In a world where winter often revolves around chairlifts and crowded slopes, there’s another way to experience Australia’s High Country, one that moves at a slower pace and reveals a side of the mountains many visitors never see.
For the family behind one of Victoria’s longest-running guided hiking and snowshoeing operations, the greatest reward isn’t simply spending time outdoors. It’s sharing the High Country together.
“We’re a great team,” Roman and Kevin explain. “We love working together showing people our beautiful High Country. We each have a job to do and we do it well.”
That close-knit approach creates a different kind of guest experience. Every hike is personally led, every client is known by name, and every day on the trail is shared alongside the people who have chosen to explore the mountains with them.
Winter, however, remains the season that captures their hearts.
“Everything looks different when covered in snow,” they say. “It feels quieter, mysterious and magical.”
The simple pleasures often leave the deepest impression, the crunch of snow beneath your boots, the intricate artwork created by frost, and the stillness that settles across the landscape after fresh snowfall.
“It’s something that has to be experienced first-hand to be appreciated and to truly understand how magical it is.”
Years of guiding have produced countless memorable moments. Winter sunrises and sunsets paint the mountains in brilliant colour. Snow-covered Craig’s Hut looks as though it belongs in a storybook. Waking in a tent after a night of heavy snowfall is always unforgettable.
Yet one scene remains etched in memory above all others.
Sheltering inside a cosy hut during a snowstorm, they watched huge flakes drift from the sky. Out of the white landscape emerged a black horse carrying a rider. The pair moved silently through deep snow before disappearing once again into the storm.
“It was like a fairytale,” they recall.
For many first-time winter hikers, the biggest surprise isn’t the scenery, it’s how comfortable they feel.
“Most people expect to be cold and uncomfortable,” they explain. “But with the right clothing and equipment, they find they’re cosy and comfortable throughout the night.”
Quality gear plays a huge role. The company provides specialist camping and hiking equipment, removing much of the uncertainty that prevents people from trying a winter adventure. Guests receive detailed packing lists and guidance before departure, while guides teach essential winter camping skills and mountain safety along the way.
“The key to comfort is having top-quality gear,” they say.
“If people have a great experience, they’ll want to do it again.”
For visitors with just one day to experience the High Country in winter, their recommendation is immediate: Mt Stirling.
Few locations showcase the diversity of the Australian Alps quite so beautifully. Towering Alpine Ash forests give way to enchanting Snow Gum woodlands, while panoramic views stretch across the surrounding ranges from the summit. Historic mountain huts provide cosy stopping points, and every turn seems to reveal another postcard-worthy scene.
“Mt Stirling has so much to offer,” they say.
And perhaps that’s the real appeal of winter in the High Country. Beyond the snow itself lies something harder to describe,a sense of wonder, stillness and connection that can only be discovered by stepping away from the crowds and venturing into the white wilderness on foot.
If you’d like to know more about , check out High Country Hiking Tours
Words: Emma Wilson (SnowAction) and Romana (High Country Hiking Tours)
Photos: High Country Hiking Tours
