Local’s guide to Dinner Plain

Dinner Plain has all the charm and beauty of an alpine village, without the high-octane adrenalin rush of Victoria’s major ski resorts. Just 10km from the all the downhill excitement of Mt Hotham, Dinner Plain is the perfect place to recover from a day on the slopes in front of a roaring fire – or to just escape from the world. The tiny township even has its own brewery – the highest in Australia.

So if you’re heading to the hills this winter, here’s a guide to the best bits of Dinner Plain from much-loved local Alison McEwan (right), who serves some of the village’s best home-style tucker at her friendly cafe/deli Mountain Kitchen.

These are Alison’s top five fun things to do when you visit Dinner Plain.

1. Be pampered

   1. 
   2. Myabi Hair Design, Shop 1, Big Muster Drive, Dinner Plain Village, 0402 769 237
   3. There’s nothing like the fabulous, relaxing Aveda Experience with Adele at Myabi Hair Design. There is nothing like settling in for an Aveda sensory journey complete with scalp massage, luxurious wash and a blow dry in preparation for an apre session.

2. Taste local brews

   1. 
   2. Blizzard Brewery Tap Room, 5 Cattle Pen Drive, Dinner Plain, 0417 335 548
   3. Winter is a perfect time to down a pint of Blizzard Stout at the Blizzard Brewery Tap Room, a hub for locals and visitors alike, with funky, great artwork and the title of Australia’s highest brewery. Grab a tasting paddle and sample the beer selection.

3. Relax by the fire

   1. Hotel High Plains‘ Cobungra Bar, Big Muster Drive, Dinner Plain, (03) 5159 6324
   2. Sitting in-front of the Open Fire in the Cobungra Bar is a real treat, especially when they have trivia on Sunday Nights during the ski season. This venue also features live music several nights a week. It’s an awesome place to relax after a long day. Oh, and go the polenta chips. Delicious!

4. Snowshoe at sunrise

   1. 
   2. Hoys Ski Shop, Castran Corner, Big Muster Drive, Dinner Plain, 03 5159 6339
   3. Make sure you try snowshoeing at sunrise around the Dinner Plain village and the cross-country trail network. Days start early in the mountains during the winter and there is nothing like watching the light change in the early morning. Shoes can be hired from Hoys. They also do guided tours. And snowshoes are easier to use than you might think. You can even run in them.

5. Enjoy wine and cheese

   1. For a quintessential mountain experience, get some wine and cheese and settle in front of a crackling open fire with great conversations. Even better, watch the snow fall outside while being toasty on the inside. Most of the venues at Dinner Plain have open fires. Rundells Alpine Lodge‘s fireplace is big enough to stand in. It seems mountain fireplaces are built to dance around.