Snow Much More than Skiing
Melbourne’s nearest downhill ski resort sets the scene for the perfect winter getaway.
When one husky howls, the others join in. I know this now as the ski lifts I’m using are located right next to the husky enclosure. It starts with one song-like holler, then a second chimes in, then a third. Eventually you’ve got a husky choir in the making – albeit one that only performs in rounds.
My daughter has been to visit the huskies twice today, but I know she won’t tire of it – we’ll be seeing the energetic critters again in a couple of hours. We’ll probably also go back tomorrow, and the day after that…
At any given time at Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort, there are between 25 and 35 huskies (managed by private operator Howling Huskys) for guests to get to know. You can meet and greet them, enjoy a husky sled ride or simply hang out nearby watching them go about their daily business. There’s an on-snow casual eatery located right next to them, so when I do take a break from skiing I enjoy my chai latte while watching the playful canines.
The huskies are not the only animals that guests can get close to; in late 2017, the resort introduced two dingoes to the resort in partnership with Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre: an alpine dingo named Warragul and an alpine-desert dingo cross named Rowdy. There are plans in the works to initiate a breeding program soon too to help alpine dingo numbers grow (the species is near extinct).
For our daughter, Ariana, this is a dream holiday. We’ve taken her overseas multiple times, but it’s here at Mt Baw Baw that she is truly in her element. When Marketing & Event Coordinator Emma takes us on a personal dingo meet-and-greet, she almost can’t contain her excitement, continually patting Warragul and shadowing him very closely while Emma lets him explore on a lead. With three days at the resort, we have to plan our time well. There is so much to see and do, and with Ariana’s yearning to see the huskies and dingoes daily, time is of the essence.
On day two, we hire a toboggan and join other families rocketing down the toboggan-only hill. Our first go is a success – I plop Ariana in the front of the toboggan, jump in behind her, and then we hurtle down the hill, passing kids left, right and luckily not centre! When we reach the bottom, we’re both laughing. I’m reminiscing about the times my parents used to take me and my siblings tobogganing and how much joy it brought to all of us. Ariana is laughing because she is simply having fun. To be honest, she finds the pulls people up the hill) just as thrilling. Toddlers!
I’m told that as kids get older they become fussier, and perhaps a little less thrilled at every single thing their parents do and suggest. Mt Baw Baw has this stage of life covered too, with a huge range of activities for the whole family to enjoy: snow-shoe tours with Powder Pups (retired huskies), meeting the dingoes at NUTRO Dingo Resource Centre, skiing and snowboarding lessons (including free first-try lessons for kids under 6) and Japanese snowball-throwing, to name a few. I watch a few teens get involved in the latter (properly known as yukigassen) and conclude it’s a bit like laser tag but with snowballs.
We cut our last day a little short; overnight rain has diminished the snow cover and we’re keen to hit the road with time up our sleeves as we make our way back to Melbourne. Our morning involves a quick ski and a goodbye visit to both the huskies and dingoes, then we’re ready for our oversnow (a special machine that’s designed to easily traverse the snow) to take us straight to our Holden Equinox (holden.com.au) for the drive ahead.
There are a number of routes to Mt Baw Baw, each offering different sights and activities along the way. We opt for a meandering drive along Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road before stopping at Noojee for lunch and a visit to Noojee Trestle Bridge.
Our initial journey from Melbourne to Mt Baw Baw was more about the drive and less about the stops. Our daughter was comfortable and cosy in her car seat (she slept for more than half of the journey!), so we just cruised along in our smooth ride, with a Spotify soundtrack taking us from big-city smoke to fresh country air.
This time we are taking it slow, jumping out of the Equinox to snap photos of snow-drenched trees sparkling in the sunlight, stopping to admire Highland cattle in meadows that glisten thanks to the recent rainfall, and just taking it easy all-round to soak up the surrounds. Our daughter is wide awake for this leg of the journey, so I alternate between sitting in the front and back. In both seats I have plenty of room to move, and when it’s time to move even more we just make a pitstop.
Noojee is a pretty little town (formerly a major timber area) that’s popular thanks it’s easy access to and from Mt Baw Baw. A few minutes out of town, you’ll find Noojee Trestle Bridge, legacy of the old railway that ran through the region in the timber-mill days. Thought to have been constructed in 1919 and rebuilt in 1939 after it was burnt down, this towering wooden bridge sitting high amid ferns and eucalyptus trees is the tallest surviving wooden trestle bridge in Victoria. We make our way to the top and cross the restored artefact a few times to find that all-important perfect photo opportunity.
The drive for the next half hour is spectacular as we soar past rolling verdant fields and thick forests. To give you a taste of what we’re experiencing, the Equinox features leather-appointed seats that are easy to clean, heated seats and steering wheel – a bonus that kept us cosy in the cool, and active noise cancellation that kept cabin noise at bay. Plus it comes in two-wheel or all-wheel drive to perfectly traverse any terrain.
The smooth journey lulls my daughter to sleep, and if it weren’t for the magnificent views, I would join her too.
5 TOP TODDLER ROADTRIPPING TIPS
01 PLAN AHEAD
Longer trips often mean discomfort for little people who like to stretch their limbs and move about. For our family, two hours straight is generally enough, and when drives are longer we plan stops to break them up. If your toddler likes to nap in the car, try to time your drive to coincide with nap time.
02 USE THE RIGHT CAR SEAT
Toddlers grow quickly, so ensure their car seat is set up correctly to keep them safe and comfortable. We check our car seat routinely as our daughter grows for this very reason. When travelling interstate, we often use a local car seat company (with appropriately trained staff) to fit and install it.
03 TALK TO THEM
Toddlers might only be able to say a few words, but they can understand a whole lot more. Tell them where you are going, how long you will be driving, where you will be stopping and the like. Including your child in the journey’s ins and outs will not only increase their interest in the holiday, it’ll do the same for the car trip too.
04 STOP EN ROUTE
Longer car journeys call for interesting breaks along the way, and stops that involve movement and laughter will go down well. Playgrounds are ideal for little people to run around and burn off energy. Parks with no equipment will also work, as they’ll be able to run freely. If you’re stopping for a meal, try to find a restaurant with a play area so your toddler can be kept entertained while waiting for food.
05 ORGANISE DISTRACTIONS
Sometimes toddlers get super cranky and inconsolable. If you’re driving and unable to stop while dealing with a backseat sulk, try to find something to distract them – sing a song, make a silly noise, tell a story... Just ensure that whatever it is doesn’t distract you too.
