Working a ski season in Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! If you’re up for working while exploring Down Under, why not get paid to hit the slopes in the stunning Australian Alpine region?
I had the incredible opportunity to work at Mount Hotham during the 2019 and 2020 winter seasons, and it was truly life-changing! Picture-perfect runs, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories – that’s what you can expect from a season at Mount Hotham!
In this guide, i’ve got all the essential information on what it is like to live and work at Mount Hotham Ski Resort. Trust me, working a ski season in Mount Hotham is an experience you don’t want to miss!
Table of Contents
Why Should You Work a Ski Season At Mount Hotham
Working in a resort Down Under is so much fun and stepping into a smaller resort like Mount Hotham is a unique experience every traveler or snow chaser should try!
Mount Hotham is a magical place. With gorgeous sunsets, picturesque snow gums, and beautifully-natured people, you can’t help but fall in love with the place!
It has a great nightlife with plenty of bars full of daily activities! You definitely won’t get bored!
Mount Hotham is also only 2 hours away from Falls Creek, another large Victorian ski resort! You can easily head over for a change of scenery and to ride some different tracks! If you have a Hotham staff ski pass, it is also valid at Falls Creek!
If you love skiing and hanging out with awesome people, then you aren’t going to want to leave!
What To Expect Working At Mount Hotham
I did a season in Canada at Whistler and whilst it was great, it didn’t touch the sides compared to working at Mount Hotham!
Mount Hotham is a smaller resort but that’s what I loved about it the most. There is a smaller community vibe and it feels like you all one big family.
Working at Mount Hotham feels more laid back than the bigger resorts but the busy periods (school holidays) can be hectic! You won’t want to neglect your sleep during these weeks so don’t have too many big nights out!
My manager in Tickets was amazing, she was super nice and supportive. I rarely heard bad things about management in the resort. I thought the company provided a really good work environment!
Make sure you give yourself time to stop and appreciate where you are. Time will go by so fast and before you know it, your season is over! Take in the stunning views and the incredible sunsets! Hotham is truly spectacular to look at!
Skiing
Whilst there are only 13 lifts at Mount Hotham and 320 hectares of skiing terrain, the skiing is sensational and you can find suitable runs for all levels! Hotham also have night skiing at Big D once a week!
Work Week
Your work week will probably be something like 30-35 hours, 5 days on and two days off. In some jobs, you can occasionally work 4-5 hour half days. This was great when I worked in Tickets, as I got lots of time out on the slopes!
Night Life
Expect to have a full-on social calendar! From trivia nights, staff parties, and park competitions, there’s always something going on at Mount Hotham!
I think the best pubs are The General (The ‘Genny’) and Hotel High Plains. Both have a great atmosphere, beer, and regular weekly events, like darts and trivia!
Starting The Process – What You Need
The Working Holiday Visa’s (417 & 462)
If you want to work a ski season at Mount Hotham then you must have a valid work visa.
The most common work visa for travellers is the Working Holiday Visa (417) or the Work and Holiday Visa (462)
- You must be between 18 and 30 years old (for some countries it is up to 35 years old) from an eligible country.
- The visa is for 12 months, however, you can only work for the same employer for 6 months, unless you have special circumstances.
- If you want to extend your stay for another 12 months, you must complete 88 days of specified work. This article has some great ideas of where you can work for the 88 days.
- Your work must be completed in approved regional areas.
Does Working A Ski Season At Mount Hotham Count Towards Your 88 Days?
Working a ski season at Mount Hotham will not technically count towards your 88 days.
The specified areas of work are:
- Tourism and hospitality in northern or very remote Australia
- Plant and animal cultivation
- Fishing and pearling
- Tree farming and felling
- Mining
- Construction in regional Australia (does not apply in cities)
- Bushfire recovery (only for fires after 31 July 2019)
- Flood recovery
- Healthcare and medical sectors affected by COVID-19 (anywhere in Australia)
Whilst Mount Hotham is in the right postcode, 3741, to classify as regional work, working in an Australian ski resort doesn’t fall under any of those categories.
