EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

MANSFIELD is located at the junction of the Maroondah and Midland highways, just a few kilometres north of Lake Eildon, 140km east of Seymour and 63km south of Benalla. As the main approach to Mount Buller, it's a lively place with good pubs, restaurants and a cinema. The annual highlight is the Mountain Country Festival in early November, which begins the weekend prior to the Melbourne Cup in Nov; activities include a picnic race known as the "Melbourne Cup of the bush". At the end of April hundreds of hot-air-balloon pilots flock here for the three-day Mansfield Balloon Festival .

V/Line has a year-round bus service from Melbourne to Mansfield (1-2 daily; 3hr). The helpful Mansfield Visitor Information Centre on the Maroondah Highway (daily 9am-5pm; tel 03/5775 1464 or free call 1800 060 686 for accommodation bookings, www.mansfield-mtbuller.com.au ), has complete information on all sights and activities , including skiing and walks in the surrounding country. Out of the snow season you have a choice of horse riding, hiking, climbing, abseiling, hang-gliding, rafting, canoeing or 4WD tours. Among the many local outfits are Stirling Experience (tel 03/5775 3541, www.stirling.com.au ), for 4WD tours around Mount Buller and Mount Stirling; Stoney's Bluff and Beyond Trail Rides (tel 03/5775 2212, www.stoneys.com.au ), for great trail rides; and Mountain Adventure Safaris (tel 03/5777 3759 or free call 1800 642 234), for rafting, canoeing, abseiling and other activities.

The Alzburg Inn Resort , 39 Malcolm St (tel 03/5775 2367 or free call 1800 033 023, www.alzburg.com.au ; rooms $35-50, self-contained units $50-70), is a popular hotel for skiers, while the neat and friendly Mansfield Traveller's Lodge , at 112 High St (tel 03/5775 1800, fax 5775 1589; motel rooms $50-70, dorms under $20), has a backpacker wing and organizes all sorts of activities, particularly hang-gliding. The managers also have good work contacts for fruit-picking in summer and for the Mount Buller ski resort in winter. The area around Mansfield is renowned for luxurious B&Bs , the most famous of which is the very expensive Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat , south of town near Howqua (tel 03/5777 3503, fax 5777 3896; two nights $770, three nights $1155 all inclusive), which is run by two chefs and is renowned for its outstanding food; aspiring chefs might be tempted to attend one of their weekend cooking courses ($880 per person). On a more modest scale, Willawong Bed & Breakfast Gallery at 12 Mt Buller Rd, Merrijig (tel 03/5777 5750, www.willawongbnb.com.au ; $90-115), offers European-style accommodation in a gorgeous, wooden house set in a lovely garden at the foot of the Alps, or there are four cottages with private spas at Alpine Country Cottages , 5 The Parade, Mansfield (tel 03/5775 1694, fax 5775 1586, www.alpinecc.com.au ; $115 and upwards).

In winter, Mansfield-Buller Bus Lines run frequent bus services for skiing from Mansfield to Mount Buller in conjunction with the V/Line bus service from Melbourne to Mansfield (tel 03/5775 2606). In summer there are two services a day with Mansfield-Buller Bus Lines from Mansfield to Mount Buller via Merrijig (booking essential on 0417 307 504)