New Zealand Ski Area Extends Season
New Zealand’s largest ski area, Cardrona Alpine Resort, has announced that it is extending its season by a week. It is now set to stay open until Sunday October 18.
New Zealand’s largest ski area, Cardrona Alpine Resort, has announced that it is extending its season by a week. It is now set to stay open until Sunday October 18, with a resort spokesperson saying the decision is due to good mid-season snowfall and great conditions across the mountain.
The extension comes off the back of consistent late-season snow levels over recent years, and answers one of the most common requests from skiers and snowboarders keen to keep their season going a little longer.
Cardrona and Treble Cone Chief Mountains Officer Laura Hedley says the extension is a welcome bonus for both locals and visitors this spring.
"We've had some great snow in the lead-up to spring, and extending the season by a week means more time on the mountain for everyone. It's something our guests ask for every year, and we’re stoked to be able to offer it for them in 2026. Pair that with our spring deals, and there's never been a better time to get up here for one last hit of the season."
New Zealand’s ski areas are often the last to close in the southern hemisphere, overlapping with the first glacier and snow-farmed resorts opening in Europe for their new season. Besides Cardrona, Mt Hutt, which is currently posting the country’s deepest base at nearly 2m (80”), usually stays open to late October too and on the North Island, Whakapapa and Turoa on Mt Ruapehu have stayed open into “Snowvember” in the past. This year South America’s Valle Nevado in Chile has so far also extended its season to 18th October.
