8 Jun 2013

First skifield opens for season

1:15 pm on 8 June 2013

Skiers and snowboarders have packed Coronet Peak as the skifield opened for the season.

The Queenstown skifield is the first in the country to start operating for the winter.

Recent heavy snowfalls meant the start to the season on Saturday was one of the best in years.

Manager Ross Copland says Coronet Peak employs more than 500 people at the peak of the season, and last year more than 50% of its visitors came from Australia.

The skifield operator says bookings are higher than previous years.

Mt Hutt in Canterbury is expected to open on 15 June, followed by the Remarkables and Cardrona in the Queenstown Lakes area on 22 June and Treble Cone on 27 June.