After the uncertainty of early 2020, busy cafes, hotels and skifields have been a welcome sight in Wanaka these school holidays. 

Skifield traffic queuing on Cardrona Valley Road yesterday (Monday July 13) indicating Cardrona was busier than ever was misleading, Cardrona-Treble Cone communications executive Jen Houltham said.

“Normally around 1,000 tourists will come in on a bus each day, and that’s not happening this year,” she said.

Nonetheless, the start of the second week of holidays yesterday (Monday 13 July) attracted over 2,000 people to Treble Cone Ski Area and more than 4,500 people went up to Cardrona. 

Looks can be deceiving: The big queues of cars en route to Cardrona on Monday (July 13) was the result of more Kiwis driving themselves and fewer people catching buses, rather than record numbers. PHOTO: Nikki Rhind

“We’ve been very busy at both Cardrona and Treble Cone with many locals making the most of the good conditions we have enjoyed for most days over the holidays so far,” Cardrona-Treble Cone general manager Bridget Legnavsky said. “The snow’s been great, and we’ve had lots of visitors too, so we’re very happy.”

While the Snow Farm did not have numbers to hand, manager Sam Lee said the visitor numbers throughout the holidays have surpassed expectations. He said the Snow Farm had predicted a 50 per cent drop in visitors, and the team has had to call on friends, helpers and volunteers to assist when substantial crowds arrived.

Fresh snow at the Snow Farm last Thursday (July 11). Manager Sam Lee says the holidays have provided some of the best skiing conditions for this time of year in “a very long time”. PHOTO: Snow Farm

Jen Houltham told the Wanaka App it had been hard to predict what this season would bring for Cardrona and Treble Cone - it wasn’t so long ago that skifields were campaigning just to be permitted to open. 

The turnout by Kiwis these school holidays was strong but, inevitably, the numbers are down “quite a bit” on last year without the addition of internationals, Jen said. 

Still, in a post COVID environment it has been a positive start to the season: “We’re seeing some really great support from Kiwis - both locals and visitors from all over the country.”

Plenty of punters queuing to ride the Whitestar Express at Cardrona last Friday (July 12). PHOTO: Supplied

During a visit to Queenstown Lakes last month, Tourism New Zealand CEO Stephen England-Hall told the Wanaka App that 58 per cent of New Zealand’s tourism spending pre-COVID was done by Kiwis - something he said would be a surprise to many New Zealanders.

“The heart of the tourism industry is New Zealanders,” he said and attracting the domestic market would be crucial for business survival.

Snow Farm staff have been quizzing visitors about where they’ve come from and what they would normally be doing at this time of year, and encouraging return trips.

“This is the biggest opportunity the ski industry has ever had to convert New Zealanders to regular snow sports,” Sam said. “Everyone in town needs to put their best foot forward to offer a good experience and help attract New Zealanders back again in future years.”

Sam is also enthusiastic about snow conditions, with current cold weather and regular snowfall a boon: “I think these are the best skiing conditions we’ve had at this time of year in a very long time.”

The question of who will fill restaurant seats, beds and chairlifts when the holidays draw to a close this weekend is still a concern though. 

Jen said the answer was up in the air, and Sam remained “a little cautious as to what will happen after the school holidays.”

Hopefully, Kiwis will continue to answer PM Jacinda Ardern’s call to “visit your own backyard”.