Most ski areas in Australia have opened for the 2025 season today, with a perfectly timed snow storm, forecast to be the largest in three years, starting to dump yesterday evening.
So far resorts have reported up to 20cm of snowfall but totals by the time the storm blows through on Tuesday/Wednesday are expected to be nearer 60-90cm.
"What a morning here at Perisher! We have had fresh snow overnight with more on the way," said Madeleine McVie, Perisher Marketing Coordinator, adding, "Skiing and boarding are open for 2025; we couldn't be more excited!"
After some uncertainty due to dry conditions in the run up to the season start the resort's Village Eight Chairlift is spinning from day one and Front Valley open for skiing and boarding.
"As the snow continues to fall, we will be able to open more terrain and lifts and you don't want to miss out," McVie added.
Australian ski areas are the first to open full runs in the southern hemisphere this year. The season had been expected to start last week with New Zealand's Mt Hutt planning to open early after a big snowfall in early May but it abandoned the plan after subsequent thawing. It has now just reported another huge fall, 90cm (pictured below), and plans to open on its original date next weekend with several other New Zealand ski areas.
Africa's only remaining ski area, Afriski, opened last weekend but has not yet reported a completed run open. The first ski areas in the Andes are expected to open for 2025 next weekend.
