I've been visiting this mountain for 16 years. It has a wonderful on-snow village, closeted in cloud at night, fairy lights guiding the way between restaurants and wine bars.
I have been away for several years and returned today to find it familiar, but improved.
We're staying at Pinnacle Valley Resort at the base of the mountain, in a 2 bedroom chalet. It has a kitchen, drying room, fire place and large living space. There's a ski hire shop (with a very helpful man named Matt) and a restaurant (good food, lovely service).
Twenty minutes drive to the mountain carpark, a free shuttle bus ride to the top and we're ready to go. The sky is blue, no wind = perfect!
Not all lifts were open today, so the lift tickets were reduced in price. June was Take-a-friend-for-free month, so my friend, Tess, got a lift ticket and lesson for free.
I enjoyed the day, finding my snowboard legs again after a 2 year hiatus. I dislike being restricted to Bourke Street as its a dangerous confluence of sightseers, beginners and experts. I did try to go higher up the mountain, but it was still a bit grassy and involved a cross country trek.
