SNOW FLAKES
Snow Flakes - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Snow Flakes | |||||
| By: Hilary Doling, Issue 31 – Winter 2007 | |||||
| (Falls Creek, VIC, Australia) | |||||
| DEVELOPMENT PLANS AT FALLS CREEK MEAN THE ALPINE VILLAGE IS ASPIRING TO BE THE MOST LUXURIOUS SKI RESORT IN AUSTRALIA. | |||||
| Falls Creek has always been Australia‘s prettiest ski resort, with a mountain village above the snow line reached by over-snow transport. Now it is aiming to be one of themost luxurious too. The makeover of ‘Falls’ really began with the opening of Huski, a resort that brought a new chic to the slopes.Now there are more extravagant plans afoot, or should we say, aski. A $40 million development located alongside the Falls Creek Express Chairlift will change the face of Falls Creek Alpine Resort forever, and bring with it luxury apartments, restaurants andshops. A few apartments are still for sale on the east wing of the development, called St Falls, and luxury apartments in the St Falls West building have also just been released for sale. Those who want a taste of the new cool at Falls should definitely book in to Huski, designed by architects Elenberg Fraser. From the outside the building looks like a series of blocks, like ice cubes balanced on top of each other. Inside, the 14 apartments are dramatic in style with black floors, white walls and splashes of colour in the artwork and soft furnishings. There is no varnished pine or Tyrol chalet influence here. Down in the Huski Produce Store, which doubles as a restaurant, the mood is relaxed. People crowd around the big communal tables chatting and ordering teas, coffees, soup, gourmet meals and what has to be the best thing after a cold day on the slopes – seriously creamy hot chocolate. I’d recommend a stay at Huski just for that. The store manages to be stylish and casual at the same time. This fact plus the big open fire make it the kind of place people just tend to hang out. There is also a pile of glossy magazines (including Luxury Travel Magazine) to flip through and enjoy, or you can just stare out at the benches on the terrace, heaped high with snow like ice cream cones, and the views cross the Kiewa Valley beyond. The store also sells gourmet pasta, biscuits and produce of all kinds for those who wish to self-cater, not to mention some very decent wines. It is managed by Zeth Romanis who comes via Luxe and Stokehouse in Melbourne, so his credentials in the restaurant business speak for themselves. There is one other very good reason for staying at Huski and that is its Endota day Spa. Walking into this cool white space is like walking into a designer igloo. With four treatment rooms, a hot tub and wet room, this is the perfect place to sooth tired ski limbs with just the right number of indulgent body and facial treatments on offer using Endota and Dermatologica products. The Huski apartments range in size from studio to two new fourbedroom penthouses, which are definitely the luxury option for families and friends. High season rates start from $2615 for studio apartment for five days. Those staying in the apartments can prebook lift, lesson and rentals. Huski was the first cool place to stay in the sleepy Alpine village but now there are other stylish lodges snapping at its heels. For example Zacamocco the developers behind Huski, are also behind the makeover of iconic Falls Creek property Silver Ski lodge, which is unveiled this snow season featuring a different theme for each of the 30 hotel-style rooms. This new development enhances the fact that Falls Creek, always family-friendly, is now a great luxury family destination. Parents will love the village feel and the fact that since the resort is in the snow you never have to carry your skis (or your kids’ skis) too far. Falls loves kids: witness the fact the website actually has a page listing restaurants and how child-friendly they are, down to whether they supply colouring books while you eat, and have babysitting facilities. Now that’s useful information. The kids ski school is located at the top of the express quad chair and has a great carpet called Mousetrap to whisk kids back up the leaner slope. Milo junior workshops cater for everything from koalas (walking and stopping on skis), to kangaroo ‘hotshots’ who can ski anywhere. New this year for kids is a buddy mentoring system in the terrain park and a girl’s boarding program. Back again is an old favourite, Pete the Dragon, the big green reptile that kids love to see on the slopes. Adults will be pleased to know that there is more snow-making in 2007 which means the 92 runs (60 per cent of which are intermediate) will be in even better shape this year. For speed freaks a new ALGE Self Timer system has been installed on the Nastar Race Course. Luxe List Huski, 3 Sitzmark St, Falls Creek, Vic 3699. Details, 1300 652 260, www.huski.com.au. Falls Creek skiing and accommodation information, www.fallscreek.com.au | |||||
| www.orioncruises.com.au, | |||||
| www.coralprincess.com.au, | |||||
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