A ski area in Tasmania, the large island of Australia's southern coast, has opened a week early after big June snowfalls that locals are describing as 'unprecedented.'
Normally Ben Lomond ski area, one of the world's most southerly, aims to open by mid-July but staff said they were full prepared to open early once the snow arrived, and that's what they did at the weekend.
Heavy snowfall across Australia overt the last five days has dramatically improved conditions after a slow start to the season three weeks ago when only one run in the entire country was able to open on opening day.
All of the country's main centres are now open with Perisher, the largest, reporting 50cm of snow in recent days and another major resort, Thredbo, 40cm.
The snow has continued falling, if in smaller volumes now, with 2cm in the last 24 hours at Charlotte Pass and good conditions for snowmaking too. It has the deepest base in Australia at present with 50cm lying.
A few cold dry days are expected now before the snow is due to return on Thursday.