I came to the Marysville region as Manager of Lake Mountain Alpine Resort.

Personally, I could not pass up the opportunity to be part of such a great outdoor adventure and to deliver memorable experiences for those who visit the resort. In my time at Lake Mountain I have been fortunate to have my teenage sons work with me at various times. Learning to cross-country ski together (they had a great laugh at my expense) and then heading out onto ski trails, that can only be described as a snow covered winter wonderland, is an amazing experience. My boys are no different to most, in that they are caught up in immediacy of social media. I was uncertain as to whether they would enjoy the slower pace of cross-country skiing. With great satisfaction I enjoyed both boys being totally caught up in the wonder of a snow-covered mountain while trying to stay upright. After the snow season finished they were talking about getting amongst it again next year with the “old man”.

A beautiful 90 minute drive from Melbourne, Lake Mountain is Victoria’s newest natural theme park.

It provides families with year-round action and adventure that creates lifelong childhood memories. Lake Mountain Alpine Resort offers state of the art modern facilities in the main visitor centre, providing an ideal base from which to explore the mountain. The resort was established as a key recreational facility and tourism destination with close ties to the Marysville town ship and local community.

The Black Saturday bushfires caused significant damage to the resort. The main toilet block, day shelter and trail head facilities, ski patrol building, takeaway food facilities, rotunda and BBQ areas, machinery, workshop, equipment and snow making system were all destroyed. The fire swept up and across the Lake Mountain plateau which burnt many of the snow gums and heathlands and significantly damaged the trail network. Luckily the main visitor centre which housed the bistro, day shelter, ski hire and retail outlet and resort administration was not damaged and remained operational. With most of the resort infrastructure being destroyed in the February bushfires of 2009, construction of a new facility was completed mid-2011.

Visitor Centre Facilities:

• Bar & Bistro with an incredible view
• Restroom Facilities
• Resort Administration
• Conference Room
• Large Function Room
• Ski Hire and Retail Outlet

On the Snow:

• Over 30km of well-marked and maintained ski trails to explore
• Grooming of trails and toboggan slopes when conditions allow
• Plenty of space to build a snowman or throw a snowball
• The latest state of the art snow making equipment
• Patrolled ski trails and toboggan runs

As you venture down the exceptional walking trails you will witness the re-generating alpine forest and possibly some of the returned wildlife along with beautiful wildflowers. At the various lookouts you will find panoramic views of the Victorian Alps, the Great Dividing Range, the township of Marysville and right across to Melbourne. Lake Mountain offers a myriad of adventure activities including a flying fox, all weather tube run, mountain bike hire and laser skirmish. (Bookings are required)

Taking an off route left or right into the forest to explore on the way home is always great fun.

There are some amazing places within the many twisting narrow roads, and at times the odd risk, which only adds to the adventure. But doing nothing at all is always great too! Trying to take in the amazing sunsets and then trying to describe it to friends and family is a difficult task. The majestic sunsets last so long from on top of the mountain. On top of the existing features at the resort, we are also opening an Alpine Burger Bar in December. I’m so excited about being able to offer a gourmet burger, crispy fries and mountain milkshake with the amazing view of the sunset. It will feature a rustic environment with leather couches, record player (bringing back the vinyl), great food and clean air!

Our resort makes up one of the many reasons to visit the area. Marysville delivers a diverse range of activities and experiences that rewards those prepared to explore. With a friendly and relaxed vibe, it provides a great base from which to head out into the region. Magnificent drives, walks and views, the local passion for food and wine, the opportunity to spend time with family and friends or find a quiet spot to refresh and relax, are all things I love about Marysville.

As an observer I would suggest the region is the great place it is today only because of the community spirit and tireless dedication. It has a pristine natural environment, and is a town and region of many rewarding and different experiences. While the township of Marysville is reasonably small, the vision is ambitious and progressive. With time, Marysville will become be a preferred destination that draws day trippers and tourists through the Yarra Valley looking for a memorable experience. The area will continue to survive and thrive – the Marysville snowball is rolling!

Marysville – Wish You Were Here

For more information: www.lakemountainresort.com.au