Snow Report Falls Creek 2019 - Trip Reports, Pics & Conditions

Now that FC is Epic, I'm thinking maybe a week mid-August. Looking at somewhere like the Karelia Lodge which has some single rooms. Is there anywhere else I should look at where I could get a week for around $2000-2200?

What's lift access like from Karelia? Hike to the base of Halley's Comet or just hike along Parallel St and ski down to the base of HC? And how's the access back?

 

don't, just don't

 

single rooms are hard to find.

if you don't mind sharing, try club lodges that take public guests, eg chorki, cosella, alpha, schuss. the first 2 don't need oversnow to get to and are very close to halleys comet chair. the other 2 are high in the village, near karelia. the high position means either a long uphill trudge with luggage or paying for oversnow (which isn't too bad these days - avoid sunday arvo if you can). in good cover you might have to walk a bit to one end or other of the flat parallel st but then ski down the road or under halleys chair. skiing back there are a few routes to parallel st: broadway & orrey's trail, or wombat's ramble/last hoot/fast hoot/milkyway to the aqueduct then a trail to parallel st

 

I should have added that Alpha is particularly good with great managers

 

+1

 

Thanks for those suggestions, I'm checking them out. Cosela, according to their website, can accommodate guests of members but only when booked by members.

I think the location of Chorki will trump Alpha's great managers. Not only for proximity to the lift but also for proximity to the supermarket. I particularly appreciated being close to the shop at Sun Peaks when self-catering, it makes that part of the daily routine that much easier. And given that I'll be arriving Sunday, but planning to day park in the morning and transfer to overnight parking in the afternoon, that would mean not being able to avoid the Sunday arvo oversnow if staying up higher.

Again, many thanks for your suggestions!

 

You could also check the prices of Studio or 1BR apartments. Try https://www.alpineapartmentsfallscreek.com.au/
Or the Falls web site

 

What's the word on Karelia @currawong ? I have stayed there ages ago (with a guy from work - so 2 single males) and TBH I cant even remember the setup etc. however they must have had single beds. I assume that Austrian (or was he German?) guy that has owned it forever is still there?

I was just jumping on @Marty_McSly to say check out some of the studio apartments listed on https://www.alpineapartmentsfallscreek.com.au/ - if you are talking ~ $2K budget you may be able to find something to suit. I've not been to Falls for years but they used to have some good options at different price points.

@currawong - did it change hands awhile ago? I vaguely remember something, you got any word on how they are these days?

Also I have stayed at Schuss a fair few times ( https://www.schuss.com.au/falls-creek/ ) so whilst its been awhile could be a good option for a single. I actually rate the location (easy ski in/out from the end of the road if you know what you are doing) and don't be put off by it being so high in the village - I have lugged up stuff for a family on a few occasions so how hard could it be for a single guys stuff

 

- I knew I should have checked what had been posted when I saw that message pop up telling me new messages had been posted but damn I had already written it all out!!

 

Carry on size bag with ski clothes + backpack with other clothes, toiletries and laptop... not so hard.

Skis... OK if I limit myself to 2 pairs...

I think the "don't, just don't" wasn't a comment on the Karelia, more the sort of thing the Perisher and Thredbo peeps get up to. The Perisher peeps say "go to Thredbo" and vice versa, in an attempt to keep the crowds down.

 

The Alpine Apartments guys were previously Mountain Multiservice and they provide a fantastic service. I have used them for years

 

Hey @emkae - yeah likewise, used a few times years ago and all good so have recommended people check them out when looking at accommodation options for Falls.

I thought when they did the name change and rebrand however there was also a change of ownership thus the question I asked above

was actually for you @currawong about Mountain Multiservice / Alpine Apartments to clarify (if you knew of course).

 

I believe it was originally owned by Ted Weeks and then Katrina and Ben took over. However there might have been others in between, not sure

 

Thanks @emkae - It was Ted Weeks who's name I recall.

Actually just Googling his name showed that he was a RealEstate agent selling places at Falls so I had a quick look at a couple of listings - bit of a downturn in the market? Prices for 3x2 apartments seemed pretty reasonable (from what I remember 10+ years ago - relatively speaking) and one listing I looked at showed a big discount from the list price and the actual text that was in the add body (somebody should really edit that ).

 

AFAIK the current owners are the ones who took over from Ted (aka Phantom)

as for sudden drop in prices, an owner of multiple properties had a fire sale some years ago and prices plummeted. starting to recover I think but I really don't pay much attention to such things

 

I recall seeing units in Snow Crystal (now Snowski) selling for around $180k back in the mid-1980's, 30 years later they're not quite doubled in value and lease term would be close to needing to be renegotiated too.

 

It seems I left my run a bit late for on-snow accommodation for the week I was after. The ones within cooee of my budget are pretty well sold out.

