Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt have revealed when they plan to open and some elements of how they will operate in the 2020 season today.
The season is expected to be domestic only to start, with the potential for a July trans Tasman bubble with Australia if borders open.
In a note to pass holders and posted on their website, NZ Ski CEO Paul Anderson wrote:
We know you’ve all been holding out to hear our plans for the 2020 season now that New Zealand is moving into level 2 tomorrow.
We are still working with the government on our plans for how we will operate safely under level 2, thinking about things like physical distancing and gatherings, contact tracing and cleaning and hygiene.
This planning process has really brought the ski industry together. We are stoked to be working with other resorts around New Zealand, so our industry has a solid and aligned approach to operating at level 2 for the 2020 season. We’re all committed to making sure we keep our guests and staff safe this winter.
We are hoping to get clarification from the government in the next few days which will allow us to confirm our plans for what winter will look like on our slopes this year. When this happens, we look forward to sharing more details.
NZ Ski is now planning to open all three mountains this year and posted the news on their social media accounts of what’s being planned ahead once the government gives the official nod, which is expected very soon.
“We do have the capacity to scale up our operations across all of our mountains if we see guest numbers that warrant this as the season progresses,” Anderson says.
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt will be the first to open in early to mid-June operating three days a week. Come July 1 they will then scale up to open for the five best weather days of the week which will fall to include the weekend.
“At Mt Hutt we tend to get some great dumps of snow but that can mean we are closed because of the weather. By planning for the five best weather days we’ll be able to give our guests more certainty on opening days,” Anderson says.
Coronet Peak
Anderson says he knows Coronet Peak is considered the local’s mountain.
“It’s convenient to town and first tracks and night skis are firm favourites within the community which guided our planning to open seven days a week.”
Coronet Peak will open daily from the end of June including plans for Wednesday First Tracks and Friday Night Skiing.
The Remarkables
The Remarkables will be open daily from the start of July for school holidays then for weekends at a minimum.
NZ Ski is hopeful the new six-seater Sugar Bowl chairlift will be complete in time for the opening too.
All these plans are dependent on finalising how the resorts will operate safely under Level 2 with the government.
