Queenstown residents awoke to a winter wonderland this morning, with the first major snowfall of the season.
A dusting of white snow blanketed the mountain ranges, marking the beginning of the winter season. The snowfall is welcome news, with ski fields set to open next month.
Operators are busy getting ready for the arrival of snow fans, with Cardrona Alpine Resort is set to open on 12 June, Coronet Peak on 19 June and The Remarkables and Treble Cone on 26 June.
“We’ve been teased by a few dustings of snow over the past month and this winter blast has dumped 10cm of snow at Coronet Peak and 18cm at The Remarkables overnight with more to come. Combined with our snowmaking network cranking in these cold conditions, we’re getting set for a great start to the season,” said Paul Anderson, NZSki CEO.
Destination Queenstown interim chief executive Ann Lockhart says there are plenty of experiences awaiting Kiwis and Aussies on their winter holidays.
“Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere’s leading four-season resort, the skiing is world-class and our region offers an unrivalled range of winter experiences on and off the ski fields. Our businesses and ski areas are looking forward to welcoming Kiwis and Australians for this magical season, and seeing them hitting the slopes and immersing themselves in everything our spectacular region has to offer.”