Slow start to South Canterbury ski season but high hopes for week ahead

Sunday, 28 June 2026

Snow was being made at Lake Ōhau Lodge and Snow Fields on Friday.

A slow start to winter has hindered planned opening dates for South Canterbury’s ski areas, but operators say the weather is turning in their favour.

Lake Ōhau Lodge and Snow Fields owner Mike Neilson said they had hoped to open on Saturday, but there was not enough snowfall at the start of winter so they had been working rapidly to make snow.

Neilson said they were assessing conditions “day-by-day” but were hopeful of being able to open in the middle of this week.

While the snow was a bit slow, he said the season was already the best they had experienced in terms of season pass sales, which he attributed to offering a good deal and a large number of new and returning customers.

Tim Thorstensen, left, and Rio Suguin pictured on Mt Dobson in 2025.

“All the staff are ready for the season and we’ve had a phenomenal number of applications this year,” he said.

Neilson’s forecast for winter 2026 was that the Super El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weather cycle was “likely to see some big falls this winter”.

He said strengthening El Niño conditions heading into winter could be expected. El Niño brings stronger, colder southwest winds, causing wetter conditions in the west and drier in the east.

“Right up Ōhau Snow Fields alley, and looking back over the 37 seasons we have been operating… my observation is that strengthening El Niños have brought us snow and great skiing and snowboarding conditions,” he said.

Roundhill Ski Areaalso had to postpone its planned opening day on Saturday.

The latest update on its website, said the “good news” was the picture was turning and a cold southerly change last week brought colder temperatures and snow.

“The team is ready to go the moment the conditions change.

“We’ll be back with a further update on Monday, hopefully with a confirmed opening date,” the latest update on the Roundhill website says.

The snow report on Mt Dobson Ski Area’s website said it had received 8cm snowfall on Thursday and hoped to open for the season open Friday, July 3 “subject to weather and snow conditions”.