Cardrona’s Snow Farm NZ opened on Saturday (June 20) - the first local skifield to open for the much anticipated 2020 season.

About 500 people visited the cross country ski area throughout the weekend, and while snow cover was intermittent, there was plenty of sunshine above Wanaka’s inversion cloud.

“It’s nice to be the first open, and everyone’s just really excited to be back up here. It’s an injection of normality for people,” Snow Farm general manager Sam Lee told the Wanaka App.

Saturday’s sunrise at the Snow Farm. PHOTO: Supplied

“It’s slightly different, but people still get to go skiing. Getting up here and doing it makes it real.”

Many of the weekend’s visitors had not visited at the Snow Farm before, and there was a lot of positive feedback, Sam said.

Despite some wind-affected snow, there were good loops around the basin. PHOTO: Abbey Rose

“We’re just stoked. It’s heartwarming that we’ve got so many people supporting us.” 

Visitors did a little bit of everything: from snowshoeing to visiting the huts, he said.

Young Snow Academy members prepare for skiing early Saturday morning. PHOTO: Supplied

While there was intermittent snow coverage and some wind-affected snow, there were still “some good loops around the basin” for the cross country skiers, Sam said.

The Snow Farm has reduced staffing to about a third of last year, and the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground lodge remains closed for the weekend. A kiosk offering hot drinks and food is available, however.

The inversion cloud visible below the Snow Farm access road. PHOTO: Supplied

Sam said “a big thank you to the community for supporting local”, and reminded people the Snow Farm offers a good opportunity to enjoy some sunshine during the inversion layer.