A week at Falls Creek is a serious financial commitment. A solo weekend at Hotham is still expensive. Snowboarding in Australia is not cheap — but there is a significant difference between what you have to spend and what most people end up spending because they did not know where to look.
Here is where the real savings are, in order of impact.
Gear — Buy Smart Not Cheap
The most expensive approach to snowboard gear is replacing cheap gear annually. A $400 board that lasts two seasons costs more per day on snow than an $800 board that lasts six. Buying quality and keeping it consistently beats buying budget and replacing.
Three ways to pay less than full retail on quality gear:
End of season sales: Australian snow season ends in September. From October through December, previous season gear goes on clearance — boards, boots, bindings and outerwear from Burton, Jones, YES., Salomon and K2 discounted 20 to 50 percent. The gear is identical to what sold at full price in May. The only difference is the colourway and the price tag. We run end of season sales at Twelve Board Store — check our sale section from October onward.
Previous season stock: we carry previous season models alongside current season throughout the year. A 2025 model board at 30 percent off often outperforms a 2026 model at full retail. Ask us what previous season stock we have before assuming you need current season.
Price matching: we match any authorised Australian retailer price. Same gear, same warranty, plus our in-store fitting, heat moulding and workshop support. Bring us a lower legitimate Australian price and we match it.
Shop Current Sale Items · Price Match Policy
Lift Tickets — the Biggest Variable Cost
Buy early: Falls Creek, Mt Buller and Mt Hotham all offer early bird multi-day tickets at significant discounts when purchased well before the season. The gap between buying a five-day pass in March versus day tickets at the gate is often 40 to 50 percent. If you know you are going, buy early.
Weekdays versus weekends: weekday lift prices are significantly lower than weekend prices at all Victorian resorts. Midweek trips save money and the mountain is quieter — more runs, shorter queues.
Season passes: if you are doing five or more days at the same resort, a season pass is almost always cheaper than individual day tickets. Mt Buller and Falls Creek both offer flexible pass products for riders who are not committing to a full season.
Accommodation — Timing and Location
On-mountain accommodation commands a serious premium over staying at the base or in nearby towns.
For Mt Buller: staying in Mansfield (45 minutes from the mountain) versus on-mountain can halve your accommodation cost. You need a car but the saving is significant for a multi-night trip.
For Falls Creek: nearby Bright is significantly cheaper than the village. Around 45 minutes drive up — factor in that road conditions on peak weekends can extend this.
For Mt Hotham: Harrietville at the base of the mountain has accommodation significantly cheaper than the village. 25 minutes drive up.
Book early regardless of where you stay. Victorian resort accommodation books out fast for peak July and August weekends. Booking in March or April locks in better rates and better availability.
Hire vs Own — The Real Deal Calculation
Resort hire gear typically costs $60 to $80 per item per day. A week of full hire for one person runs $800 to $1,200. Owning mid-range gear that lasts five to seven seasons costs $1,200 to $1,800 all in and pays for itself in two seasons.
If you are going more than once: own your gear. If it is a genuine one-off: hire everything except boots. Your own boots — properly fitted and heat moulded — make the single biggest difference to your day on the mountain. Hire boots are consistently the worst part of the resort hire experience.
We heat mould every boot purchase free at Twelve Board Store. A $300 boot that fits properly outperforms a $500 hire boot every time.
Full Hire vs Buy Guide · How Much Does a Setup Cost? · Shop Sale Gear · Snowboard Buying Guides
