Hotel Pick-Up & Journey to the Snow
The day begins with selected hotel pick-ups in Melbourne City between 7:00am and 8:00am. No brutal early starts here. Guests board a modern 24-seater vehicle with upgraded seating and complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, then head east through Melbourne’s outer suburbs and into the lush ranges.
The experienced driver-guide sets the tone from the outset – sharing local insights, regional history, and stories about the landscape unfolding outside the window. For many international travellers, the drive itself is part of the experience. The transition from urban Melbourne to alpine terrain happens surprisingly quickly.
Arriving at Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, guests have approximately three hours to enjoy the snow. That’s generous. Tobogganing is the headline activity – equipment is available for hire at the resort. Building snowmen, having a snowball fight, or simply walking through the snow-covered alpine landscape are all on offer. For travellers from tropical or subtropical climates, this is often their first encounter with real snow. It’s a moment worth protecting in the itinerary.
Lake Mountain is a cashless venue, so guests should carry a card for any purchases or equipment hire on the mountain.
Trade tip: This tour sells extremely well to travellers from South East Asia, China, India, and the Middle East – markets where snow is a genuine novelty. The 7am to 8am pick-up window is a significant advantage over competitor snow tours that depart at 5am or earlier. Small group size (max 24) means a more personal experience. Remind clients to dress warmly in layers – snow clothing can be hired at the resort, but gloves, beanies, and socks must be purchased if they don’t bring their own.
The Black Spur Drive & Victoria’s Tallest Waterfall
After three hours in the snow, the tour continues through the Black Spur – one of Victoria’s most celebrated forest drives. Towering Mountain Ash trees line the road, some reaching over 70 metres. The canopy closes overhead. It’s a dramatic shift from the open alpine landscape of Lake Mountain to the dense, ancient forest of the ranges.
The destination is Steavenson Falls, one of Victoria’s tallest waterfalls. A short walk through the bush leads to the viewing platform. The falls cascade down in tiers, and after winter rain the flow is at its most impressive. Fresh mountain air, the sound of water, and the kind of lush green scenery that photographs beautifully.
This section of the tour gives guests a chance to stretch their legs, breathe deeply, and experience a completely different side of regional Victoria in the space of a single afternoon. The contrast between snow play and temperate rainforest is striking.
Trade tip: The Black Spur drive and Steavenson Falls add genuine depth to what could otherwise be a straightforward snow day trip. For agents building broader Victorian itineraries, this section of the tour overlaps with the region around Healesville and the Yarra Valley – it gives clients a taste of the area that might encourage a longer stay on a future trip. The waterfall walk is short and manageable for most fitness levels, though guests with very limited mobility should be advised that snow play earlier in the day can be tiring.
Chocolate, Hot Drinks & the Journey Home
The final stop is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. After a day in the cold, this is exactly the right way to wind down. Guests can sample handcrafted chocolates, browse the shop, and warm up with a hot chocolate or coffee. It’s relaxed, indulgent, and gives everyone a moment to decompress before the drive back to Melbourne.
Food and drinks at the Chocolaterie are at guests’ own expense, but the sampling is generous and the setting is lovely – rolling green hills and vineyard views even in winter.
The tour returns to Melbourne City at approximately 6:00pm to 6:30pm. That leaves the evening free for dinner in the city, which works well for travellers with only a few nights in Melbourne.
Trade tip: The Chocolaterie stop is a smart inclusion. It gives the day a satisfying arc – snow, waterfalls, chocolate – and avoids the anticlimax of driving straight back to the city after the falls. For agents packaging this tour alongside Melbourne city stays, the 6:00pm to 6:30pm return means clients can still make a dinner reservation or attend an evening show. This tour pairs naturally with a Go Beyond Melbourne regional itinerary – clients can do the snow tour as a standalone day and then continue into a multi-day Yarra Valley, Phillip Island, or Mornington Peninsula programme.
Tour Inclusions & Practical Details
Included in the tour:
- Return transport from Melbourne City in a modern 24-seater vehicle with upgraded seating
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- Selected hotel pick-ups in Melbourne City (between 7:00am and 8:00am)
- Expert driver-guide with local knowledge throughout the day
- Approximately 3 hours of snow play time at Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
- Scenic drive through the Black Spur
- Visit to Steavenson Falls
- Stop at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
Not included:
- Snow equipment hire at Lake Mountain (toboggans, snow clothing) – available at own expense
- Meals and drinks – opportunities to purchase at Lake Mountain and the Chocolaterie
- Personal snow accessories (gloves, beanies, socks, goggles) – available for purchase at the resort
Key details:
- Operates Thursday to Monday, 6 June to 6 September
- Maximum 24 guests per departure
- Suitable for all ages, though not recommended for guests with very limited mobility
- Lake Mountain is a cashless venue – card payments only
- Tour only operates when Lake Mountain confirms suitable snow coverage
- Returns to Melbourne City at approximately 6:00pm to 6:30pm
Trade tip: The tour only runs when there’s confirmed snow on the ground. If conditions aren’t suitable, an alternative date or full refund is offered. This is worth communicating to clients upfront – it manages expectations and builds confidence that the experience will deliver. Guests cannot bring their own skis, snowboards, or toboggans due to limited vehicle storage.
