Mount Buller is just 3 hrs from Melbourne. We hired a 4x4 car and drove up there arriving mid afternoon. The “Mt Buller whoever people” herd you into a god forsaken carpark about a couple of km from Mt Buller, in the ice and snow. They then proceed to herd you into “taxis” (we call them Toyota personnel carriers). Then, with your luggage thrown onto roof racks and not secured in anyway, they drive you to Mt Buller for $18.50! No choice here? We were then dumped at the foot of two flights of steps up to the hotel, the lift then takes you up to the lobby; after, of course, you have dragged your own bags up the icy steps.

After a 5 day stay we left at about 815am. The steps out of the hotel were now treacherous (as one of the employees said on arrival, but did nothing about). Our “taxi” arrived and we discovered that there is more than one carpark! Nobody had told us this, issued us with an ID ticket or anything. As visitors how would we know? Luckily, we remembered it was on the right hand side of the road as you came up the mountain. So off we went again with our luggage on the roof rack and again not secured. We arrived at the carpark a few minutes later, there were two other groups there also with taxi drivers, All the cars in the carpark were not just covered in snow but had snow pushed up against the rears of them by whatever vehicle had “cleared” the carpark. All of the taxis left. We asked our driver what we were supposed to do to clear our car, he suggested we start on the roof. He rapidly left also. Now as the snow was actually more ice than snow, and had been pushed up over the rear doors, starting on the roof was a little ridiculous. Without aid or tools how could people dig out cars in this state? We had a mobile phone so called the hotel, they had no interest at all. Stranded, with no means to dig ourselves out, eventually after 2hrs and the 3 groups helping each other we got out. No notices anywhere as to whether we needed to fit chains; was the road blocked? Had there been snow since it had been cleared last; how would tourists know? It turned out the only snow was around the cars in the carpark. Again, why is all this left to chance. What sort of place leaves its money earners to “get on with it?”

I know of no other State in Australia where so called taxi drivers would deliberately abandon people in a frozen waste with no tools and no means to return to safety. As I understand it taxi drivers have a duty of care to their fare paying clients; certainly normal human decency would require someone to at least assist. Knowing this was the case before we even got to the site, these people are local and very willing to take your money. They, after all, would be doing this every day. We were total strangers and at the mercy of those around to advise us. I am ashamed to say I am an Australian. I know for a fact Western Australians would never leave ill equipped persons in this state.

When we hired the 4x4 in Melbourne we asked whether we needed anything for the journey to Mt Buller. We were told to collect snow chains at Mansfield; we were given no indication that we would be left/abandoned in a snowfield. When we collected the snow chains we asked for a demonstration on fitting them; again no indication that we could need a shovel to dig us out before the snow chains would be of any use!
As I understand it, people involved in such industries, where clients could be at risk, have a duty of care to inform or assist. We, as with the others present, had no knowledge of circumstances or requirements; that is the responsibility of those making money out of these ventures, well at least in other States.

It is also illegal to carry “a load” unsecured on the roof of a road vehicle, I think this shows both the attitude of and the standard of these ”taxi drivers”.

A wonderful holiday ruined by those responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the tourists they are only too eager to take money off.

Be warned; try NSW they, at least, know what is correct.

Mount Buller --- Don't bother.