By plane
Mount Hotham has an airfield that used to be served by Qantas but as of 2008 there are no commercial flights at all. You will need to charter a plane to fly to Hotham. The closest airport with commercial flights is Albury.
By train
The nearest train station is in Wangaratta, on the main Sydney to Melbourne line. Travellers would then need to transfer to a bus to Bright and a second bus to Mount Hotham.
By car
From Melbourne either:
take the Hume Highway to Wangaratta and then the Great Alpine Road through Harrietville, taking about 4.5 hours; or
take the Princes Highway to Bairnsdale and turn onto the Great Alpine Road via Omeo and Dinner Plain, taking about 5.5 hours.
From Sydney take the Hume Highway to Albury-Wodonga, and follow the signs to Yackandandah and turn off to Myrtleford. At Myrtleford turn off onto the Great Alpine Road through to Harrietville and Mount Hotham. This is about 8.5 hours' driving.
From Queensland take the Newell Highway to Cobram, then onto Wangaratta and the Great Alpine Road as per the route from Melbourne.
In all cases, cars must carry fitting snow chains when travelling on the Great Alpine Road between Harrietville and Omeo between June 1 and October 10 every year. You must be able to fit them when the signs indicate: there are numerous chain fitting bays located on the road. Chains are available for hire in Harrietville and Omeo.
Parking fees at Hotham are substantial: $39.50 per day multiple entries are allowed, paid in cash at the gate at either end of the resort. You will be given a permit to stick on the inside of your windscreen. Parking is free until midnight if your first entry of the day is after 3PM, but you still need to stop at the gate and get an evening parking sticker. Parking inspections are frequent before 3PM and after midnight when the free evening parking passes run out. If you are just driving in to drop someone off you do not need to pay a parking fee but you must pay a drop-off fee of $10 per person. If you're just driving through without stopping, let them know, because no fee applies.
Drivers who don't wish to drive in the snow can park in the security car parking at Hoys Skis (http://www.hoysskis.com.au/) in Harrietville for $10 a day cheaper for longer stays and catch a bus to Mount Hotham.
By bus
The Snowball Express tel 1300 65 65 46, fax +61 3 9372 0689, email [email protected] service runs services to Mt Hotham from Melbourne, Myrtleford, Bright and Harrietville.
Christian's Bus Company has buses to and from Albury airport on Fridays and Sundays during the snow season from June 27 - September 14 in 2008. They depart the airport at 10AM, 1:45PM and 5PM and return 8:30AM, 12:30PM and 4PM. Call Hotham Holidays on 1800 468 426 to book.
Hoys Mount Hotham tel +61 3 5759 3017 operate a bus from Dinner Plain several times a day, no bookings necessary timetable (http://www.hotham.com.au/files/186_DP-HothamBusTimetable.pdf). Return trips are $14 for adults and free for children under 15. The ticket includes the drop-off fee at Mount Hotham.
O'Connell's Ome Bus Services offer charter services from Omeo to Mount Hotham. They have many years of safe driving in alpine areas. Contact them at (http://www.omeobus.com.au) or 0428591377
Northeast Coachlines operates HothamBus.com from 2013, offering daily & overnight services from Melbourne plus Sydney to Mt Hotham, Dinner Plain & Falls Creek.