Where To Ride and Hike at Mt Buller This Summer!

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Countries of the Taungurung people who have occupied and cared for these lands and waters for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Mt Buller lies 3 hours from Melbourne and offers remote alpine hiking and camping experiences on Mt Stirling alongside a newly refurbished mountain bike trail network.

Throw in a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets on Mt Buller itself, food, drink, and a jam-packed summer events schedule, and your next trip to Mt Buller is looking like a ripper!

Get the crew up for sunrise, you won’t regret it. | @tim_ashelford

Mountain Biking at Mt Buller

Mt Buller has long been known as a one-of-a-kind riding destination. With over 100km of trails the resort offers something for all gravity, flow, cross country, and downhill riders. 

A recent investment of $1.25 million into refurbishing the trails is completely transforming the resort, reworking the 10+ year old network into fast and flowy gravity runs, exciting cross country loops, and playful beginner trails, modernising the trails for a new generation of riders.

Freshly carved trails have been expertly crafted to be fun at any speed!

Buller is pulling out all the stops when it comes to reworking the trail system. The team from Contour Works are resurfacing 15 cross country trails across the mountain and Trailscapes have reshaped the 4 original gravity trails and transformed them with an emphasis on flow and fun.

The Delatite River Trail

A highlight is the reimagined Delatite River Trail that takes riders down a whopping 1000m in elevation over nearly 9km. The blue-rated cross country trail used to be littered with loose stones and rocks, but now features a wide, freshly sculpted trail that winds its way down the mountain through the lush cool-temperate rainforest.

The trail builders have stacked the trail with as many features as they can making for a fast and playful ride. Endless berms, wall rides and side hits await, allowing riders to get super creative with their line choice and waterbars that conveniently serve as little kickers are stacked all the way down the mountain. 

On the lower half of the trail you’ll find a total of 12 log bridge river crossings as you meander alongside the Delatite River. Best of all, when you finally finish this massive descent you can hop straight in the river to cool off while you wait for your shuttle to take you back to the top, ready to do it all over again.

Rides Close to Mt Buller Village

For those who want to ride in close proximity to the village, there are plenty of trails that allow you to clock laps and beat those Strava CRs while never being far from a beer and a snack. 

A truly unique feature of the Mt Buller trails, however, is how remote you can get in such a short time – ride Gang Gangs, Cornhill, and Woolybutt out to Howqua Hut to quickly experience the stunning alpine wilderness.

These three trails are the first section of Buller’s Australian Alpine Epic Trail, and while out riding through bushfire-recovering snow gums you’re likely to encounter rare native orchids and wallabies, listen to the sound of lyrebirds singing through the mountains as you ride past vibrant alpine grevilleas and even startle a Sambar deer.

It doesn’t take long to disappear into the forest from Mt Buller Resort.

Whilst the remote nature of these trails is certainly a drawcard it’s important to ensure you’re adequately prepared by bringing enough food, water, and bicycle repair tools as well as emergency safety gear like a PLB and snake bite kit. As always, pack out what you pack in, alpine environments are incredibly fragile ecosystems, even an orange peel on the trail can take months to break down: put it in your pack.

Hiking on Mt Buller and Mt Stirling

There are a range of walks around Mt Buller that cater to every level, whether that’s a sunset stroll after dinner or a big all-day hiking adventure. For a taster, try out the Summit Nature Walk. The hike takes you to Buller’s 1780m peak and can also be done as a loop – take it from us, it’s perfect for sunrise.

The Two Peaks hike is a brilliant way for hikers to get immersed in the region. Starting deep in the valley, you’ll wind along the Delatite River, crossing countless log bridges as the snowmelt flows below. You’ll see cool forest give way to Alpine Ash and Snowgums (and countless micro-environments in between) as you climb a whole vertical kilometre to the Bluff Spur Memorial Hut and campground – it’s the perfect sheltered spot below the summit.

The toughest tree in Australia? We think so! | @tim_ashelford

Must see: A single snow gum sits alone on top of Mt Stirling. The ‘Summit Tree’ is also known as the ‘toughest tree’, as each year it’s completely covered in snow. Estimates have it at 319 years old, so grab a snap, but please avoid touching the tree itself.

On day two you’ll hike over to Corn Hill, before continuing to Mt Buller. Up on the ridgeline there’s less climbing, and more time to enjoy the hillsides heaving with native lilies and orchids in brilliant pink and yellow. You can camp out at Howqua Gap Hut, or continue on to Mt Buller Resort for a shower and a feed. A third day sees you hiking off the mountain, or you can continue on into the wilderness, if you please.

But this is just one hike. The options are endless on Mt Buller and Mt Stirling, you could keep coming back for years and still have more to explore. High Country Hiking Tours offers particularly excellent tours of the region, and Romana has a detailed knowledge of the mountains through years of experience. Book in for anything from transfers to a full-service trip (they’ll even transport your overnight pack!). Take it from me, the dehydrated chocolate pudding is a winner.

Where to Refuel?

After a big day on the trails head to Abom to unwind with a hearty meal amongst the retro ski-lodge decor. If you’re not ready for bed after your meal the nightlife continues at Moosehead Whisky and Blues Bar where you can catch some live music and enjoy a drink or three in the alpine bar. 

When you want to grab a quick coffee and brekkie roll before hitting the trails the next morning The Coffee Garage has you sorted and is just a short ride from the trailheads.

As well as the brick and mortar eateries and entertainment, Mt Buller is putting on a huge spread of events over the summer season. Go for a guided summit hike and crack a cold one up top while you watch the most glorious sunset you’ve ever experienced, or have a slice of pizza while DJs play tunes into the evening. Whether you’re looking for a laid back, nature-filled weekend of riding or you want to go full send and party as hard as you ride; Mt Buller has you covered.

A sunset session on top of Mt Buller is a must.

Where To Stay on Mt Buller

Mt Buller offers a good range of on-mountain summer accommodation to suit all needs and budgets, from self-contained apartments to all-inclusive hotel accommodation.

For riders on a budget, Blue Dirt Mountain Bike Lodges offer affordable accommodation in the heart of the village. From a bunk to a private room, if you want to ride all weekend and hang out with other riders for apres, the Blue Dirt Mountain Bike Lodge is for you. Better yet, 5% of your room rate goes towards trail maintenance!

Those looking for a little luxury will appreciate all of the boutique options available at Whitehorse Village, with extraordinary views and stunning, luxury accommodation, you won’t want your weekend away to end.

Plan to come back for more – we guarantee one trip to Mt Buller & Mt Stirling won’t be enough.