Snow Report 30 June 2016 - Australia & New Zealand

The ski season is well and truly up and running now in Australia, while in New Zealand it has stalled somewhat with wet and warm weather returning.

AUSTRALIA

Mt Baw Baw 29.06.16 - Baw Baw Facebook

Snow fell into the weekend across the mountains, then eased off for some great skiing at the beginning of the school holidays.

This was followed by some great snowmaking weather to consolidate the cover on all the main runs. Lifts gradually began to start turning over the past week, giving access to more and more terrain each day.

Some more snow arrives today and continues into the night. Its only a question of how much will fall, perhaps up to 20cm or so. That would be very nice and would open more advanced terrain.

The weekend looks mainly cloudy with perhaps a sprinkling of snow at times. Hopefully the strong winds will ease.

Mt Baw Baw

Five of seven lifts opened at Baw Baw and 11 of 17 runs were available earlier in the week, but the wind limited things a bit today. Snow depth: 36-38cm

Mt Buller

Mt Buller opened a swathe of lifts on the weekend, with Skyline, Howqua, Koflers and Summit coming online after the snows at the end of last week. Wombat opened on Monday giving access to Little Buller Spur. Bonza and the upper part of Tirol opened Wednesday. Lydia's should open tomorrow. Snow depth: 42-69cm

Mt Hotham

The Summit, Big D, Roadrunner, Playground and Village all opened on the weekend. Heavenly Valley opened on Monday and hopefully the new snowmaking there is working hard to consolidate the runs. Snow depth: 40cm

Thredbo 28.06.16 - Thredbo Facebook

Falls Creek

Towers, Eagle and Drover's Dream opened at Falls on the weekend. Scott's and Ruined Castle opened midweek, meaning all areas are open on the Sun Valley side of Falls. Snow depth: 45-61cm

Perisher

Perisher had 26 lifts open by Monday, including the Ridge Chair and Summit Chair at Blue Cow, the Mount Perisher area, as well as Front Valley and the Quad to midstation. And by midweek the Pretty Valley and Happy Valley areas opened. Then Guthega and Smiggin Holes opened for extensive skiing and riding across all main areas.

Thredbo

The Cruiser Area opened late last week. 9 lifts were open by Monday, with Anton's and Snowgums Double added by Wednesday. Basin is now also open.


NEW ZEALAND

Snow returned to Canterbury on Saturday night with Hutt getting just a sprinkling, then unfortunately it rained. A dusting also fell up high in Queenstown before fine weather and sunshine dominated the week.

There doesn't appear to be much snow in the forecast but hopefully that changes soon so some of the skifields can get up and running. At least the temperatures have reduced enough for snowmaking to get things started.

Updated (again!) opening dates for all skifields are:

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow revised opening date of 16th July 2016 (from 9th July 2016)
Mt Lyford revised opening date of 4th July 2016 (from 27th June 2016)

Canterbury

Mt Hutt opened 10th June 2016. Skiing and riding is limited but conditions have improved since temperatures dropped enough for snowmaking to occur.

Treble Cone Home Basin 30.06.16 - treblecone.com

Porters opening delayed from planned 22nd June 2016 with no date fixed.

The Mackenzie

Ohau opening delayed from rescheduled 1st July 2016 to early next week.

Roundhill revised opening delayed to 7th July 2016.

Mt Dobson opening now delayed from planned 18th June 2016 with no date fixed yet.

Wanaka

Treble Cone opening is now postponed with no date fixed.

Cardrona opened 11th June 2016.

Queenstown

Coronet Peak opened 11th June 2016 but has closed since.

The Remarkables opened 18th June 2016.

Snow Report 23 June 2016 - Australia & New Zealand

There has been a whole lot of wild weather around! Warm days, windy days, wet days, and even snow! Yes, the snow has arrived and turned everything on its head. What looked like a great start for NZ has turned into a wash-out, while the warm wet in Australia has turned cold and snowy. You can't say they're predictable, these starts to our Southern Hemisphere ski seasons!

AUSTRALIA

It was a wet weekend in the Australian Alps with rain falling at the ski resorts. This caused little damage, however, as there was no snow to wash away!

Some snow arrived Tuesday, blanketing the mountains in white. This continued on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing enough snow to cover the runs and start the season.

Mt Buller 24.06.16 - mtbuller.com.au

Friday should bring some more snow and we should have half a metre on the ground for the weekend and lifts opening up quickly over the weekend. A promising start in Australia!

Mt Buller

Mt Buller has skiing on Bourke Street with Blue Bullet the main lift open today. Snow depth: 22cm

Mt Hotham

The Summit Trainer and the Big D are open today and there will be more lifts up and running for the weekend. Snow depth: 41cm

Falls Creek

Falls Express and Mousetrap lifts opened today giving access to beginner areas including Wombats Ramble. Towers should open tomorrow and Drover's Dream is planned to open on Sunday. Snow depth: 46cm

Perisher

Perisher Blue Cow 24.06.16 - perisher.com.au

Eight runs available at Perisher from the Village 8, the Quad Express midstation in Perisher Valley and the Early Starter Double at Blue Cow.

Thredbo

There is skiing at Thredbo's beginner area Friday Flat and the Cruiser Area is set to open tomorrow.


NEW ZEALAND

It has been warm, damp, windy and wet in New Zealand, and that has severely damaged the slopes in both Canterbury and Otago after such a good early start.

