YHA Cross-country Ski Club

Beginners Cross Country Ski Weekend - Falls Creek - Lodge accommodation

Fri, Aug 7 · 17:00 AEST

Howmans Gap Discovery Camp, 2587 Bogong High Plains Rd, Falls Creek, VI, AU

This weekend is all about introducing people with little or no experience to the joys of cross-country skiing. Our more experienced members will be on hand to help you understand what it's all about, in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Fitness Level: A reasonable level of fitness is required to participate in this trip.

Booking & payment
To attend this event, you must confirm your intention to Attend via Meetup and then secure your spot by completing the event questionnaire which includes payment details - see instructions and link below.

Important: Payment for this trip is not made via Meetup or using PayPal due to additional fees.

Any questions before booking, please contact your trip leaders and hosts, Dale and Lawrence

Bookings Close July 24th 2026
(2 WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIP)

To complete your booking and payment to secure your spot:

• Read the Club's Terms & Conditions
• Complete the trip questionnaire by clicking on this link: Beginners Weekend Questionnaire Make sure you include your email address and phone number in your responses. Note: Questionnaire responses can only be viewed by the trip leaders.
• Transfer your payment to the YHA bank account:

Account Name: YHA Ski Club
BSB 032000
Account Number: 997185
Reference : Beginners Weekend 2026

**Your booking is not secured until payment is made and confirmed. **

Please note: If you would like to attend with one or more friends, each of you will need to complete the questionnaire and finalize your booking individually.

Overview of the trip: We'll be staying at Howmans Gap on Friday and Saturday night. Dinner is provided Friday night, Breakfast & Dinner Saturday and Breakfast Sunday. Lunches are not provided and there is no access to kitchen facilities to make lunch etc. Accommodation is shared rooms (5-6 people per room).

The YHA trip doesn’t commence until you after you arrive at the accommodation on Friday evening from 5pm onwards. The trip finishes when you leave Windy Corner on Sunday afternoon.

Friday: Travel up on Friday to YMCA Howman’s Gap - 2587 Bogong High Plains Rd, Falls Creek. It takes approximately 4.5 hours to get to Howman's Gap, so people generally plan to leave Melbourne by 5.00pm.I

Drivers: For anyone driving, carrying wheel chains is compulsory past Mount Beauty and they must be fitted where directed. Chains can be hired at:
Rays Ski Shop
21 Myrtle St, Myrtleford
03 5752 1306
Rocky Valley Bikes Snow Sports
226 Kiewa Valley Hwy
Tawonga South (just before Mt Beauty) 03 5754 1118

Dinner is provided on Friday night from 6.15pm to 7.30pm. If you arrive after this time, the meal can be microwaved.

If you want to stop for dinner on the way a couple of options are:
Happy Valley Hotel (great gourmet pub)
4994 Great Alpine Road, Ovens
03 5751 1628
Kinnaree Thai Restaurant - next to the Caltex garage.
65 Myrtle St (the main road)
Myrtleford VIC 3737
03 6331 4319

On arrival at Howman's Gap: Please let trip leader know you have arrived so you can be checked in sign the Trip Terms & Conditions

Saturday: Cooked breakfast is provided by Howman’s Gap (eggs / bacon / cereal /toast /juice tea /coffee etc) between 7.00am and 8.15am.
Pack your backpack and be ready for a trip briefing at 8.30am, after which we will travel up to Falls Creek/Windy Corner.

At Windy Corner, we'll split into groups based on experience and ability.
At lunchtime, you can purchase some limited lunch items at Windy Corner or have lunch on the mountain.

After the day's skiing, we will return to Howman's Gap late afternoon.
Important: So we know everyone is safe, you must check in with the Trip Leader before heading back to Howman's Gap for a 3-course dinner provided from 6.15pm to 7.30pm.

Sunday: After breakfast (served 7.00am to 8.15am), we pack cars and meet for a briefing at 8.30am.

What you need to bring:

• Towel, pillow/pillowcase, sheets and sleeping bag/doona
• Lunch and snacks (to eat on the trail).

Ski hire

If you need to hire cross country ski gear (skis, boots and poles), there are several options.

Probably the most convenient is Everest Sports, who now hire directly out of the Windy Corner shelter: https://everestsports.com.au/pages/hire.

Here are the recommended ski types based on ski experience:

First timers and those only doing easy tours:
“Light Weight NBC Package” (Metal edge pattern base skis, NBC boots & poles)

Those who want to do longer ski tours:
“Heavy Weight XP Package” (Metal edge pattern base skis, XP boots & poles)

First timers could use the heavy weight package if the light weight ones are all hired out (but that will cost a bit extra).

