By PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY
It seems so fast that another snow season is upon us.
And what a season it will be – hopeful of good snows, more man-made white stuff, updated parks and runs and venues all for a better visitor experience.
And the opening weekend will see two days of celebrations and activities for the whole family.
General manager of Buller Ski Lifts (BSL), Noel Landry, in his welcome to the season, said: “As I write there is a mountain of snow, expanding by 100 cubic metres daily, outside my window.”
Is there a guarantee of snow for the opening? – definitely yes.
The snow machines are working flat-out and piles of white soft snow are being gathered – then smoothed and groomed in readiness for the opening day – just for the kids, snowboarders and keen skiers to try out – on Bourke Street.
And the welcoming message from ARV Mt Buller–Mt Stirling general manager Alan Arthur is also excited about the upcoming season.
“Winter is now upon us - we’re looking forward to another great season and can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the mountain,” he said.
“Our Operations team has been hard at work completing capital maintenance, building new mountain bike trails and preparing the resort for winter.”
Excitement grew over the past few weeks as a taste of the snow season drifted down on the mountain.
Early in May a ‘dump’ (some 7cms) of snow fell as low as the village, dusting everything ‘white’.
But the big news for the mountain is the Nationals have been guaranteed for Mt Buller through to 2031 (see story page 10).
This first issue of Buller News brings lots of news from the industry conferences held in Thredbo in early May to Olympians and their honours being awarded, updates of who won what at around the world skiing and snowboarding championships and much more.
Leading into the season Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) commenced a campaign inviting visitors to a more meaningful experience when visiting the alpine resorts this winter.
“With cost-of-living pressures and busy lifestyles, people are increasingly selective about how they spend their time and money,” said Sarah Watt, Head of Group Marketing and Communications at ARV. The ARV campaign is titled “Let Winter In”.
As Ms Watt concluded: “This isn’t just about going to the snow. It’s about choosing to experience winter differently, restoring winter’s cultural relevance and positioning the alpine as an essential part of the season.”
Welcome to Mt Buller and Mt Stirling for the winter of 2026 – let’s make it a good one.