Industry News
Hanmer Springs Ski Area in New Zealand has announced an impromptu early-season opening, with lifts set to spin tomorrow, April 24 — weeks ahead of the country’s typical winter kickoff.
The small club field first hinted at the possibility in a morning social media post, noting that members were heading up to assess conditions. By the afternoon, that uncertainty turned into confirmation: “Yes, we are going to open tomorrow.”
Located roughly 10 miles (17 kilometres) from the alpine village of Hanmer Springs on Mount Saint Patrick, the ski area sits at a top elevation of 5,804 feet (1,769 metres) and offers around 128 acres (52 hectares) of terrain, with a vertical drop of 1,017 feet (310 metres).
Despite its modest size, Hanmer Springs punches above its weight in character. The field features New Zealand’s longest Poma lift at over 2,625 feet (800 metres), alongside a classic nutcracker rope tow and a beginner-friendly fixed-grip rope tow. Terrain is split approximately 10% beginner, 60% intermediate, and 30% advanced, catering to a broad range of skiers and snowboarders.
The Canterbury backcountry resort is operated by volunteers from the Amuri Ski Club, a community-run organisation founded in 1957 by local farmers seeking a place to ski in North Canterbury. That grassroots DNA still defines the mountain today. Hanmer Springs offers a markedly different experience from New Zealand’s larger commercial resorts — more low-key, more affordable, and deeply tied to its local community.
From the base, a purpose-built learner area provides an accessible entry point, complete with instruction options. Higher up, the Shirtfront rope tow opens access to groomed intermediate terrain and off-piste lines, as well as the expansive Bordeaux Basin, which can be explored via traverse, hiking, or touring routes.
This isn’t the first time Hanmer Springs has beaten the rest of the country to opening day. In 2021 as well as 2022 Hanmer Springs was the first ski area in New Zealand to welcome skiers for the season.
Given the calendar — and the typically volatile autumn conditions — this early opening is unlikely to mark the start of continuous operations. More likely, it’s a short-lived window for those eager enough to chase turns before winter officially arrives.
Still, for a few days at least, winter has arrived early in the Canterbury high country.
