Winter has officially clocked in early. Mt Hutt to open on May 31 — the earliest the Canterbury ski field has opened since 2009. A decent dump of autumn snow (around 1.2 metres of it) means the slopes are ready, and Mt Hutt is first out of the gate for the 2025 ski season in New Zealand.
This early opening isn’t just rare – it’s a head start for the entire country. While most fields still have June circled on the calendar, Mt Hutt is getting boots on snow in May. For snow lovers, it’s game on.
The field will kick things off with weekends only, including King’s Birthday (June 2), and will move to full-time daily operations from June 14, weather permitting.
In recent years, the season has often relied on snowmaking to get underway. Not this time. This is good old-fashioned snow cover.
If this is how the season begins, it could be a big one. Mt Hutt is leading the charge, and the rest of the mountains won’t be far behind.
