Coronet Peak snowfalls may herald opening

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 8

Coronet Peak snowfalls may herald opening

Travel editor in Queenstown Heavy snow which yesterday left Coronet Peak glistening like a freshly iced wedding cake could allow the Mount Cook Group to open the skifield The field was to have opened yesterday but much of the snow which had fallen earlier in the month was lost over three days of warm north-west weather last week-end. By Monday, all the mountains round Queenstown were showing signs of the thaw and the company’s plans for the opening were put on hold.

But yesterday morning the town awakenged to snow down almost to the edge of Lake Wakatipu. On Coronet Peak, 22cm had fallen and further steady falls continued during the day. It was still snowing on the mountain last night. The company has now to decide whether to take a gamble on the snow’s not disappearing again. Traditionally the ski-field is not opened until late June or early July. Mr Alan Ward, the company’s Queenstown manager, said the situation was being viewed with "cautious optimism.”

New Zealand’s reputation in Australia as a ski destination has suffered a battering by two consecutive poor seasons. The Australian representatives of New Zealand ski tour operators, report that some bookings are down as much as 40 per cent on the figures for the same time last year.

Some tours are effectively 70 per cent dearer than 1985, reflecting exchange rate variations and increased costs.

Heavily discounted “specials” have more recently been introduced to the Australian market in a bld to win back business.