Skiers and snowboarders will be heading for the slopes earlier than usual this winter, with a staggered opening to the Mt Ruapehu ski season starting next weekend.
Happy Valley will open on June 3 with the lower Whakapapa field the following weekend (June 10).
The rest of Whakapapa and Turoa will open on July 1.
"Happy Valley is opening four weeks earlier than usual," Mt Ruapehu marketing manager Matt McIvor said.
"We will be the first open in Australasia."