2026 Weekly Snow Summary - New Zealand
Week Ending: 24 May 2026
Attention shifted toward operational readiness across New Zealand ski fields during the week, with snowmaking systems becoming increasingly active and several mountains confirming staged opening plans ahead of winter 2026.
| Ski Field | Region | Activity | Status | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronet Peak | Queenstown | Snow Factory active | Preparing | Planned early opening gaining attention |
| Whakapapa | Ruapehu | Snowland preparations | Preparing | Early-season snow play operations confirmed |
Week Ending: 17 May 2026
Cold overnight temperatures continued across alpine regions during mid-May, supporting snowmaking opportunities and early-season operational work at several commercial ski fields.
| Ski Field | Region | Activity | Status | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronet Peak | Queenstown | Snowmaking operations | Preparing | Snow Factory installation progressing |
| Mt Hutt | Canterbury | Early snowfall coverage | Preparing | Strong alpine snow visibility continuing |
Week Ending: 10 May 2026
Early-season planning accelerated across both islands, with ski fields continuing operational preparation and winter marketing activity ahead of June openings.
| Ski Field | Region | Activity | Status | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tūroa | Ruapehu | Winter campaign launch | Preparing | Early bird season passes promoted |
| Whakapapa | Ruapehu | Snow Factory preparations | Preparing | Snowland development continuing |
Week Ending: 3 May 2026
The first week of May saw ski fields transition further into winter preparation mode following major April snowfall events across parts of the South Island.
| Ski Field | Region | Activity | Status | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronet Peak | Queenstown | Snowmaking preparations | Preparing | Snow Factory focus increasing |
| Cardrona | Wānaka | Operational preparation | Preparing | Winter setup activity increasing |
Week Ending: 26 April 2026
A major early-season snowfall event delivered significant snow across parts of the South Island during late April, with Canterbury mountains seeing some of the strongest accumulations of the year so far.
| Ski Field | Region | Activity | Status | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Hutt | Canterbury | Heavy snowfall | Closed | One of the strongest April snowfall events in recent years |
| Roundhill | Mackenzie | Moderate to heavy snowfall | Closed | Strong snow coverage visible across the basin |
| Coronet Peak | Queenstown | Snowfall + cold temperatures | Preparing | Snowmaking conditions improved significantly |
| The Remarkables | Queenstown | Moderate snowfall | Closed | Upper mountain coverage improving |
| Whakapapa | Ruapehu | Light snowfall | Preparing | Snow patches developing across upper mountain |
| Tūroa | Ruapehu | Light to moderate snowfall | Preparing | Snow visible lower on the mountain |
| Porters | Canterbury | Moderate snowfall | Closed | Strong alpine snow coverage across upper terrain |
| Craigieburn Valley | Craigieburn Basin | Snowfall event | Closed | Strong alpine snowfall visuals across the basin |