The Australian snow season kicked off just weeks ago, but the Victorian alps are already experiencing one of the biggest years on record.
After a long hard semester at university, 100 international students from Vietnam have used the mid-year break to get their first ever glimpse of the snow.
Many dressed in jeans and sneakers, the attire isn't quite what's recommended but their snowball fight needed no instruction.
After taking selfies against the vast expanse of snow covered grounds, they staged an impromptu sing-along as the students live the moment that they'd only ever seen on TV.
Vice-president of the Monash Vietnamese International Student Club Loc Lam said it's a childhood dream come true.
"When I was in Vietnam I always imagine about the snow and how it would look like in real life, but now that I'm here it's even more wonderful than I imagine," he said.
Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Resort Management CEO John Huber said so far more than 40,000 people have visited Mount Buller since winter began.
"One of the great things we've got in Australia is the diversity and we've got the Alps right on your doorstep to Melbourne, easily accessible and you have this incredible snow product up here, come up and enjoy it," he said.
Source: SBS
The number of visitors to Mount Buller are up by over 50 per cent on last year's figures.
Mr Huber said the five main international markets for tourists all coming from Asia.
"We're getting the word out, we're very fortunate in that we welcome a lot of international visitors, a lot of new Australians and a lot of international students as well, and again it's that close connection that safe environment to be able to come up and experience the snow for the first time," he said.
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While some come in search of a high speed thrill on the ski and toboggan runs, others just want to experience an iconic Australian winter and have some fun in the snow.
And the fun doesn't end with winter.
Mr Huber said staff are already beginning to work on the range of activities that happen on the mountain in the summer.
"We have mountain biking, hiking sight seeing, we have food and wine events, family friendly events all that sort of thing," he said.
