| Cost | See Camps App |
|---|---|
| Location | Dinner Plain, near Hotham, Victoria |
| Pet Friendly | Check the Camps App for current details |
| Campfires | Open fire available in chalet |
| Facilities | Sleeps 8, full kitchen with espresso machine, 2 bathrooms, laundry, 2 TVs, parking for van/RV in driveway |
| Vehicle Access | Van or RV can park in driveway |
| In Camps App | Yes – find nearby campgrounds |
We’ve just heard it is snowing again in Dinner Plain, near Hotham, Victoria. A friend, who also is a Dinner Plain fan says, “It snows every month in Dinner Plain”.
When we’re not camping, we drive up the Great Alpine Road to our home-away-from-home.
You can also escape the summer heat and book Cascade Chalet now – it’s available and sleeps 8. You can park your van or RV in the driveway, and enjoy hikes, wildlife, frisbee golf, pub nights, walks to cattlemen’s huts and a waterfall!
Use Cascade as a base to explore SOOO many gorgeous mountain campgrounds.
Here’s more details about our cosy mountain home:
Firstly, it backs onto the bush – filled with beautiful snowgums and wildflowers in season.
Window seats look out to it, and it is perfect place to curl up with a book or solve a jigsaw. We’ve provided some jigsaw puzzles, games and books just for this!
I love the open fire. During last April’s visit, it was on every night, those cool evenings are such a contrast to Queensland’s humidity.
The whole house has been refurbished. New window seats, couches, occasional chairs, artwork, kitchen appliances, TV and beds. The beds can be king/queen – or split as singles in three rooms – so they suit all sorts of travellers.
The pole home has mudroom (or entry) living/kitchen/dining and a bathroom on the lower level. The laundry and drying area are here as well. We’ve made sure all the cooking essentials are stocked, as well as an Espresso coffee machine.
The first floor has two bedrooms with built-ins. One with another cute window seat that looks over the front yard – and the second bathroom with a separate toilet.
The top floor has a big loft where we have added the second TV, bean bags and beds…we know it will be popular with families!
The separate loft bedroom also looks over the front of the house. All up you can sleep eight, not counting the large window box downstairs. It’s perfect for singles, four couples, groups or families.
Each bedroom has drawers, bedside tables and bedside lighting. Local artwork has been chosen carefully, with local creatures and flora pictured on the walls – that you are likely to see outside!
The first place anyone sits is our ‘Wombat’ – a huge bean bag with memory foam that moulds to your shape. I thought the window boxes would come first, but no – they are second best – despite the views! The views are just as beautiful in the off season, compared to when snow loads up the snowgums.
The house is a few metres from the Collectors Cirque (a trail that surrounds the whole village and takes you to the toboggan run and pommel/ski slope), the trail to Carmichael Falls and the MTB (mountain biking) tracks.
I haven’t even mentioned the hikes! No wonder this is a happy place for me. Birdwatchers will love it – I spotted emus on a trail, and flame robins outside our door!
There are alpine sedge walks, info boards around the village and lots of walks to pretty places, lookouts, even an old cattlemen’s hut.
Dinner Plain itself is worth a visit. It is the ONLY freehold village you will find above the snowline in Australia. It is a real community, with some residing year round, and even has a post office and alpine school! We love that it has two pubs, a club – all providing yummy meals, a small supermarket, homewares store, ski wear shops AND cafes with great hot chocolate (and coffee). With strict building codes and colours, the architecture is one of a kind up here – we like checking out the interesting names and builds. It really is the prettiest alpine village!
Look out for the husky rides in winter, a playground, a skatepark off season, great events we are looking forward to and we laughed a bucket as three generations played frisbee golf. So much fun, our boys brought out the frisbees every day we were there in Autumn.
The chalet is close to 35 million dollar Cobungra Station – established in 1851 by the Gray family. Read more about the property – and you can even check it out at their annual Easter event – Dinner Plain Polo.
You can also walk to Hotham. There are more hikes over there – and pubs!
Plus scenic drives – here are some of our recent Alpine adventures.
So book away – and please tell your friends! This is a special little corner of Australia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can stay at Cascade Chalet?
Cascade Chalet sleeps 8 people comfortably. It has multiple bedrooms with beds that can be configured as king/queen or split as singles in three rooms, plus a large loft space with additional beds.
Can I park my caravan or RV at the chalet?
Yes, you can park your van or RV in the driveway at Cascade Chalet, making it a perfect base to explore the many mountain campgrounds in the area.
What facilities does Cascade Chalet have?
The chalet includes a fully equipped kitchen with espresso coffee machine, 2 bathrooms, laundry and drying area, open fire, 2 TVs, games, books, jigsaw puzzles, and all cooking essentials. It has been recently refurbished with new furniture throughout.
What activities are available near Dinner Plain?
There are numerous hiking trails including walks to Carmichael Falls and cattlemen’s huts, mountain biking tracks, frisbee golf, wildlife watching, and in winter there are husky rides. The village has two pubs, a club, cafes, and a toboggan run. You can even walk to Hotham from Dinner Plain.
Does it snow year-round in Dinner Plain?
According to locals, it can snow every month in Dinner Plain. The area is above the snowline and the chalet is perfect for both winter snow activities and escaping summer heat with cool mountain evenings.
What makes Dinner Plain special?
Dinner Plain is the only freehold village above the snowline in Australia. It’s a real community with year-round residents, a post office, alpine school, strict architectural codes creating unique buildings, and is surrounded by beautiful snowgums and wildflowers. It backs onto bushland perfect for wildlife watching.
What wildlife might I see around Cascade Chalet?
The chalet backs onto bush filled with snowgums and wildflowers. Birdwatchers will enjoy spotting emus on trails and flame robins around the property. Local artwork in the chalet features creatures and flora you’re likely to see outside.
Is Cascade Chalet suitable for families?
Yes, the chalet is perfect for families, groups, singles or couples. The top floor loft with TV and bean bags is especially popular with families, and there are nearby activities like frisbee golf, a playground, and toboggan runs that all generations can enjoy.
