Remarkables and Cardrona both amped for opening day Saturday

With one barely sporting a smudge of snow last week, two ski fields close to Queenstown and Wānaka have announced they'll be open for business Saturday.

The white stuff arrived in full force for the team up at Cardrona on Thursday, helping to shore up their planned opening day.

“We’re so stoked to kick off Winter 2024 this weekend,” Cardrona and Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley says.

Avalanche dog Rosko checks out the fresh snow at Cardrona on Thursday, June 13, 2024 (Image: Supplied/RealNZ).

“Our team has been working incredibly hard to make this happen – including the snowmaking and grooming team, supplementing the natural snowfall we’ve received in the last two weeks.

First chair tees will be up for grabs at McDougall’s, with ultimate bragging rights for Winter 2024 on the line.

The terrain park team are hoping to put in a couple of rail features, and guests will be able to grab a bite and a brew at Base Café, Base Bar, and Mezz.

As conditions allow, the Cardrona team will progressively open the rest of the mountain facilities, while Treble Cone is set to open on Saturday, June 29.

Meanwhile in Queenstown, The Remarkables ski area will also kick of its seasons with a limited opening on Saturday.

At The Remarkables, the Tahu, Rua and Shorty conveyors will be in action, with crews looking forward to opening more terrain and lifts as snowmaking and weather allow.

Last week the resort posted a photo a grey, rock-exposed slopes to Facebook, saying the snow was "fashionably late" but the staff "eagerly awaiting" the season's start.

Now, in a video post to Facebook, recently appointed ski area manager Steve Hall says he is "stoked" to say they'll will be open as scheduled, although with limited capacity due to conditions.

"We're going to have transport, we're going to have guest services, rentals, retail, cafes, snow sports, all up and running.

"We're actually really excited, and it's great to get winter underway."

The news isn't as good for skiers and boarders eyeing up the slopes on Coronet Peak, where ski field manager Nigel Kerr says they will not be opening Saturday as hoped for as the weather has not delivered.

"We've been working really hard with the snow making; we just need a couple more centimetres to join it all up," he says in an update to Facebook.

He asks would-be guests to "bear with us" and keep an eye on weather reports as their "source of truth".

"We're looking to get going early next week, and if we do get going we're looking to put Express, Meadows and a couple of carpets all on, so it will be worth the wait. Keep the snow dances coming and we'll see you soon."

Main image (Supplied/RealNZ): Staff at Cardrona Alpine Resort on Thursday, June 13, 2024.