar with the areas mentioned below.

Please continue to observe bus stop and loading zone parking restrictions.

Overnight parking areas

Overnight parking will be allowed on the southern (village) side of the Great Alpine Road between bus stop 8 (Moritz) and bus stop 3 (Anton Huette).

The roadside between the Arlberg (bus stop 2) and the Corral car park will remain a reserved car parking area for those operators and guests that have an allocated reserved car park.  

Alpine Nature Experience guests will be able to park overnight at the Wire Plain car park.

We would encourage any long term guests and visitors that do not require daily access to their vehicles to keep them parked in the long term overnight parking at Little Higgi car park.

Day parking

The Corral car park will remain a day car park to facilitate snow clearing access for day visitors.  

Alpine Shire runs a bus service between Dinner Plain and Hotham - please see our website page for more information.

Yes. A coronavirus (COVID-19) testing station is located in the Corral Carpark at Mt Hotham, in the Mount Hotham Free Ski portable building and will remain in operation until Friday 24 July.

We encourage anyone who has symptoms, however mild, to get tested. Symptoms are fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, and loss of sense of smell. 

The test is free for everyone and takes around a minute and involves a swab from the back of your throat and nose.

Please note – walk-ups will not be accepted. You must call the Hotham Medical Centre during opening hours (10am-5pm) to discuss your symptoms with the Centre’s nurse, who will assess your situation by phone, take your details, and refer you to the testing centre as required at an appropriate time.

You need to bring at least one other form of identification – for example, your Medicare card, driver’s licence or student ID.

You must then self-isolate immediately until you receive your test result. This may include returning to your out-of-season home, particularly if your on-mountain accommodation involves sharing sleeping space or facilities with others. 

Hotham Medical Centre contact number: 03 5759 3551

In line with the reduced level of resort operations, the Resort Entry daily price will be $35 per day effective Monday 13 July until at least 19 August 2020.

Resort Entry permits must still be purchased online before travelling to the resort so we can continue to manage capacity and enable contact tracing in line with current public health guidelines. Visitors without Resort Entry will not be permitted to travel into the resort.

For Day and Multiday Resort Entry permits, go to our Resort Entry page on the Hotham website. Log into your Alpine Easy Access account to purchase if you are an existing account holder. New customers -  select the link to Alpine Easy Access, then select the Day and Multiday permits and follow the prompts.  Remember you will be required to provide your registration details, and details of occupants in the vehicle.

If you are passing through Hotham to Dinner Plain you are not required to purchase a Resort Entry permit as long as you do not stop within the resort boundary. If you are dropping off of picking up visitors at Hotham, you must pay Resort Entry..

If you are staying in Dinner Plain and plan to day trip to Hotham you will need to purchase Resort Entry before entering the resort.

Please check our Resort Entry page for full terms and conditions.

If you travel directly through Hotham and do not stop within the resort boundary then you do not need to purchase Resort Entry. If you stop in the resort without purchasing Resort Entry, then you will be issued with an infringement.

Please check our Resort Entry page for full terms and conditions.

If you have purchased the incorrect dates for your Resort Entry, please email info@mthotham.com.au. Please include the permit dates you require and vehicle registration number.

Please complete this online form to request a refund. Note that we can only provide refunds on unused Resort Entry permits.

To apply for a refund please complete the online form here. Full refunds will be provided to permits that have not been used and pro-rata refunds for those permits that have.

We are experiencing a high level of refund requests and inquiries. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through your request.

To register your visit simply log into your account via the link on our Resort Entry page, select the "Register your visit" button on your dashboard and follow the prompts. Remember you will need to include the details of all occupants of the vehicle.

All current resort entry season permit holders will be required to register their visit before travelling to Hotham, no matter where they reside.

Season permits have been factored into capacity management and those holders will be guaranteed entry as long as they have registered their visit.

2020 Resort Entry Season Permits will not be on sale until further notice. If we are able to release further Resort Entry Season Permits we will communicate this information on our website and via our  social media channels.

Due to the need for capacity management within Victorian alpine resorts, the Resort Entry All Resorts pass will not be sold this year.

If you have booked accommodation and would like to know more about your accommodation provider’s cancellation policy, please contact them directly.

Please check the Accommodation section of our website for options or contact one of our local accommodation booking services.

The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has placed many restrictions for accommodation with share facilities. As a result of this some lodges may not open for the season. We recommend you make direct contact with your lodge to find out more.