Meanwhile, a slip on the Upper Buller Gorge (SH6) is set to be reassessed at midday tomorrow.
A spokesperson for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said highway maintenance crews continue to clear the active slip.
The highway has been closed since Sunday when a downpor of heavy rain set off the slip.
"The slip continues to be highly active with ongoing wet weather. We have maintenance crews working on site to clear and monitor the slip and will reopen the highway to single lane traffic as soon as it is safe to do so," said Moira Whinham, maintenance contract manager for NZTA.
She said they will access conditions again on Friday morning and provide an update at midday.
"Once we are able to open the road, openings will be restricted to daylight hours, 8am to 5pm to allow us to monitor any activity over the day.
"We may need to maintain this schedule for a week or so until slip activity has decreased," she said.
The top section of the Tiki Trail will be closed over the next few days due to recent snowfall and icy conditions, QLDC advised today. An alternative route is via the Skyline access road where people can then rejoin the Tiki Trail. Signage is in place.
The Lindis Pass (SH8) has been gritted, but there are still patches of ice around so extra care is required if using that route today.
In Central Otago, the Danseys Pass Road was closed due to snow on the Waitaki side, but reopened this morning. However, the road is restricted to four-wheel-drive vehicles (from the gates past the Danseys Pass Hotel).
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the average June temperature for Queenstown was 9degC, but it was unusual for the temperature to remain in single digits for so long.
"Usually we'd have a run of southerly winds and then they would turn around to the north and bring a day or two of warmer temperatures before the next southerly arrives. We're not seeing that at the moment."
Ferris said the southwest shift in wind direction was keeping a persistent flow of cool air across the country, alongside a heavy snow watch for southern Central Otago, Clutha and much of Southland and Fiordland today.
He said snow was expected down to 300m, with periods of heavy snow possible above 400m.
Snow amounts may approach warning criteria above 400m, he said.
Cardrona skifield had been expected to open today but has pushed it back to tomorrow. Coronet Peak was scheduled to also open tomorrow.
Winds gusted up to 131kmh in parts of Otago and Southland yesterday, and strong wind warnings and watches were still in force around the region today, where severe west to southwest gales could gust up to 120kmh in exposed places.
The winds were expected to ease off tomorrow and Friday, he said.
