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Melbourne Accommodation

 

Melbourne Accommodation for Snow Trips

When planning a trip to Victoria’s popular alpine destinations like Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, or Falls Creek, Melbourne serves as an excellent base or stopover point. Here’s what you need to know about accommodation options based on your travel method:

Flying In

If you’re flying into Melbourne from other parts of Australia:

  • Stay near the CBD for convenient access to SkyBus services to/from the airport
  • Consider airport hotels in Tullamarine if you’ll be continuing your journey to the snow immediately
  • Parkville and Carlton offer good accommodation options with easy access to both the airport and routes heading northeast toward the snow

Driving to the Snow

Navigating Melbourne by Car on Your Way to the Snow

When driving through Melbourne to reach Victoria’s alpine regions, your accommodation choices depend on your preferred route and driving comfort. Here’s a breakdown of options in both inner and outer Melbourne:

Inner Melbourne Options

Eastern Suburbs (Recommended)

  • Box Hill/Doncaster: These eastern suburbs provide quick access to the Eastern Freeway (M3) which connects to the Eastlink (M3) for Mt Buller trips. Hotels like Quest Box Hill or Clarion Hotel on Canterbury offer good value.
  • Kew/Camberwell: These inner eastern areas balance proximity to the CBD with easier access to eastbound routes. Numerous boutique accommodations and serviced apartments are available.

CBD Considerations

  • While staying in Melbourne’s CBD offers plenty of accommodation choices, be aware of morning traffic when departing eastbound. Hotels on the eastern side of the CBD (like those near Parliament Station) provide slightly easier access to outbound routes.

Outer Melbourne Options

Northeastern Corridor (For Mt Buller)

  • Ringwood/Croydon: Located along the Maroondah Highway, these suburbs offer direct routes toward Mt Buller without city traffic. The Ringwood Hotel and Quest Apartments provide convenient highway access.
  • Lilydale: As the gateway to the Yarra Valley and beginning of the route to Mt Buller, Lilydale offers several motels and B&Bs with easy morning departures.

Northern/Northeastern Suburbs (For Falls Creek/Hotham)

  • Thomastown/Epping: These northern suburbs provide access to the Hume Highway (M31) for Falls Creek/Hotham routes without inner-city congestion. Plenty of chain hotels are available.
  • South Morang/Mernda: These outer northeastern areas offer newer accommodation options with quick access to outbound routes.

Route Tips

To Mt Buller

  • From inner Melbourne, take the Eastern Freeway (M3) → EastLink (M3) → Maroondah Highway (B300) → Melba Highway → Goulburn Valley Highway toward Mansfield
  • From outer eastern suburbs, connect directly to the Maroondah Highway

To Falls Creek/Mt Hotham

  • From inner Melbourne, take CityLink (M1) → Metropolitan Ring Road (M80) → Hume Freeway (M31) toward Wangaratta
  • From northern suburbs, connect directly to the Hume Freeway

Accommodation Considerations

  • If arriving late to Melbourne, consider staying in the outer suburbs for an easier morning departure
  • If you want to explore Melbourne before your snow trip, inner suburbs offer better access to attractions while still providing reasonable outbound routes
  • Many outer suburban accommodations offer free parking, while inner-city options may charge significant parking fees

Would you like more detailed information about specific accommodation options in any of these areas?

 

For those planning to drive:

Mt Buller Route

  • Mansfield (2.5 hours from Melbourne) is the main gateway town with numerous motels, B&Bs, and holiday homes
  • Bonnie Doon offers lakeside accommodation about 30 minutes before Mansfield
  • Merrijig sits at the base of Mt Buller road with several lodges and country retreats

Mt Hotham/Falls Creek Route

  • Bright is a popular alpine town with excellent accommodation ranging from caravan parks to luxury options
  • Harrietville offers charming B&Bs and is the closest town to Mt Hotham
  • Myrtleford provides good stopover options along the Great Alpine Road
  • Wangaratta offers more affordable options if you want to break up the journey

Coach Travel

If traveling by coach:

  • Stay near Southern Cross Station in Melbourne where most snow coaches depart
  • Docklands and Melbourne CBD accommodations offer convenient access to coach services
  • Some coach packages include stopover accommodation in towns like Mansfield or Bright

Would you like more specific accommodation recommendations for any of these areas or information about on-mountain accommodation options?