Ski fields get first round of snowfall

The Remarkables ski area after three days of snowfall. Photo / ODT

Ski fields around the country are experiencing their first rounds of snowfall for the year and some could be in for a snowier season than last year.

Queenstown Lakes district's ski fields in particular have benefited from early dumps of snow, the Otago Daily Times reported on Saturday.

Coronet Peak ski area manager Ross Copland told the ODT "we're hoping for a bumper year for snow."

Nearby at Mount Hutt, ski manager James McKenzie said Methven had seen some snow, but not as much as Queenstown.

"This time last year we had no snow so it's a little bit more than last year, but not a lot to talk about really."

"We've had the occasional snow shower through ... the top of our mountain is white but it's looking very thin."

Further north at Ruapehu ski field, executive manager Simon Dickson said recent snowfall was a taste of what's to come.

"The 10-15cm we received last Friday on the upper mountain just reminds us winter is not far way at all."

Mr Dickson said he expected enough snow to fall between now and the end of June to allow the ski fields to open on time this year.