Wānaka skifields are excited to be opening tomorrow (Wednesday September 8) under some strict new alert level two procedures.

Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone, the Snow Farm, and heliski operations all hope to open despite some “challenging” weather conditions forecast this week.

“It was definitely heart wrenching for a lot of us watching that snowfall [prior to lockdown] and knowing we couldn’t be out there playing on it,” Cardrona/Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley told the Wānaka App.

“But we’ve come together and all stayed home, and level two means we can open up to the public which is incredibly exciting.”

Laura said while the weather is “definitely looking a bit challenging this week”, the skifields will “just take it as it comes”.

“We’ve still got some bookings, we’ve had some people who had all their fingers and toes crossed and kept their bookings,” she said.

But the skifields “will be quite a lot quieter” than they were before alert level four, she said, making it even more fun for the locals.

Cardrona/Treble Cone protocols include mandatory face coverings in all indoor spaces, apart from while eating/drinking in the cafes. 

Brent Screen enjoys powder at Treble Cone on August 17. PHOTO: Ray Tiddy

Lifts can be fully loaded, but all lift users must wear face coverings over their mouth and nose from before they enter the lift line, and the whole way up the lift.

Indoor spaces will be limited to 50 dining guests at a time, so management advises people to: “ski from your car – use it for shelter, to rest and have a picnic... just like the old days.”

Visitors must scan in using the Covid-19 tracer app on shuttle buses, at cafes and restaurants, and for the mountain in general.

The Snow Farm is also hoping to “send the winter off with style”, announcing that staff “couldn’t be more excited to be re-opening our doors to all of you on Wednesday”.

Snow and space aplenty at the Snow Farm just before the country went into alert level four. PHOTO: Supplied

“We are anticipating snow over the coming few days and that will be a welcome top-up to the current conditions,” Snow Farm management said in a statement.

The Snow Farm must follow most of the same protocols as Cardrona and Treble Cone around masks and numbers allowed indoors. It also advised the public that at level two all rental equipment must be booked online. 

Harris Mountain Heliski manager Hugh Barnard told the Wānaka App he was “stoked” to be planning to fly tomorrow after “feeling a little bit robbed” during lockdown.

“We’re realistic about the national picture, and yes, unfortunately the timing was really bad for our sector but you just have to accept it and we’re really happy we’re moving to level two,” he said.

“It seems we can operate with the mandated masks, and contact tracing, additional procedures around cleaning of equipment and helis and the way we handle food.”

Hugh said Harris Mountains had seen an increase in bookings in the past few days, including groups from Wellington and Hawkes Bay.

“[With] fresh snow tonight and later in the week there’s no reason to expect we won’t get some really good skiing in still.

“It’s probably unlikely that Aucklanders will get a chance, but in October there might be a week or so where they can. We’ve got really good support from the rest of the country and Air NZ has put on a lot of flights from the likes of Wellington.”

Hugh said he and the staff were “quite upbeat”.

“We were having a terrific season after all the doom and gloom of the Aussie bubble tipping over. But we’ve been a resilient business all the way through and we’re here for the long term.”