Heavy snowstorm kicks off winter in New Zealand

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 07:24:29 GMT

Winter has finally woken up down under, delivering a significant, multi-day snow storm that has transformed the New Zealand ski season.

After an unseasonably mild June that forced major resorts to delay their initial opening dates, the last 48 hours have brought the snow that skiers and snowboarders have been waiting for.

This storm cycle has not only salvaged the early season but has perfectly timed its arrival with the kick off of the New Zealand school holidays.

48-Hour Snowfall Totals
• Treble Cone: 35cm
• Cardrona: 30cm
• The Remarkables: 30cm
• Coronet Peak: 29cm
• Ohau Snow Fields: 24cm
• Whakapapa & Turoa: 15-19cm

Treble Cone opens

The key news from the weekend is that Treble Cone is opening for the season on Tuesday 07 July. After being forced to delay its original 27 June date due to a lack of snow cover, the 35cm dump means the Home Basin and Triple Treat trails are ready for action.

Resorts like Cardrona (pictured above) and The Remarkables, which were previously restricted to limited, snowmaker-assisted beginner trails, are now opening more terrain thanks to the natural snow

A combination of a cold weather system and sub-zero overnight temperatures means the J2Ski New Zealand Snow Forecast is predicting prime, chalky, and dry winter corduroy across the resorts.

Follow our daily updated J2Ski Snow Reports for the latest news.

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Heavy snowstorm kicks off winter in New Zealand