| Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort | |
| Location: | Mount Baw Baw |
| Nearest City: | Melbourne |
| Skiable Area: | 35ha |
| Number Trails: | 15+ |
| Liftsystem: | 7 lifts |
| Terrainparks: | 3 (snow dependent) |
Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort is a small Australian downhill ski resort located approximately east of Melbourne and 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.[1] 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[2] capable of producing snow in any outdoor temperature.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
Mount Baw Baw has a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc). The mountain summit receives more annual precipitation than most places in mainland Australia, with frequent and heavy snow between May and October but can occur at any time of the year (as well as a persistent snowpack). Frequent, heavy cloud cover and strong winds mean that minimum temperatures rarely drop below, whereas maximum temperatures are frequently at or below ; the mountain is often shrouded in low cloud or mist in winter, thereby reducing diurnal range. The mean afternoon relative humidity of 80%, is extreme (especially for a mainland Australian region).
Summers are cool with temperatures rarely rising above 25°C; summers can also be very cold, with a maximum temperature of just recorded on 25 December 2006, and on both 11 Jan 2012 and 16 Feb 1998. During the 2009 Victorian heatwave most of the state saw highs of above, while the temperature on Mount Baw Baw's summit reached a comparatively cool maximum of just .
The resort is operated by Alpine Resorts Victoria who are responsible for management of all 6 Victorian ski resorts.