Roundhill Ski Area, New Zealand, has confirmed it will open for the 2026 season on Wednesday, July 1, after a week of intensive snowmaking allowed the Canterbury ski field to overcome a lack of natural snowfall that forced it to postpone its original June 27 opening.
The Mackenzie Country resort announced the opening on social media, saying its snowmaking team had worked throughout the past week to prepare the mountain for guests. “We’ve had a great week of snowmaking and are all set for opening on Wednesday the 1st of July,” the resort posted.
Opening day will be limited to the beginners’ area and terrain serviced by T1 up to just below Tower 5, with additional terrain expected to open once more natural snowfall arrives. “The snowmaking team has been working hard to get us up and running and we will be opening more terrain once we get more natural snow,” Roundhill wrote on its social media account.
Recognizing the limited terrain available, the ski area is reducing all-lift pass prices by 20% until additional runs can open.
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Resorts across Australian and New Zealand have seen a slow start to the 2026 ski season after high temperatures meant any precipitation came down as rain and snowmaking was impossible for much of the month. Many resorts rely heavily on snowmaking for early-season opening. Across New Zealand, cold temperatures and recent snowfalls have turned around the situation, enabling The Remarkables, Mt. Hutt, and Coronet Peak to open last weekend. Australia, meanwhile, is still waiting for a cold snap and some natural snow and very little skiing is currently possible.
Located above the western shores of Lake Tekapo in New Zealand’s South Island, Roundhill is best known for offering the largest lift-served vertical drop in Australasia. The resort spans elevations from approximately 1,350 meters (4,429 feet) to 2,133 meters (6,998 feet), delivering an impressive 783-meter (2,569-foot) vertical served by its Heritage Express rope tow.
Roundhill offers terrain for all ability levels across approximately 550 hectares (1,359 acres) of skiable terrain but is particularly popular with international ski racing teams. The upper slopes provide advanced skiers and snowboarders with wide-open alpine bowls and some of the longest lift-served descents in New Zealand, while the lower mountain caters to beginners and intermediates.
With temperatures remaining favorable for snowmaking and more winter weather forecast for New Zealand in the coming weeks, Roundhill hopes to continue expanding terrain as the season gains momentum.
