Eager skiers have week to wait before Ruapehu opens first field

Happy Valley will open on June 3 with all of Whakapapa and Turoa up and running by July 1. Photo / Supplied

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."

That's thanks to a new $1.7 million snow factory, which has been running since April.

This week's cold snap has also helped dump snow on the mountain. Whakapapa had 5-10cm at base up to 30cm, while Turoa has 10-15cm at base and up to 30cm.

"It's been cold, definitely. Last weekend was obviously pretty decent, with snow down to National Park," Mr McIvor said.

He was hoping for a busy season.

"We had a really good season pass campaign, which was up on previous years."