{"id":2001051,"date":"2026-06-20T04:03:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T01:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2001051"},"modified":"2026-06-20T04:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T01:03:23","slug":"new-zealands-slow-start-to-winter-continues-as-several-resorts-delay-opening-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2001051","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand\u2019s Slow Start to Winter Continues as Several Resorts Delay Opening Again"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Zealand skiers and snowboarders will have to wait a bit longer before they can strap on their skis and boards. | Image: Mt. Hutt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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New Zealand\u2019s challenging start to the 2026 ski season is continuing, with three of the country\u2019s most famous ski areas near Queenstown and in the Canterbury region on the South Island announcing further opening delays as warm temperatures, rain, and strong winds continue to frustrate snowmaking efforts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just days after several resorts postponed their planned opening weekends to June 20, both Queenstown resorts Cardrona Alpine Resort and The Remarkables have now confirmed they will remain closed without providing a new opening date, while Mt. Hutt has pushed its anticipated opening date back to June 27. <\/strong>The latest setback comes as a powerful weather system moves across the South Island, bringing exactly the conditions ski areas do not want to see in June: high winds, warm temperatures, and rain.<\/p>\n

Cardrona<\/a> said its snowmaking team had enjoyed a productive week building base depths but that the incoming weather system forced another postponement.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe team\u2019s had a solid week of snowmaking. But the forecast has thrown us a curveball,\u201d the resort wrote in an update. \u201cThere\u2019s a spicy weather system moving through this weekend, bringing high winds, warm temps, and rain.\u201d The resort said it will continue evaluating conditions daily and will announce an opening date once there is greater certainty.<\/p>\n

Nearby, The Remarkables<\/a> also confirmed a further delay, citing unfavorable weather and a lack of natural snowfall.<\/strong> Resort management said improving snowmaking conditions and a forecast snow event later in the week offer some optimism. \u201cThe forecast is for better weather ahead which should provide good snowmaking conditions, and there is snow forecast Wednesday-Thursday,\u201d the resort said.<\/p>\n

Mt. Hutt took its crews out on the mountain while the resort awaits sufficient snow for opening day. | Image: Mt. Hutt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mt. Hutt<\/a>, which has already postponed its opening several times this season, now lists June 27 as its target opening date.<\/strong> The Canterbury ski area reported just 10 hours of snowmaking before temperatures rose again and said it still requires approximately three full days of productive snowmaking to establish a sufficient base. \u201cWe really need another three full days of good snowmaking to get going,\u201d Mt. Hutt said in its latest conditions report. The resort remains hopeful colder weather forecast for next week will finally allow crews to build the 30-centimeter base depth needed to begin operations.<\/p>\n

The only major South Island resort currently operating is Coronet Peak<\/a>, which opened at the end of last month thanks largely to aggressive snowmaking. <\/strong>Even there, however, the weather has been challenging. The resort closed operations today in an effort to preserve its snowpack as rain moved through the region with daytime temperatures reaching 5-8\u00b0C (41-46\u00b0F).<\/p>\n