Unless you find a construction job on the mountain and your employer will sign you off. I do know of a few lucky people who were able to do this, so it’s not impossible, but chances are you will end up working for the resort or a bar, so don’t get your hopes up!
Tax File Number (TFN)
Your TFN is a unique, 9-digit number issued by the Australian government’s tax office (ATO). You need it to legally work in Australia. It’s used to track your income and taxes.
Employers will ask for it before you start the job so make sure you set one up beforehand.
Your TFN is also linked to your superannuation (Aussie retirement saving system).
Apply for a TFN through the ATO website.
Superannuation
Superannuation, or ‘super,’ is a retirement saving system in Australia, kind of like a retirement savings account.
Your employer must contribute a portion of your earnings to your superannuation fund. You can choose your superannuation fund or you can decide to go with the one your employer nominates for you.
I recommend doing some research and finding a fund that suits you, has low fees and good interest rates. I know as a young traveller it might not seem important, but at the end of the day it’s your money that you worked hard for, don’t let a bad super fund screw you over!
You can compare super funds here to find the right one!
You can withdraw this money when you leave Australia.
Ski and Snowboard Instructor Qualifications
If you want to work as a ski or snowboard instructor then you must have internationally recognised instructor qualifications.
Unlike European resorts, Australian ski resorts will hire instructors with their level-1 qualifications.
I recommend going through APSI to get qualified. They have a great international reputation for producing quality snowsports instructors!
Most level-1 instructors at Hotham taught the kids ski lessons. If you don’t want to work with kids, then aim for your level 2. Mid-way through the season, ASPI ran an instructor training day so instructors could get higher levels, so keep your eye out for it!
When Does The Season Start And How Long Does It Go For?
The season starts in June and will run to October.
Snowfall in Australia is notoriously unpredictable and some seasons are a lot better than others. There is no solid start or end date and some seasons can be shorter or longer than others.
When Does Hiring Begin?
Hiring begins as early as February! Don’t miss out, keep your eyes peeled for job opportunities!
Finding A Job At Mount Hotham
There are thousands of jobs up for grabs at Mount Hotham and for most positions employers are happy to hire with little to no experience! I had no customer service experience before I was hired into Tickets!
My biggest piece of advice is to apply early! Don’t leave it to the last minute if you want to work at Mount Hotham! Positions fill up quickly!
Hotham Alpine Resort
The easiest way to get a job at Mount Hotham is to apply directly to the resort through their hiring website.
You’ll be asked to submit a resume, cover letter and references so make sure you have everything together before hiring begins!
You might be considered for several positions and therefore could be group interviewed by multiple hiring managers. Managers are looking for bubbly, friendly, and genuine people. They want to make sure you will be a good fit for their team!
Facebook Groups
Lots of independent companies (not owned by the resort) advertise jobs through Facebook groups. This is a great place to find bar or cafe work.
Facebook groups are also great when looking for mid-season work if you are interested in getting a second job!
The Mt Hotham Community Page is a great place for finding potential employers!
Online
Indeed and Jora are online hiring websites that are great for finding work from independent companies. Just like Facebook groups, you will find a lot of bars, cafes or restaurants needing workers.
“My biggest piece of advice is to apply early! Don’t leave it to the last minute! Positions fill up quickly!”
Do You Get A Free Season Pass?
If you work for the resort then yes, it will be included in your contract! You can use this pass as much as you like but don’t try to use it if you ring in sick! Your pass will get flagged when you go through any lift gates and your manager won’t be happy!
If you’re not hired by the resort then you’ll have to organise getting your own Epic Pass through the epic Australia website. Hopefully, your employer might pay for it but chances are it will come out of your pocket.
Accommodation
If there is something Mount Hotham could do better, that’s staff housing. It honestly isn’t great. Unless your job comes with accommodation, then you’ll likely be scraping the barrel searching for somewhere to stay.
