I’m gonna cut to the chase because Craigieburn is a no bullshit kind of place.

If you need high-speed detachable chair lifts, ski-up Starbucks, rental skis or 5-star accommodation, this place is NOT FOR YOU. You’d probably hate it here if you could even make it up the rope tows.
If you enjoy skiing off-piste, big mountain terrain, uncrowded slopes, and great people, you may never want to ski anywhere else again.

Watch out for those crowds... — Watch out for those crowds…

We arrived at Craigieburn three days after the last snowfall, unsure of what to expect. Coverage down at the bottom rope tow was a bit iffy, but it kept getting better and better as we went up. By the time we reached the top, we were greeted with some nice and soft chopped up powder just off the rope tows. The further out we ventured, the better the snow got.

OJ Skiing down Siberia Basin, right next to the Top Tow

One of the best things about the club fields is that there are so few skiers around. We were finding totally untouched lines within 10 minute hikes 3 and 4 days after the last storm. On our first day at Craigieburn, there were 48 total skiers and 35 on our second day. The original plan was to ski a day at Craigieburn and then check out Mt. Hutt the next day. That plan quickly changed once we started getting more familiar with the legendary club field. The other nice thing is the primitive nutcracker rope tow system. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it becomes quite fun once you get the hang of it. They’re commonly referred to as a wanker (gaper) filter because they aren’t the easiest thing to figure out (especially for snowboarders) and can be quite dangerous if you aren’t paying attention.

This place has is often referred to as a poor man's heli-skiing — This place has is often referred to as a poor man’s heli-skiing

While the skiing and terrain are great, what really stood out was the rest of the club field experience. The place is run by a small staff of super friendly people who wear many hats (the ski patrollers are also lifties and man the boiler room, the ski instructor bartends in the evening) and have no problem sitting and chatting with you during meals or showing you how to use a rope tow. There’s a really close-knit family atmosphere were dinners are served family style and everyone chips in to clean up after meals. The modest on mountain accommodation is a must if you are going to come here, as I highly recommend a multi day trip. Overnight stays include breakfast and a 3-course dinner.

The upstairs bar is a great place to catch up n the day's adventures — The upstairs bar is a great place to catch up on the day’s adventures

While we only spent 1 night and 2 days skiing here, I felt like I was leaving a week-long summer camp. The skiing, friendly staff and like-minded guests really make this a special place. My only regret is not spending more time here during our trip.

Here’s a more in depth look at their terrain on a good day: