Kangaroo Hoppet

Transport

Kangaroo Hoppet is held in Falls Creek ski resort on the peaks of the Australian Alps. The nearest town is Mt Beauty (30 km distance). Please note that on the road from Mt Beauty to Falls Creek the chains must be carried in a car, they can be hired in Mt Beauty. Also most of the hired cars are not insured for driving in snow conditions. An entry fee is charged for the entrance to Falls Creek.

The nearest international airports are Melbourne and Sydney. Distance from Melbourne is about 400 km. There is a daily bus connection from Melbourne with a stop at Melbourne Airport. It departs from Melbourne at 9 am and arrives in Mt Beauty around 2 p.m. and in Falls Creek about 3 p.m. Travel by car will be probably 1 hour shorter.

For bus schedules see www.buslines.com.au.

Distance from Sydney via Hume Highway and Albury is about 700 km. It is possible to get to Albury by train, bus or airplane and then to travel by bus or hired car to Mt Beauty or Falls Creek.

For airplane, train, bus connections see www.tourisminternet.com.au.

General Remarks

Snow reports are updated daily on www.ski.com.au.

Falls Creek is located at the altitude over 1600 m, bear this is mind if you have problems with acclimatization. On Friday before the race there is an afternoon party for passport holders and overseas skiers at Howmans Gap. Watch the Hoppet web page for a schedule of activities in the Hoppet week. Hoppet race is followed by a very attractive closing ceremony in the evening in Mt Beauty. This is one chance to buy your photos from the race. Howmans Gap organizes a bus for the closing ceremony.

Accommodation

The basic places to stay are: Falls Creek, Howmans Gap and Mt Beauty. Falls Creek is a typical downhill ski resort. It offers accommodation in ski lodges, some of them connecting directly to cross country ski trails. There is a couple of shops, few restaurants and vibrant night life. Howmans Gap is a cross country ski center which in the week preceding Hoppet is occupied entirely by Hoppet skiers. It offers basic accommodation (bunk beds in 4 or 6 persons rooms, shared toilets) and full board. During the Hoppet week it offers a shuttle bus connection to Falls Creek (distance 5 km).

No entry fee is charged for the travel between Mt Beauty and Howmans Gap. There is a good waxing room and usually there are waxing clinics before the Hoppet. Also massage and physiotherapy services are available.

Mt Beauty is a typical Australian country town. There is no snow and you can play golf or take any other outdoor activity from fishing to gliding. And every morning you can see kangaroos jumping in the paddocks. But to ski you have to get to Falls Creek, 40 min drive or 1 hour by bus.

For detailed information see accommodation page of Hoppet web-page www.hoppet.com.au.

Weather

The forecast is available at AccuWeather.

Web site

The web site of the race is at www.hoppet.com.au.