So I've gone with an Airbnb in Tawonga South and daily commute. In one way it simplifies things a little. Rather than spend the Saturday night somewhere between Albury and Mt Beauty then move on to Falls on the Sunday for a week, I've just booked the room for 8 nights.

 

It's scary how quickly it can book out - especially when a lot of other costs aren't known yet, like lift passes or resort entry.

 

In my case, the lift pass is Epic, it's a sunk cost. Resort entry is whatever it is. Between 4 and 5 hundred, I guess, for 8 days. So be it.

 

I get that, and it makes the whole deal easier. When you're looking for something for a family of 3 (which invariably means booking a room intended for 4 and wearing the extra cost), and that includes trying to guesstimate the cost of snow school for a 3 year old, it becomes harder.

 

Is that still Dave van P and his wife, my neighbours in Tawonga South?

 

I'm hearing you. Best of luck.

 

sure is

 

Linky - not sure if they're this year's or last year's pricing but it's a given that it may be more expensive this year.

 

To exhume an ancient thread from 2006 work starts on saint falls

Back then I was amazed at the prices they were asking. "1 bedroom from $435,000- $445,000, a two bedroom apartment $525,000- $585,000 and three bedroom apartments starting from $675,000 going up to Penthouses of $1,300,000".

Other comments said it was "selling like hotcakes" "a hulking monstrosity" and would cause traffic problems.

What happened to the St Falls complex? Is it a success?

 

It's now called QT. For a long time it was know as St F&^% Ups, or more politely St Waterfalls because of the problems with water

Is it a success?

pros

• nice day shelter area
• public showers
• pop up food options
• some people like their apartments
• improved retail spaces
• supermarket is on the main road rather than deliveries having to be taken over snow

cons

• reduced parking
• lots of stairs to get to the chairlift
• stairs get choked by snow and need to be shovelled
• reduced parking
• congestion near bottom of chair - queue on one side, skis and boards lying around on the other while people get food & drink
• eyesore
• reduced parking
• water feature has to have ugly barrier because it's regarded as a drowning hazard
• fire sale of apartments here and others from same owner caused a huge crash in prices
• contributed to wanker initiatives like reserved parking (thankfully discontinued)
• reduced #$%^&* parking

 

And then there’s the impact on parking too, on top of all that!

 

Cheers - I have been keeping an eye on that, and on Lift Passes page, to see if the prices have been updated to 2019. No luck as yet.

I'm also waiting to see if the Coffee Club is operating this year.

 

Good people, also fond memories of Maureen Jones

 

I would add that it robbed the plaza of a mountain view.
If Falls ever believed its hype about being an alpine village, it then approved showing the arse end of an apartment block to Slalom plaza users instead of an alpine vista.

 

The area around the resort is full of surprises- from the gold specks on the track between Mackay Creek Power Station and the hydro tunnel entrance, to the Mountain Galaxis 250 metres below the summit in the small stream. Surely some of the highest fish on the mainland, along with those just below Mt Townsend.



Then there’s the mountain gums after rain on Mount Bundara



Or the picturesque Cope Saddle Hut.

Or the waterfall in High Plains Creek behind Mount Cope



It’s amazing what you see when you move beyond peak-bagging and ticking off the kilometres.

 

My take on alpine visitors:
...Some interesting walkers I know bag peaks as well as slow down and take photos. But the ones who just bag peaks and who place speed above all other things are overall pretty boring people!

 

Have a look at Rocky Valley Ck* gorge - there's some spekky water-sculpted rock and crystal water; great for a swim in summer with a bit of scrambling.
Walk up the vehicle track that runs beside the creek leaving at the picnic area at the top end of Lake Guy. It's not far. Maybe 1.5 kms.

* may be called Spion Kopje Ck on some maps

 

Cosela don’t to public guests. Have to have a member staying there with them.

It’s why I had to stay at your club in Jan 2018 despite my dad being a member of Cosela. He wasn’t going to be there so no dice.

 

i thought they used to. maybe they tightened up or maybe i just misinderstood. thanks for clarifying

 

They def used to.

 

Friend’s MTB event not going so well. Saturday cancelled!

 

what's the problem? more beer time

 

Looks like they need heated seats.

 

Still no lift pass prices...

 

I've been keeping an eye out, just to see what they are asking this year. I'm amazed that they still haven't released prices less than 2 months out.

 

Did say Mid April...

Coffee club for the MRs is my main interest

 

I was in the same boat. We have ended up booking Perisher instead due to the uncertainty, but also because they will allow Mr 3.5 to snowboard in the full-day kid's program.

 

Surely the RMs & minister are failing us (& on mtn stakeholders) by not releasing prices in a reasonable time??

 

...by their inaction!!

 

We are tempted to do the same but love the Falls Creek village..

 

yes they should have announced resort entry process by now but they have nothing to do with lift ticket prices which seems to be what most people are worried about.

 

Australia’s best IMO