New Zealand's Cardrona Ski Resort Extends Season Following Cold and Snowy Late-Season
Don’t stow away the skis quite yet.
New Zealand’s Cardrona Alpine Resort will stay open for an additional week, until October 18, 2026, thanks to strong late-season snowfall.
The resort originally planned to throw in the towel on October 11. Cooperation from Mother Nature changed that, with about two feet of snow falling in the past seven days.
Other New Zealand ski areas may follow suit. The Press reported that NZ Ski, the operators of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt. Hutt, are also considering extensions, with plans to review conditions towards the end of September.
Coronet Peak is aiming for October 4 as of now, while The Remarkables and Mt. Hutt both plan to close on October 11.
Cardrona Resort
Treble Cone, which shares the same management as Cardrona, still plans to close on September 27.
The extension at Cardrona and perhaps the NZ Ski group marks a sizable turnaround for New Zealand’s skiers. The start of the season brought little snow and delayed openings at several ski areas, including Cardrona.
But in the past few weeks, winter really turned it on. Recently, Cardrona shared footage of a blizzard bearing down on its slopes. A follow-up post showed staff digging out of the snow—and a few youngsters happily chucking snowballs at the photographer.
The wild weather also brought some challenges, though.
Treble Cone closed temporarily after rain fell on an already heavy snowpack, creating a “complex avalanche situation,” according to a social media post from the resort. Several landslides also blocked access to the mountain, but Treble Cone has since reopened to skiers and snowboarders.
The snowy boost mirrors parts of South America where some resorts have also pushed back their closing dates, including Valle Nevado and Ski Portillo, Chile. Both those ski areas got hit hard this winter—Ski Portillo, in particular, which now has a season total of more than 350 inches. Normally, the ski area picks up about 200 inches.
Not all of the Southern Hemisphere has benefitted, though. A slew of Australia’s ski areas have instead shut down earlier than planned due to warm weather and a lack of snow.
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