Mt. Donna Buang is fun to say. It’s also the closest snow to Melbourne, making it a highly fun stay. If you find yourself in the Victorian capital, this little spot in Warburton in the Yarra Valley is just 80 km from Melbourne. A family destination, there’s a whole heap to see and do. There are barbecues, designated play spots and a beautiful summit. You’re welcome to bring snow equipment up from the big city, but if you’ve forgotten your gear, they offer toboggan specific runs.

Falls Creek is the biggest plot of ski land in Victoria. It boasts 90 runs with a wide variety of difficulties. You can tackle it during the day or tackle it in the evening, with night skiing available a couple of nights a week. The Twilight Tuesdays bring a range of kid’s activities out, and there’s a night show every Thursday through July and August. Bear in mind it is a four-hour trip from Melbourne so you’ll want to book into the ample accommodation.

The Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is a stunning spot just a couple of hours from the CBD. Important to note is that there are no actual lakes on the Melbourne snow mountain, it’s named after George Lake. There are four tobogganing slopes and a 100m tube run, so be prepared for a full day of action. If you’re not after sliding on the snow, you can grab some snowshoes and head off an any of the five snowshoe trails.

If you want a less intense snow experience, Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort gives you a cosier downhill snow time. It’s 2.5 hours from the CBD, has a recurring frog theme on its Tob(frog)gan slopes, and brings a 30km cross-country ski trail to the table. If you aren’t sated with the skiing and snowboarding, you’re more than welcome to book a Howling Husky Sled Dog Tour for a slightly different view of the mountains. A wide variety of apartments, houses and cabins are available for a longer stay.

Mt Buller, perhaps the most well-known of Victoria’s snowfields packs a punch just three hours from Melbourne. Be prepared for the crowds as there’s room for an easy 7,000 people to be accommodated at the resort. There are free dedicated snow play areas for the first-timers and Team Buller provides rider coaches for the second or third-timers to finesse their snow skills. Add to that a solid slew of food and beverage options and you’ve got yourself one of the best places to see snow in Victoria.

Mt Stirling is less of a dedicated ski spot with no lifts. But the cross-country trail is a solid journey and well worth it. For those more experienced in the winter arts, Mt Stirling is well and truly up your alley. If you’re keen to get your alpine tree knowledge on there are a couple of gorgeous trails, with camping spots dotted along for the true snow explorer to unleash their inner Shackleton. Just don’t forget your snow shoes!

Mt Hotham (Hoth-um) is one of the best spots to see snow near Melbourne, just over four hours from the city centre. Even better, the drive along the Great Alpine Road is well worth it. Mt Hotham town is located up the top of the mountain, so your travel time brings you to the action. There are a solid set of three terrain parks and 13 ski lifts to bring you to the various difficulties of runs. Snow Play, Dog Sleds, and Ski + Snowboarding lessons are available.