The Everest ski packages need to be picked up and dropped off at the Windy Corner shelter in Falls Creek, not at their main store in Bright. Initial pick up will need to be early Saturday morning.

Other cross country ski hire options are EMC or Ajays in Melbourne, Mountain Trader in Bright (Bright Chalet), Happy Valley Hub (branch of SnowMonkey, just north of Myrtleford) and Rocky Valley Ski Hire in Mt Beauty. If hiring from any of these places, avoid skinny nordic classic or skate skis.

It is strongly suggested you book the gear you need to hire well beforehand, ie, asap.

Note: Rays in Myrtleford no longer hire cross country ski gear.

Additional costs: Extra costs will include Falls Creek resort entrance fees, ski hire and fuel (if carpooling).

Health and Safety
Insurance - Ambulance Cover: We strongly recommend ambulance cover. Many private health insurance companies only cover ‘emergency’ ambulance transport – when the siren is on. A broken limb from skiing may not be considered an emergency so private health insurance may not cover cover medical transport expenses.

Further information including carpooling arrangements, a gear list and ski hire options will be emailed to confirmed participants about 2 weeks before the trip.

Important: Refunds are not possible if you cancel, due to the club having to cover the cost of the accommodation.

Ski Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham - Lodge accommodation

Sun, Aug 9 · 16:00 AEST

Wrens View, 28 Halter Ln, Dinner Plain, AU

This event is fully booked, no more beds available.

Enjoy a week of cross-country skiing and fun from the comfort of a Dinner Plain ski lodge!

This trip is for a week from 4.00pm Sunday 9 August until mid-afternoon on Sunday 16 August.

No formal program but each day we'll aim to cross-country ski around Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham, including following the Wire Plain trail, exploring Christmas Hills, skiing out to Mt Loch and more.

Cost: $780 Please note: Refunds are not possible (full details in policy).

IMPORTANT
Booking for this trip: Before your place on this trip is confirmed, private message Trip Leader Dale to ensure a suitable bed is available. This is an expression of interest only. Do not proceed to attend and make payment until your place is actually confirmed, or otherwise, by email to you from the trip leader.

Once your place is confirmed, please complete the detailed questionnaire, via link below and make payment of $780 Details for paying are included in this questionnaire: Dinner Plains Questionnaire.
Make sure you include your email address and phone number in your responses. Note: Questionnaire responses can only be viewed by the trip leaders.

• Transfer your payment to the YHA bank account:

Account Name: YHA Ski Club
BSB: 032000
Account Number: 997185
Reference: Dinner Plain 2026

**Your booking is not secured until payment is made and confirmed. **

Please note: If you would like to attend with one or more friends, each of you will need to complete the questionnaire and finalize your booking individually.

Bookings close 26th July 2026
(2 WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIP)

Accommodation:
Wrens View is a classic Dinner Plain Lodge with exposed beams, is roomy with large kitchen, dining and lounge area. It also has a games area with pool table and beautiful views.

A mixture of spacious private bedrooms, single beds and bunks room. There are 2 bedrooms, each with a king bed, a room with 2 bunks, and a large loft which easily sleeps 6 people in comfy single beds and a king bed. Bed linen supplied.

You can prepare gourmet meals in the fully equipped kitchen or stroll to the many eateries around the Dinner Plain village. Note: Communal fridge items, (milk, butter, tea, coffee, etc) will be supplied and are included in the trip fee.

Transport:
The Trip Leader will do their best to arrange car pooling. When you sign up, you'll be asked in the questionnaire whether you plan to drive. This will help us find compatible drivers and passengers. Car pooling is arranged the week before the trip.

It takes approximately 5 to 6 hours to get to Dinner Plain, so people generally plan to leave Melbourne by 10.00am.

If you're not driving, it's your responsibility to get to the driver's location.

Drivers note:
Carrying chains is compulsory and they must be fitted where required. The speed limit through Hotham Village is 40km and speed cameras may be in operation.

Ski and chain hire:
Ski gear hire is available at Ray's in Myrtleford, Hoys at Mt Hotham or Dinner Plain. Ask for metal edge cross country skis.
Chain hire at Rays ski hire Myrtleford or Hoys at Harrietville.

Insurance:
Ambulance cover is strongly recommended as private health insurance often only covers emergency transport when the siren is on.