Faqs

This is always a tricky question as every snow season is different from the last; there is no certain way to know weeks or months in advance what the conditions will be like. When planning your visit, make sure you check the snow reports, weather forecast and Nordic Pulse regularly.  

Nordic Pulse is an app based cross country ski trail grooming report system, bringing trail condition reports to you online. Each day there are reports published, if the trail has been groomed there is snow.  

Click the links below to see what the weather is like at Lake Mountain. 

View live cameras here View Nordic Pulse  

Funnily enough, there is no Lake at Lake Mountain! The mountain was named after the surveyor George Lake.

Unfortunate for those planning on bringing their boat!

Marysville is the closest town to Lake Mountain. Located just a short thirty-minute drive from the top of the mountain, this beautiful little town offers a wide array of accommodation, with options suitable for all situations. 

If you’re after accommodation in Marysville, give Marysville Visitor Information and Regional Arts a call on (03) 5963 4567. 

A good base layer (such as thermals) is key to keeping warm in the snow. If you don’t have thermals, don’t stress! Just make sure to layer up with warm and comfy clothing. The weather conditions are constantly changing up on the mountain, layering your clothes means it’s easy to add or remove clothing as needed. For even more protection, it’s wise to pack a waterproof layer just in case. 

For more information about what to wear at the snow, read our article on clothing essentials for your first trip to the snow. 

Tip: Avoid dressing kids in gumboots/wellingtons as they do not have any insulation; kids feet will freeze after a short amount of time in the snow. 

If you want to hire clothes, click here to view the rental price list

No, pets of any kind are not permitted at the resort as we are a protected Alpine Environment.

Resort entry gate: 8am- 5pm 
Rental department: 8.30am-4pm (Rentals returned between 3.30pm-4pm) 
Retail shop: 8.30am-4pm  
Bistro: 8.30am-4pm (For hot drinks & pre-packaged food) 9am-3pm (For the kitchen) 
Toboggan runs & magic carpet: 8.30am-4pm  
Visitor Centre: 8am-4pm 

The gate at the base of Lake Mountain opens at 8.30am.

Facilities including ski hire, retail and bistro also open at 8.30am every day over the snow season. We suggest you arrive before 11am to make the most of your day pass and have a full day in the snow.

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is subject to closure for periods of time during peak periods on weekends throughout the snow season when maximum capacity is reached in the carparks. It is recommended that visitors arrive before 11am to avoid disappointment.

On occasions, due to heavy snow fall, it is necessary to carry and fit snow chains to two-wheel drive vehicles or engage 4×4 or snow conditions on all wheel drive vehicles. Please check your vehicle’s requirements before heading to the snow. If it is a chain declared day, only people with 2WD cars will need to hire chains before driving up the mountain to Lake Mountain. 

Car tyre size is needed for this process. Please head to either Lake Mountain Ski Hire, Mystic Mountain, Cross Country Ski Hire or Marysville Ski Centre to hire chains. No chains are available for hire at the resort. 

To be informed if chains are required, before you leave in the morning check our website homepage for any alerts or our Instagram and Facebook. There are also traffic advisory signs when entering Marysville to look out for. Alpine conditions can change quickly and if necessary, chain days may be called on the day. 

Chains can be hired from any of the Ski Hires (Lake Mountain Ski Hire, Mystic Mountain, Cross Country Ski Hire or Marysville Ski Centre) before you begin the climb to Lake Mountain. The cost is approximately $30- $60* for the day and you will be shown how to fit the chains when hiring them.

Note: Car tyre size is needed for this process

* Subject to price change. 

For more information on chains, click here 

All visitors accessing the resort during the declared snow season must purchase a resort entry permit. The fees cover cost of resort operations, funding essential services such as Ski Patrol, Snow Clearing, Guest Services and much more. 

For the 2023 winter season, it is $55.80 per vehicle (8 seats or less) when pre-purchased online. 

A car resort entry ticket is $62.00 if purchased at the gate on the day via EFTPOS (no cash), if spaces are available.

