Travel news
plus ski pets
Having four dogs can make holidaying tricky. Kennel costs skyrocket and I miss them like crazy. So, when I discovered Victoria’s Dinner Plain Alpine Village welcomes dogs of all breeds, I packed my fur kids in the car and headed straight there.
Friday
A seven-hour (give or take) drive from the NSW Highlands later and it’s straight to the tennis court w which, in winter, is an off-leash dog area f for all guests. After checking in to our three-bedroom rental, I build a fire and sip on pinot noir. By sunset, snow flutters down and the village looks like Narnia.
Our dog-sitter Elizabeth, booked though Alpine Baby Sitting, arrives and we stroll through fresh snow to the Ramada Resort’s Element restaurant, where I have the most delicious comfort food, perfectly matched with more wine.
Saturday
Despite last night’s indulging, we explore the village and its surrounding snowy trails by 10am. The dogs again enjoy some time in the tennis court before we humans devour lunch at the Dinner Plain Hotel. It’s where I have the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in my life!
Another walk around the village trails leaves us thirsty, so we decide on a late-afternoon beer tasting at the dog-friendly Blizzard Brewery – the highest in Australia, at 1550 metres. With eight local ales each brewed using snow melt, the tastes are crisp and pure. The food trucks outside work well as dinner.
Sunday
My friends hit Mount Hotham for an action-packed day of snowboarding (a 10-minute drive up the road), while I enjoy a massage and the indoor-outdoor door-outdoor hot tubs at the Japanese-inspired nese-inspired Onsen Retreat & Spa, a, available to resort visitors for a fee.
I then spend the afternoon snuggling with the dogs on the day bed, before making use of the rental home’s me’s fully-equipped kitchen.
Monday
All too soon, it’s time e to leave, but not before a hearty arty breakfast at Mountain Kitchen n Cafe, and a challenging but fun n snowshoe around the village trails. rails.
With the dogs exhausted hausted from prancing in the powder, wder, we pile into the car and make ke the drive home, vowing to return urn as soon as possible!