The housing that is available for staff isn’t exactly 5-star accommodation and the rent is ridiculous for what you get. You’ll likely be crammed into a room with 2 or 3 other people and pay between $200-$250 a week for rent.
Hotham Staff Accommodation
If you are hired by the resort you’ll be put into one of their staff accommodation locations.
There are 4 types of staff housing at Hotham:
- Hotel High Plains: Hotel High Plains is located 20 minutes outside of Hotham. Expect one small room with 3 beds, a kitchenette, with a sink and mini fridge, a bathroom and toilet. A small kitchen is a shared space between the whole building. Your rooms are located in a pub so spending money is very easy! Couples accommodation is available. You will have to get transport, either by bus or car, into Hotham. I stayed in Hotel High Plains and whilst it can suck being a bit further out, it is so much fun!
- House in Dinner Plain: Best accommodation if you’re not into the party scene or you’re coming with a partner. You will share an entire house between 5-6 people. The houses are fully furnished and are pretty nice! The houses are usually reserved for returning staff. You will need transport into Hotham, either by car or bus.
- Spiral Stairs: The party housing of Hotham! Expect 2-3 bunks to a room, with a bathroom, toilet, and mini fridge. This is catered accommodation, breakfast and dinner are cooked for you (apparently the food wasn’t bad and they had lots of options every night!). It is a 10-minute walk into Hotham Central.
- Blue Ribbon: Similar to Spiral Stairs. Large rooms with 2-3 bunks, bathroom, toilet and mini fridge. Breakfast and dinner are supplied. About a 10-minute walk into Hotham Central.
- Arlberg Hotel: One of the best accommodations you can land in Hotham. You’ll share a small apartment with 3-4 people. It includes a kitchen, toilet and bathroom. You’ll also be able to use the hotel’s gym and pool! It is a 5-minute walk into Hotham Central.
Finding Your Own Accommodation
I don’t recommend finding your own accommodation, as it is very stressful and you’ll probably end up paying way more than you need to! Apply for jobs that include housing, it’s a lot less stressful!
Most jobs will have staff housing, even businesses not owned by the resort. Apply early and get yourself a spot!
If you need to find housing then your best bet is through Facebook groups. Sometimes you’ll find people looking to put a group together to rent out a house.
It’s always best to put out a post introducing yourself and let everyone know you’re looking for a place to stay! You might just get lucky!
“Apply for jobs that include housing, it’s a lot less stressful!”
Transport
Car
Having your car in Hotham is great for getting off the mountain to do some food shopping and have a change of scenery! Bright is the closest town and it’s a great spot to grab some lunch! If you want authentic Aussie pies make sure you check out Gum Tree Pies!
You can do your food shopping at Coles. Make sure you offer to help people out by picking up Click-and-Collects, it’s much cheaper to shop here than on the mountain.
The downside of having your car at Mount Hotham is that it is expensive to keep up there.
You will need to get a season resort permit to have your car on the mountain. This will cost between $450-$600.
You will also need to pay for parking. This will either be through your accommodation or the resort. It will cost around $150-$250 for the whole season.
Bus
The resort offers free regular shuttle buses around Hotham. The only bus you might need to pay for is the Dinner Plain bus. If you are hired by the resort, this service is free but if you are not, you will have to pay for a season bus pass.
The buses are great but they don’t run very late at night. This can suck if you live in Dinner Plain and want to go to events at Hotham.
Is It Expensive To Live At Mount Hotham
Unfortunately, it is very expensive to live at Mount Hotham. Defiantly take some savings with you because you won’t make much money.
The wage does reflect the high cost of living, but things like groceries, rent, eating, and drinking out are so expensive! You’ll find that you easily chew through your weekly pay cheque!
The supermarkets are very small and you’ll certainly feel the mountain tax! If you know someone with a car try and go shopping with them for food in Bright or get them to pick up a Click-and-Collect.
I recommend buying ski gear before coming up to Mount Hotham, as you’ll pay more for convenience and location.
If you’re dreaming of one day working a snow season, then why not try something different and work at Mount Hotham!