 Please be aware there is no phone reception or WIFI at the resort gate if choosing to pay via online EFTPOS services. 

We recommend you to pre-purchase your tickets to avoid disappointment. 

A vehicle must have under 9 seats, if it has 9 seats and over it will be classified as a bus which is $20 per passenger. 

To book your entry pass, click here 

By car, we suggest allowing between 2 and 2.5 hours when travelling from Melbourne CBD.

Here’s a link to a few helpful maps and driving directions – View resort maps

Public transport is fairly limited, as Lake Mountain is located past the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The only public transport option is to catch a train to Lilydale on the Lilydale Line, then catch the McKenzies Bus Service, which runs once or twice daily to Eildon.

You can view the bus timetable here.

There is a Snow Shuttle from Lake Mountain Visitor Centre in Marysville to Lake Mountain. 

It runs at 9am and 10.30am on weekends and every day during the school holidays.
On general weekdays only the 10:30am shuttle is available.
This is a return trip and includes gate entry. 

If you take the 9am shuttle you will return on the 1.30pm shuttle and the 10.30am returns at 3pm. 

Click here, for more information 

Lake Mountain is a Cross Country Ski Resort only, so there are no chairlifts.

Click here, to check current conditions  

Pronounced TO-BOG-GAN,  a long light and narrow plastic-moulded sled (a vehicle that slides over snow) sometimes curved up in front, used for sliding down slopes. It’s a lot of fun! 

At Lake Mountain, we have our main village toboggan run and a couple other toboggan runs depending on snow conditions. For more information on tobogganing, you can read our tobogganing safety tips article here. 

Toboggans are available for hire from our Rental Department for $15 each per day, with moving carpet included.  

Yes, you can!  

Our on-mountain equipment and clothing hire outlet stocks a large range of sizes in both shell and insulated jackets and pants. As well as snow boots to keep your feet nice and dry. If wanting to xc-ski or undergo a kid snowboard lesson, we also have equipment available for those snow sports. 

To see the rental price list, click here 

The only things you cannot hire are gloves, socks and beanies, due to hygiene regulations. 

Don’t stress though, we have a range of kids through to adults gloves and beanies for sale in our retail outlet up on the mountain. With gloves starting around $20, you’ll be set to tackle the wintery conditions. 

Toboggans are available for hire from our Rental Department for $15 each per day, with moving carpet included. 

Yes, our cafe is open 7 days a week from 9am to 3.30pm, serving snacks and drinks.

As there are no lifts at Lake Mountain, skiing here takes a little more effort as you need to propel yourself up and down the ski trails. 

Don’t worry though, the trails aren’t steep like regular downhill ski trails. There are over 30 kilometres of trails winding their way through trees covering Lake Mountain. If you’re new to Cross Country Skiing, at our Snow Sports area next to the rental department, you can book a ski lesson in on the day. Lessons run flexibly according to the demand.  

If wanting to hire gear on mountain for your lesson we encourage you to get your equipment one hour before. Equipment for your lesson includes a full day hire. 

For more information on XC-ski lesson prices, click here 

XC-Ski lessons are subject to weather and snow conditions. To check the current xc-ski conditions, click here 

If it’s your first time, you can read our cross country skiing tips for beginners here. 

Winter season only.

Resort Entry tickets are highly encouraged to be pre-purchased prior to your arrival. Tickets are generally sold at the ticket box on the day, however if the resort reaches full capacity, only people will with pre-booked tickets will be allowed to enter and there won’t be any tickets sold at the ticket box. 

Reaching full capacity is more likely to occur on weekends then weekdays. If you want to avoid the crowds, visit mid-week. 

No. There is no on-mountain accommodation available at Lake Mountain, as the facility is for day visitors only in the declared winter season. The closest accommodation is located in Marysville, only 25- 30 minutes away. In winter, the resort gate is locked from 5 pm every night, so visitors have to make their way down the hill to Marysville by 4:30pm for lockout at 5pm. 

For more information about pricing and packages available for midweek school excursions, click here.