1.5.16

Skifield Planned Opening Dates 2016 - Australia & New Zealand


AUSTRALIA

Australian ski resorts traditionally and officially open on the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend, which this year falls late on the 13th June 2016, a full week behind last year. That gives the snow an extra week to fall for opening weekend!

These days there are usually a few beginner runs open with manmade snow when there's little natural snow (which is quite typical) on the ground.

In 2015 though, we did really well on the first weekend and there was 20-30cm of snow across the ski resorts in Australia. Unfortunately we didn't get much snow in June at all after that! In 2014, however, there wasn't much terrain open until much later in June, but then almost all lifts were running by the first week of July. In 2013, we had to wait as long as until mid-July for most lifts to open. The most reliable time for good snow cover and lots of terrain open is mid-July until late-August.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand skifields target planned opening dates based on typical, expected snow conditions. But the seasons are unpredictable and they may have to delay when conditions aren't suitable, i.e. not enough snow. This wasn't the case last year, but opening dates are not guaranteed in the fickle southern winter. Especially when the opening days are being brought forward hopefully by a few days each year by the lift companies.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow 19th July 2016
Hanmer Springs 6th July 2016
Mt Lyford mid-July 2016

Canterbury

Mt Hutt 10th June 2016
Porters 22nd June 2016

The Mackenzie

Ohau 25th June 2016
Roundhill 2nd July 2016
Mt Dobson 8th July 2016

Wanaka

Treble Cone 23rd June 2016
Cardrona 11th June 2016

Queenstown

Coronet Peak 11th June 2016
The Remarkables 18th June 2016

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