Snow much more than Skiing

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HOLIDAYS: MT BAW BAW

HOLIDAYS: MT BAW BAW

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hen one husky howls, the others join in. I know this now as the ski lifts I’m using are located right next to the husky enclosure. It starts with one song-like holler, then a second chimes in, then a third. Eventually you’ve got a husky choir in the making – albeit one that only performs in rounds. My daughter has been to visit the huskies twice today, but I know she won’t tire of it – we’ll be seeing the energetic critters again in a couple of hours. We’ll probably also go back tomorrow, and the day after that… At any given time at Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort, there are between 25 and 35 huskies (managed by private operator Howling Huskys) for guests to get to know. You can meet and greet them, enjoy a husky sled ride or simply hang out nearby watching them go about their daily business. There’s an on-snow casual eatery located right next to them, so when I do take a break from skiing I enjoy my chai latte while watching the playful canines. The huskies are not the only animals that guests can get close to; in late 2017, the resort introduced two dingoes to the resort in partnership with Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre: an alpine dingo named Warragul and an alpine-desert dingo cross named Rowdy. There are plans in the works to initiate a breeding program soon too to help alpine dingo numbers grow (the species is near extinct). For our daughter, Ariana, this is a dream holiday. We’ve taken her overseas multiple times, but it’s here at Mt Baw Baw that she is truly in her element. When Marketing & Event Coordinator Emma takes us on a personal dingo meet-andgreet, she almost can’t contain her excitement, continually patting Warragul and shadowing him very closely while Emma lets him explore on a lead. With three days at the resort, we have to plan our time well. There is so much to see and do, and with Ariana’s yearning to see the huskies and dingoes daily, time is of the essence. On day two, we hire a toboggan and join other families rocketing down the toboggan-only hill. Our first go is a success – I plop Ariana in the front of the toboggan, jump in behind her, and then we hurtle down the hill, passing kids left, right and luckily not centre! When we reach the bottom, we’re both laughing. I’m reminiscing about the times my parents used to take me and my siblings tobogganing and how much joy it brought to all of us. Ariana is laughing because she is simply having fun. To be honest, she finds the 

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SNOW MUCH

THAN SKIING

Melbourne’s nearest downhill ski resort sets the scene for the perfect winter getaway. WORDS TATYANA LEONOV | PHOTOS EVAN DICKSON 70

The Holden Equinox is full of surprises.

Mt Baw Baw’s amazing sled-dog tour!

W I N T E R 201 9 familytravel.com.au

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