South Island peaks turn white as skifield opens for weekend

Thursday, 23 April 2026

Hanmer Springs Ski Area will be swinging rope tows from Friday after unprecedented snow fall.

Winter has arrived early for Southern snow enthusiasts, with Hanmer Springs Ski Area set to open on Friday following a massive dump of powder coating South Island skifields this week.

The club confirmed on Thursday afternoon it would open for business on Friday and hopes to stay open through the long weekend “if the weather sticks around and is good”, club member Sarah Sleight told The Press.

The rope tow will be running, and backpacker-style accommodation is available on the hill for $130 for a whole family, she said.

“There’s also definitely snow for tobogganing.”

Mt Hutt has received 50cm of snow over 72 hours but skifield manager James McKenzie says it's unlikely to stick around until the June 12 opening.

After years of hiring staff during unpredictable snow seasons, the volunteer-run club doesn’t set opening dates, instead firing up the field whenever the weather allows.

“And it works! Everytime we’ve had snow, the club gets behind it and we can open,” Sleight said after their June opening last year.

Further south, Mt Hutt has been blanketed with 50cm of snow over the last 72 hours.

However, skifield manager James McKenzie said autumn sun means the fresh coat is unlikely to stick around until the scheduled opening day on June 12.

“Morning beautiful,” Craigieburn Valley Ski Area posted on Facebook on Thursday.

Access to the Mt Hutt road has been closed 4km from the base due to avalanche hazards, though McKenzie noted some “keen” backcountry skiers have already been spotted through social media having a foray in the fresh powder.

“At the moment it looks pretty, but it’s probably not that safe.”

The snowfall began on Sunday evening and cleared about 6pm Wednesday. It left 40cm of snow at lower elevations and nearly 1m at the mountain’s peak.

Mt Cheeseman Ski Area wrote on Facebook on Thursday: “Looking all white up here with some calm after the storm! A chilly and clear start to greet us on this late April autumn morning!”

While the dump is “kind of good” for cooling the ground down - creating a solid base for later in the season - McKenzie said it would be unusual for this dumping to survive until the skifield’s June 12 opening.

The field has performed limited avalanche control bombing, but only to clear access routes for essential staff. McKenzie confirmed comprehensive mitigation isn’t yet under way.

“We don’t have the team there yet for the sort of mitigation needed at this time of year. It makes it easier for us to keep the gate closed.”

The new snow on Mt Hutt will help cool the ground and create a solid base for winter, McKenzie says.

Two workers at Mt Hutt with over 1m of snow at the top of the mountain.

Such fluctuations are common in autumn as winter creeps closer, meteorologist Katie Lyons said.

While Christchurch averages a maximum of 17C in April, the city is in for a literal “warm-up” before the season truly turns.

Despite this week’s chilly snap, MetService meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo said fine, calm weather is forecast through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to climb from a high of 15C on Thursday to 22C on Sunday.

“There’s likely going to be chilly mornings - temperatures will still drop overnight - but a notable increase in maximum temperatures heading into the weekend,” Mhlongo said.