Been here so many times its hard to be objective but here goes....

Best pub on the hill is the General Store for bands, disco, sport on TV and cold beer at any time of the day.... Best Night Spot for dancing and the pretty people set is Swindlers bar.... Best Budget Eat is the General whilst good food at mid range prices you should hit the Last Run bar. Pricy but excellent is Zirkys or the Japanese Place at Dinner Plain... Dinner Plain Pub is good value too....

Skiing. Advanced stick to Heavenly Valley and the Extreme Area. Intermediates should make the trip out to Orchard but it is a pain to get to. Beginners.... Stay ABOVE THE ROAD.... everything below is to hard and the views arent as nice. Beginners should go late August or early September when the sun is out and most of the place is super groomed which makes it really enjoyable.... Die hards go mid July - mid August for freshies....

Accommodation.... Reasonable $$$ Apartments go for Arlberg as they have everything onsite from hire, restaurant and a pool / spa / sauna area. Looking for luxury go for the houses on the side of the Basin Run if you have a group of punters or Zirkys if going intimate with a close one.... Budget on the hill.... book a bed at a ski lodge from $45 - $70 per night which often includes breakie.

Best Value if you are happy to drive to Hotham (10km) each day is Dinner Plain lodge called CURRAWONG. Book the whole joint for 5 nights (7 bedrooms all with ensuites)for about the same price as a weekend at Hotham Basin houses. They even throw in breakfast, all linen and spa towels. Two huge lounges and a 10 person spa make it ace as well as a huge kitchen to feed a group if you need to. It works out to about $30 per night if you fill every bed int he joint (28) but i suggest you have a bit of space and go with 15 or so adults (and throw in a few kids for free) it works out to about $55 per night per adult if doing the week and breakie is included... Tough to beat.

Hope this helps

Mt Hotham is known as the skiers mountain in Australia's Victoria region. The village sits on the top of the mountain overlooking the gully runs below and the first run of a day is to ski down to the chairlift.
The resort has it's own airport meaning you can fly direct from Sydney or Melbourne and there's two towns. The town of Dinner Plain a short drive from Hotham Village. Dinner Plain has cross country skiiing and self contained style accommodation for families as well as a Japanese onsen day spa.
Hotham village is ski in ski out with a range of restaurants and bars but most people come here to ski the snow gums and steep gullies by day. Just as well as the apres scene can be quite fractured.
There's 320 hectares of skiable terrain divided between beginners (20%), intermediate (40%) and advanced (40%). On a good day, weather permitting, there is also cat skiing in the back country.
Home to Australia's steepest pitch, Mary's Slide, Hotham is family friendly with an excellent beginners and ski school area quite separate to the rest of the skiers mountain.

User Photos (click to enlarge)