It may have taken motorists by surprise and caused havoc at Queenstown Airport and on main roads, but the snowfall in the resort on Thursday brought smiles to the faces of skiers and snowboarders yesterday.
Coronet Peak received 15cm on top of a 1m base, while The Remarkables got 10cm on its 1.2m base.
Coronet Ski Area manager Hamish McCrostie said the fresh powder brought out the snow bunnies in abundance yesterday, making the most of a fantastic, blue sky, powder day.
"It's vintage Coronet Peak. It doesn't get much better than this. Today, there was an awesome powder day atmosphere - everyone's carving it up and having a ball."
Across the valley at The Remarkables, manager Ross Lawrence was seeing the same kind of grins.
"It's such a buzz to look around and see The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Queenstown and the entire Wakatipu Basin just blanketed in snow.
"The conditions are superb, with great snow everywhere at the Remarks."
While conditions were clear yesterday, those driving up the mountains were advised to take extreme care, with chains fitted to all vehicles.
The snow was not good news for everyone, with those hoping to walk the Routeburn Track unable to progress any further than the car park at the track entrance, near Glenorchy.
Department of Conservation visitor assets programme manager Richard Kennett, of Glenorchy, said a swing bridge near the car park was "completely demolished" after a large tree fell on it.
"This would have happened during the last 24 hours, a result of all the bad weather and heavy snow. Trampers need to know that entering the track at this point is not possible."
The track entrance would remain closed indefinitely, but as soon as the weather allowed staff would be out checking on other structures.
"We expect to see a lot of trees laying across tracks as a result of recent snow."
Doc would make every effort to build a new bridge for the season beginning in late October, he said.
