There's a reason mount Hotham keeps pulling us back season after season. Sitting high in Victoria's alpine region, Hotham offers some of the most varied terrain in the country — sweeping ridgeline walks, steep descents and quiet valley trails that reward anyone willing to put in the kilometres. If you're planning your first (or fiftieth) trip up the mountain, we've put together this guide to help you get the most out of it, along with the gear we trust to get us there and back comfortably.

Why Mount Hotham is worth the trip

Mt Hotham sits at over 1,800 metres above sea level, which means conditions can shift quickly, even in the warmer months. The alpine air is thinner, the wind picks up fast, and the weather can turn without much warning. That's part of what makes it such a rewarding place to hike — but it also means preparation matters. 

Best trails across the Mount Hotham alpine area

The trail network around Hotham ranges from short lookout walks to longer multi-day routes for the more experienced. If you're after inspiration for other alpine and hiking-adjacent trips closer to home, we've also covered the top 10 hiking trails around Mount Druitt and put together a Tamborine Mountain hiking guide, both worth a read if you're building out your hiking calendar for the year. For Hotham itself, we recommend browsing our hiking collection to make sure your footwear and daypack are up to the terrain.

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3 beginner-friendly hikes on mount Hotham

Not every trip up Hotham needs to be a big multi-day mission. There are a handful of walks around the village that are perfect if you're new to the mountain or want something a little easier before tackling the longer alpine routes.

Mount Hotham Summit Walk

Around 2.5km return and roughly 1.5 hours, this is the classic first walk on mount Hotham. It starts near the Summit Trainer ski lift in the village and climbs gently through snow gums to the 1,861m summit, with views out to Mt Buffalo, Mt Feathertop and Mt Buller on a clear day.

Mt Higginbotham Lookout Loop

A short, easy loop close to the village that's ideal for getting your bearings on your first afternoon at Hotham. It's flat underfoot for the most part and makes a great warm-up walk before attempting anything longer, with plenty of open views across the high country plains.

Wonderland Trail and Christmas Hill Trail

An easy to moderate 8km circuit taking around 3 hours, with two access points near Hotham Village on the Great Alpine Road. This one links a few shorter trails together, passing Christmas Hill Lookout and Big Spur Picnic Point, and gives you a good taste of the alpine flora without straying too far from the village.

Whichever one you choose, our hiking collection has everything you need to get out there comfortably, even for a short walk — the mountain weather doesn't care how long your hike is.

Camping at mount Hotham: What Our Gear can handle

Overnight trips up on Hotham call for a proper sleep system. Alpine nights get cold fast, so we always recommend reading our comparison on the Exped vs Thermarest sleeping mats before you buy, and our breakdown of a reliable winter camping sleep system.

If snowfall is on the cards, our guide to the PAST Outdoors tipi tent for snow camping is a great place to start. Browse our full range of tents and camping gear to build out your kit.

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Before you head off, it's worth working through our ultimate camping gear checklist so nothing gets left behind. With patchy phone reception across much of the high country, it's worth carrying a reliable way to call for help if you need it — browse our safety devices range before you head up the mountain.

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Packing for multi-day Mt Hotham hikes

For anyone tackling a longer route, load distribution matters more than most people realise. Our multi-day backpacks are built to keep weight close to your body over long, uneven trails, and we'd suggest pairing this with layered pieces from our men's clothing collection to handle the temperature swings between valley and summit.

Keeping energy up is just as important — our 24-hour meal packs are a favourite for exactly this kind of trip, and you can grab our free hiking and camping checklist before you head off.

Why shop with PAST Outdoors for your mount Hotham trip

We've built PAST Outdoors around gear we genuinely use ourselves, tested across some of Australia's toughest alpine and hiking conditions — including plenty of trips up mount Hotham.

Thousands of hikers and campers have trusted our range to keep them warm, dry and comfortable when it matters most, and our customers consistently tell us it's the small details — the right mat, the right layers, the right shelter — that make or break a trip. Whatever stage of planning you're at, we're here to help you get it right the first time. Explore our full range and get kitted out for your next mount Hotham adventure today.