Ohau Snow Fields, New Zealand, Conditions Report: Good Cover, Wide Grins, And Season On

*A promising start to the season at Ohau Snow Fields. Photo: P.M.Fadden*

Report from June 28-30, 2024

The cheering you are hearing this week echoes all the way from New Zealand: Ohau Snow Fields, in the Southern Alps is officially open for winter operations!

The ‘good times dial’ went up a notch-or-three with the parting of the proverbial ropes for a wide-grinned grand opening to the 2024 winter season, on Saturday.

Conditions are brilliant, especially for June, and stable coverage is already set-in around many of Ohau’s iconic natural rock features.

Lad working “quality control” around Ohau’s Hollywood Rocks. Photo: P.M.Fadden

Skies were bluebird and practically windless on the Saturday. And rest assured, there were plenty of smiles shining to match the sun.

Then Sunday rolled around and with it came a classic example of New Zealand’s catch-me-if-you-can climate. Skiers and snowboarders carved turns under moody cloud and intermittent wind which, amazingly, seemed to improve surface texture of the snowpack. If anything, stoke was rising as the sun fell because the skiing was better and better.

A stroll down the Boulevard. Photo: P.M.Fadden

Thanks to a hard-working mountain crew, Ohau’s trail network is well established, rip-able, and as roomy as ever. And that carefree attitude is most-certainly present in the welcome which waits at Ohau’s base.

The welcome board at Ohau’s base. Photo: P.M. Fadden

Famed for its big-mountain terrain plus hearty highcountry spirit, the alpine wilderness area at historic Ohau remains the sort of hideaway home that is oh-so-sunny on the soul.

The home commute—with cloudy signs of the weather on the way. Photo: P.M.Fadden

And the best is still to come: As I am typing this, these majestic Southern Alps are shivering under a healthy wallop of winter storm action.

Heavy snow is forecast above 2,600 feet of elevation, which envelopes good ol’ Ohau. And as you can already guess, skiers and snowboarders are keeping watchful eye for when the access road opens.

Fingers crossed. Grins extra wide.