Mt Hutt Jumps To Open Most Terrain In World

After multiple season-start delays last month (in common with most ski areas across the southern hemisphere), a huge snowstorm in New Zealand has allowed Mt Hutt to open the most terrain in the world right now.  

Mt Hutt jumped from having very limited terrain open to being around 95% open after about a metre (40”) of snowfall this week on its higher terrain.  It’s upper base is now 1.2m (4 feet), with lower slopes posting an equally healthy 75cm (2.5 feet).

“That was a huge day, top towers, south face, bluffs, Rakaia chutes you name it, it was open!” a statement from the area enthused.

For the first month of the southern hemisphere’s 2026 season, glacier ski areas like Hintertux and Zermatt in the northern hemisphere's European Alps have still had more terrain open, as so little has been able to open at resorts in Australia, The Andes and New Zealand due to limited snowfall and some mild weather.  That has now finally changed with Mt Hutt and Coronet Peak both overtaking summer ski centres in the European Alps.

Other New Zealand ski areas are still digging out access roads and lifts to make slopes safe to open over the next few days.  Mt Lyford has reported at least a 105 CM (42”) snowfall.