Winter has officially arrived in New Zealand’s South Island, with several major commercial ski fields opening for the 2025 season. Despite limited natural snowfall, ski resorts including The Remarkables and Coronet Peak near Queenstown, as well as Cardrona Alpine Resort and Mt Hutt in Canterbury, have welcomed eager skiers and snowboarders back to the slopes.
Steve Hall, General Manager of The Remarkables, acknowledged the snow shortage but remained optimistic. “We haven’t had a lot of natural snow,” Hall told 1News, “but our snowmaking has been excellent, and our coverage looks great for this time of year.”
Only a few ski areas were able to open on Saturday, but the sunny weather and clear skies drew crowds nonetheless. Visitors, both local and international, made the most of the fresh but manufactured conditions.
“This is ridiculous!” exclaimed Tyler, a tourist from New Jersey, describing the snow as “awesome.” His friend Andy, visiting from Seattle, added, “It’s so worth it. The snow is dry, the snow guns are working, and everyone’s just stoked to be here.”
At Cardrona Alpine Resort, some enthusiasts queued from as early as 1 a.m. to claim the first chairlift ride of the season. Chief Mountains Officer Laura Hedley praised the snowmaking team’s effort: “We’ve had a little natural snow, but it’s really the work of our snowmakers that got us open today. There are so many people out there having a great time.”
The resort has opened limited terrain so far, but excitement is building for the debut of about 150 hectares of new skiable terrain in Soho Basin, expected later this month.
Snowfall across the region has been inconsistent. While some areas are still waiting for more coverage, Mt Hutt had an opposite problem on Friday—so much snow fell that the scheduled opening had to be delayed until Saturday for safety reasons.
At The Remarkables, this year’s opening also marked a major milestone: the resort is celebrating 40 years in operation. Over the past decade, more than NZD $90 million has been invested into infrastructure upgrades, including high-speed six-seater chairlifts and a modern base building.
“The changes are huge,” said Hall. “The base building, the three big high-speed lifts—it’s world-class stuff, really.”
Looking ahead, operators are hopeful that more snow will arrive soon. “We’re always doing snow dances,” Hall joked. “If you’re in this business, you’re an optimist by default.”
Despite the variable conditions, the South Island ski season is off to an energetic start, with visitors and locals alike embracing the slopes and the spirit of the season.