Snow Report 4 July 2015 - Australia & New Zealand

A little snow is on the way in Australia as we move into midwinter July and the school holidays. In New Zealand. the smaller skifields are now all open to visitors taking advantage of the great conditions on the South Island.

AUSTRALIA

It has been a very slow start to the season in Australia, much as it was for New Zealand last year. The good news is that a little snow should arrive and persist over the next few days.

Mt Buller

Mt Buller has five lifts open, including Skyline T-bar which opened today. Intermediate skiing is on Little Buller Spur and Wombat Snow depth: 0cm natural, 38cm on snowmaking runs

Mt Hotham

Blue Cow Perisher 04.07.15 Source: Perisher website

Mt Hotham is operating the Big D beginners area, the Village Loop, Sun Run, and Summit Trainer. Snow depth: 8cm natural, 20cm on snowmaking runs

Falls Creek

Falls Creek has the Towers lift operating for intermediate runs, and also opened Drover's Dream chair today for the first time. Snow depth: 9cm natural, 48cm on snowmaking runs

Perisher

Perisher has 22 lifts operating for 27 groomed runs.

Thredbo

Nine lifts are running at Thredbo this weekend, and the Supertrail made its season debut off Snowgums Chairlift.

Cardrona 25.06.15

NEW ZEALAND

We flew into Queenstown on the 23rd June to take advantage of some of the best early season conditions in years.

It was bitterly, record-breakingly cold on the South Island. This meant that snow was still evident at low altitudes away from the lakes, in Arrowtown, low down in the Cardrona Valley, and on the Crown Range.

Only Coronet Peak and Cardrona were open for skiing and boarding when we arrived with The Remarkables being delayed and Treble Cone scheduled for later in the week.

We did the easy drive up to Coronet Peak on the 24th, and the drive over to Cardrona on the 25th June.

Coronet Peak from The Remarkables 27.06.15

Coronet had all lifts running and some good off-piste above mid-mountain. Cardrona was glorious in the sunshine with all lifts operating, even Valley View.

The roads were treacherous for several days as light rain froze on the roads causing black ice on all the highways and even on roads in Queenstown. There were many tales of flipped cars around the region.

Instead of heading to Treble Cone across the Crown Range we decided to play it safe at Coronet Peak again. It was warmer and the runs softened, then the wind picked up late in the day. There was good skiing on the groomed runs.

On Saturday we were fortunate enough to be at The Remarkables for opening day, along with sparking wine welcome. This was also the official opening of the wonderful new base building which deserves the accolades it is getting. A great spot to enjoy a hot chocolate and lunch.

The Remarkables from top Curvey Basin Express 27.06.15

This was also our first time trying out the Curvey Basin Express chairlift that was opened last year. It certainly adds a good selection of on and off-piste lifted terrain and makes The Remarkables skifield feel much bigger.

Even the Homeward Runs were open on opening day, with the bus taking us back from a challenging and tiring ski down in the heavy, tracked powder.

Wind arrived on Sunday and persisted into Monday when all resorts apart from Treble Cone were closed.

After a fall of snow, the sunshine returned on Tuesday when we returned to Cardrona. Despite the wind, there was some great runs and the Captains Basin was great in the sun.

Remarkables base building 01.07.15

We spent our last day at The Remarkables again in great conditions - the highlight being a last run on Homeward in softening conditions.

We hope to be back again later in the season.

Latest conditions:

Wanaka

Treble Cone - Snow depth 97cm (top of the Home Basin)
Cardrona - Snow depth 75/100cm

Queenstown

Coronet Peak - Snow depth 60/155cm
The Remarkables - Snow depth 85/120cm

North Canterbury and Nelson

The Remarkables and Homeward 02.07.15

Rainbow received 25cm fresh snow on 3rd July - Snow depth 25/55cm
Hanmer Springs delayed opening to 8th July 2015
Mt Lyford delayed opening to 8th July 2015

Canterbury

Mt Hutt - Snow depth 60/130cm
Porters - Snow depth 100/120cm

The Mackenzie

Ohau  - Snow depth 50/100cm
Roundhill - Snow depth 50cm
Mt Dobson - Snow depth 60cm