Coronet Peak received about 5cm of natural snow on Tuesday night, but by late Wednesday a cold front had lowered temperatures to the point that snow-making could start.
"It is cold enough to start making snow, so the guns will be blazing," NZSki chief executive James Coddington said.
When the Queenstown Times visited yesterday, a few natural snow flurries were complemented by a man-made blizzard as the snowguns on the main trails pumped out snow.
While some areas were still looking fairly bare, snow was building up on the trails.
Pete Deuart, head of the snow-making department, had a busy day adjusting the snowguns. With the temperature just below freezing point at the base building, the guns could be operated during the day.
Inside, ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said the recruitment phase was almost completed, with some staff starting this week.
The main staff induction period starts on Tuesday.
"It is a hectic time, but everything is coming together, and we will be ready for our opening day," Mr McCrostie said.
Across the Wakatipu basin, The Remarkables ski area received its first good snowfall of the season earlier this week.
With 15cm of snow on Tuesday and a further 15cm early on Wednesday morning, a good base has been established well before the field's scheduled opening on June 19.