Mount Hutt, Cardrona and Coronet Peak started the week with lifts open, but Hutt and Coronet Peak had to close midweek as the winds buffeted the skifields and the snow washed away in the unseasonal warm temperatures and rains.

The Remarkables opened this week and has managed to stay open, but Porters and Mount Dobson had to go on hold after the warm weather while other openings have been pushed back again after the early optimism.

Looks like there might be some light snowfalls in the Southern Lakes and Canterbury on the weekend but nothing to shout about. At least the brown should turn to white again!

Updated (again!) opening dates for all skifields are:

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow now opening 9th July 2016
Mt Lyford now opening 27th June 2016 

Canterbury

Mt Hutt opened 10th June 2016. Skiing and riding now very limited to a few runs down.

Porters Opening now delayed from planned 22nd June 2016 with no date fixed.

The Mackenzie

Cardrona 24.06.16 - cardrona.com

Ohau opening date of 25th June 2016 now rescheduled to 1st July 2016.
Roundhill is opening 2nd July 2016.
Mt Dobson opening now delayed from planned 18th June 2016.

Wanaka

Treble Cone opening is now postponed with no date fixed.

Cardrona opened 11th June 2016. Cardrona has managed to stay open but they've lost a bit of snow and Valley View Quad is now closed.

Queenstown

Coronet Peak opened 11th June 2016 but has closed after drenching rains.

The Remarkables opened 18th June 2016. Remarks has had to close the Shadow Basin today but has some good skiing and riding available around the skifield.

Snow Report 16 June 2016 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

There is almost no natural snow at lift level in the Australian Alps, but resorts have been busy trying to supplement this with some snowmaking. Unfortunately the temperatures haven't been ideal. There is skiing on a few beginner runs at Buller, Perisher and Thredbo and sightseeing elsewhere.

Mt Hotham - mthotham.com.au

Tomorrow looks a bit wet but thankfully the weekend should escape too much rain. Snow is forecast for next week and this should bring the first decent falls and maybe open some lifts by next weekend.

Mt Buller

Mt Buller has skiing on Bourke Street only on manmade snow. Blue Bullet is taking passengers. Snow depth: cm

Mt Hotham

No lifts open at Hotham yet. Snow depth: cm

Falls Creek

No runs open yet at Falls. Snow depth: cm

Perisher

Skiing and riding is available on Front Valley at Perisher and from mid-station on Perisher Express (which opened on Thursday). Snow depth: cm

Thredbo

There is skiing at Thredbo's beginner area Friday Flat. Snow depth: cm

Mt Hutt 16.06.16 - nzski.com

NEW ZEALAND

Warmer and wet conditions this week prevented much snow accumulation.

Fine and mild for Canterbury, becoming cloudy later in the weekend.

Cloudy with some wet weather arriving late in the weekend for the Queenstown/Wanaka area, hopefully snow and not rain showers at lift level.

Mount Hutt, Cardrona and Coronet peak opened last weekend. The Remarkables opens this weekend, and maybe Mount Dobson as well.

Updated opening dates for all skifields are:

North Canterbury and Nelson

Cardrona - cardrona.com

Rainbow now opening 9th July 2016
Mt Lyford now opening 20th June 2016

Canterbury

Mt Hutt opened 10th June 2016. Skiing and riding limited to the main bowl and mid-Towers, with Virgin Mile, South Face and Lower Triple all closed.

Porters 22nd June 2016

The Mackenzie

Ohau 25th June 2016
Roundhill 2nd July 2016
Mt Dobson now opening 18th June 2016

Coronet Peak - nzski.com

Wanaka

Treble Cone 23rd June 2016

Cardrona opened 11th June 2016. With all three main lifts open, Cardrona is looking great for this time of year.

Queenstown

Coronet Peak opened 11th June 2016. Skiing is mostly limited to main trails.

The Remarkables 18th June 2016. The Remarks is looking good for its opening this weekend. Check out the webcams at nzski.com.

Snow Report 9 June 2016 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Perisher 09.06.16 - www.perisher.com.au/

The heavy rains in the Alps on the weekend brought no snow unfortunately, but the follow-up weather system saw temperatures fall below zero and some snowflakes start to fall on Tuesday.

Sadly this was followed by some rain which washed most of it away again. This could turn to snow on the peaks today but Friday night into Saturday looks like the best chance of a good fall of snow, maybe up to 10cm if we're lucky.

Opening weekend will be mostly sunny after a few snow showers Saturday morning, but there will not be much snow to play on (yet!).


NEW ZEALAND

Great snowfalls across the South Island in late May has left lots of snow cover at higher altitudes. Warmer days and wetter conditions this week, especially today and tomorrow.

Coronet Peak 08.06.16 - Coronet Peak Facebook

Mt Hutt, Cardrona and Coronet peak open this weekend.

Just a few showers in the forecast on Friday before some good snowfalls for Mt Hutt on Sunday. Snow is likely to fall on Friday and Sunday in the Southern Lakes with strong winds easing a little on Saturday making for great skiing and riding at Cardrona, and hopefully snow falling all the way to the base at Coronet Peak.

Opening dates for all skifields are:

North Canterbury and Nelson

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

Canterbury

Cardrona 09.06.16 - www.cardrona.com/

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