Cardrona ski resort in New Zealand has announced it will be opening early for the southern hemisphere's 2018 ski season – this Saturday, 2nd June.
Ski areas in the country have received up to 70cm of snowfall in the past seven days and temperatures have stayed low allowing snowmaking systems to operate at capacity too, enabling top-to-bottom cover.
McDougall's Chondola. Beginners' Area and The Lounge will be open at Cardrona (pictured above earlier today).
Mt Ruapehu on the North Island had previously said it would open its Happy Valley snow play area next Saturday too, using all-weather snowmaking.
The forecast is for the week ahead to bring much more snow to some areas of the country, and for conditions to stay cold.