Escape to the mountains Queen's Birthday long weekend and revel in the gourmet delights and apres activities.

There's numerous new bars, and new faces, in the resort's established venues and restaurants for the forthcoming winter season. The award winning Summit Ridge Restaurant - "BEST ALPINE RESTAURANT 2004" - Skiwatch, Daily Telegraph, and reviewed and recommended in The Age Good Food Guide, has appointed London-based chef Daniel Arthur to oversee its 60-seat restaurant's fine dining requirements.

The owners of Summit Ridge, the only AAA Tourism 4 1/2.5 Star Lodge in Falls Creek, have invested $70,000 in refurbishing its kitchen (to attract top quality chefs) and have purchased Robotcoupe French-made utensils. It is the first hospitality operator in Falls Creek to install a Sharp Smart Terminal (made by Sharp) and Heineken's mini keg system for apres ski and dinner guests.

Another very popular, award-winning wining, dining establishment milch, is adding a downstairs bar (in GLO cinema) aptly named GLO Bar which will have has a 'rolls royce' sound system. A line-up of cocktails, single malts and cabaret-style seating will appeal to the more discerning clientele, seeking a quite, intimate atmosphere. It will be a welcome addition to the resort's numerous wining and dining establishments. As will the announcement of restauranteur Lyn Greene's management of Winterhaven, another well patronised bar & restaurant.

The Asian-style Rim Rock (the only Asian-style restaurant in Falls) eat in has added a casual dining and imbibing area under the existing restaurant. The Rim Rock Box, with numerous choices of sauces to accompany a variety noodles, will be offered for takeaway or sit-in customers 7 nights a week lunchtime @ weekends.seven days a week.

Cafe Max,located in the Village Bowl, will open this winter on June 20. It is one of the most popular apres drinks spot in the resort and this winter they'll offer a tapas-style menu including Greek Lamb cutlets. Live entertainment will also be offered throughout the winter season.

Beside the possibility of skiing, the weekend activities set off Saturday afternoon at Happy Harvey Hour from 3.30 at the Falls Creek Hotel, Becks Bubbles & Oysters from 4.30 at Mo's Feathertop, the Vodka Bar at Astra, the silver ski bar will be reopen from 1 July as a combination of St Kilda's Melbourne Wine Room & The Vineyard, but still retaining its popularity amongst freeriders with a 'grungy' theme, complimented by its Steak Tavern-style cuts of local beef.

Packages are a steal so there's no excuse not to get out of the city and enjoy a relaxing, or social weekend celebrating the opening of the 2005 winter season.

Contact Falls Creek Reservations Centre Tel 1800 45 35 25

Website: www.fallscreek.com.au