Clothing & Preparation Advice for Your Clients
Getting the clothing right makes or breaks a snow day – especially for travellers who may have never experienced cold weather. This is what we recommend agents communicate to their clients before departure:
Recommended clothing:
- Warm, waterproof jacket and pants
- Thermals (base layer) if available
- Beanie, scarf, and waterproof gloves
- Warm socks – wool or thermal
- Snow boots or sturdy waterproof footwear
Available for hire at Lake Mountain:
- Snow clothing (jackets, pants)
- Toboggans
Available for purchase at Lake Mountain (not for hire due to hygiene):
- Gloves
- Socks
- Goggles
- Beanies
For travellers from warmer climates who don’t own winter gear, the hire option at the resort covers the main items. But gloves and beanies are non-negotiable – make sure clients know they’ll need to either bring or buy these.
Trade tip: Many of our key source markets – South East Asia, India, the Middle East – don’t have access to snow gear at home. Advise clients to budget for equipment hire and accessory purchases on the day. A quick note in the pre-departure briefing saves a lot of discomfort on the mountain.
Packaging This Tour for Your Clients
The Lake Mountain Winter Snow Tour is one of the most straightforward winter products to sell into a Melbourne itinerary. It’s a single day, fully guided, and returns clients to the city by early evening. No overnight stays to coordinate, no self-drive logistics to manage.
It works particularly well for:
- Families with children – snow play, tobogganing, chocolate. The day is designed around accessible fun rather than serious alpine sport.
- First-time snow visitors – for travellers from tropical and subtropical source markets, this is often their first encounter with snow. The small group format and expert guide make it feel safe and well-managed.
- Incentive and MICE groups – a snow day is an unexpected and memorable inclusion in a Melbourne-based incentive programme. Contact AABH to discuss group bookings and private charters for larger delegations.
- FIT travellers – works as a standalone day tour during a Melbourne city stay, or as part of a broader Go Beyond Melbourne regional itinerary.
Australia and Beyond Holidays can package this tour alongside Yarra Valley wine touring, Phillip Island wildlife, Great Ocean Road day trips, and Melbourne city experiences. We build complete itineraries for the travel trade and hold direct supplier relationships across all of these products.
Trade tip: For agents with Chinese traveller clients, this tour fits neatly into ADS-approved itineraries during the winter season. Contact our multilingual team at enquiries@aabh.com.au to discuss how to incorporate it. The snow experience is a powerful selling point for the China and broader Asian market.
What Happens at Lake Mountain
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort sits at around 1,500 metres elevation, roughly 120 kilometres east of Melbourne. It’s not a ski resort in the traditional sense. There are no chairlifts or groomed runs. What it offers instead is accessible, genuine snow play in a beautiful alpine setting – and that’s exactly why it works so well for international visitors.
Tobogganing is the main event. Designated toboggan areas give guests a safe, fun space to slide down snow-covered slopes. Toboggans are available for hire at the resort.
Snowman building and snowball fights – simple pleasures, but for a traveller who’s never touched snow before, these moments are genuinely memorable. Guides are on hand to help and photograph.
Snow walks through the alpine landscape offer a quieter experience. Snow gum trees dusted in white, clear mountain air, and the stillness of the bush in winter. Walking trails are accessible and don’t require any specialist equipment.
Skiing availability at Lake Mountain is currently to be confirmed (TBC) for the season. Guests cannot bring their own skis, snowboards, or toboggans due to limited storage on the touring vehicle.
Trade tip: Set expectations clearly with clients. Lake Mountain is about snow play, not alpine sport. That’s its strength for the inbound market. Families with young children, older travellers, and first-timers all feel comfortable here. The three-hour window is well-judged – long enough to enjoy the snow without anyone getting too cold or tired.
One of Victoria’s Tallest Waterfalls
Steavenson Falls is located near the township of Marysville, roughly 100 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. The falls drop approximately 84 metres in a series of cascading tiers through dense mountain forest.
The walk from the car park to the main viewing platform is short – around 15 minutes along a well-maintained path through tree ferns, mountain ash, and blackwood. In winter, after rain and snowmelt from the ranges, the falls run at full force. The sound builds as you approach.
This stop gives the tour a different texture. After hours of open alpine landscape and snow play, the dense, green, dripping forest around the falls feels like a different world entirely. It’s a welcome change of pace and a chance for guests to stretch their legs in a gentler environment.
Marysville itself was devastated by the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 and has been carefully rebuilt. The resilience of this community and the regrowth of the surrounding forest is a story worth sharing – many guides do so thoughtfully.
Trade tip: The falls are photogenic year-round but especially impressive during the snow season when water flow is high. The short walk is manageable for most fitness levels. This stop adds depth to the tour and gives agents another talking point when selling the product – it’s not just a snow tour, it’s a full regional Victoria experience.
Handcrafted Chocolate in Victoria’s Premier Wine Region
The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is set among rolling green hills in one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions. Even in winter, the setting is beautiful.
Inside, guests can sample a range of handcrafted chocolates – dark, milk, white, and everything in between. The shop is well-stocked with gift options and specialty items. Hot chocolate is the obvious choice on a cold day, and it’s excellent.
This final stop serves two purposes. It gives the day a warm, sweet ending (literally). And it introduces travellers to the Yarra Valley as a destination – which creates a natural opening for agents to recommend a longer stay in the region on a future trip. Wine touring, Healesville Sanctuary, Puffing Billy, hot air ballooning – the Valley has enough to fill several days.
All purchases at the Chocolaterie are at guests’ own expense.
Trade tip: The Chocolaterie is a crowd-pleaser across all demographics and source markets. It’s also a useful buffer stop that prevents the tour from feeling rushed on the drive back to Melbourne. For agents building multi-day Victorian itineraries, this taste of the Yarra Valley is a natural segue into recommending a Go Beyond Melbourne regional programme or a standalone Yarra Valley day.
TOUR AT A GLANCE
