Photo: Tony Harrington
The Southern Hemisphere has opposite seasons to Japan. While Japan is experiencing the heat of early summer, the Southern Hemisphere is finally entering the 2023 snow season with the opening of Mt. Hutt in New Zealand on June 9th. After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what will skiing and snowboarding be like in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand, and Australia this summer?
An overview of the 2023 season in New Zealand and Australia !
As you may know, New Zealand and Australia, located in the Southern Hemisphere, have seasons that are the complete opposite of those in Japan. The snow season runs from June to October, and now, in mid-June, the 2023 season has just begun in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we bring you the latest information from New Zealand and Australia, as well as an overview of the 2023 season
The 2023 season has finally begun in the Southern Hemisphere!
Mt. Hutt, one of the first resorts on New Zealand's South Island to get snow, was the first to open for the season, opening as scheduled on June 9th. While there's still very little snow, artificial snow machines covering 28 hectares of the resort's 365 hectares have opened the doors to a packed groom's paradise, just like every year. Each resort has been selling season passes and lift tickets online in advance, and sales are said to be extremely strong
▼ Instagram post from the opening day of Mt. Hutt, New Zealand (June 9th)
The situation is similar in Australia, where, for example, accommodation at the popular Mt. Buller is fully booked. Take a look at the video of Mt. Buller's opening day (June 10th), which is usually a busy day
▼YouTube post from the opening day of Mt. Buller in Australia (June 10th)
It's not just people who are active. This kind of powder is currently falling at Mt. Cook, a glacier field on New Zealand's South Island! Looking at the comments posted, one interesting comment reads, "This isn't Japan or Canada! It's Mt. Cook!" Japan's powder snow is indeed a dream destination even overseas
El Niño is predicted to return, bringing a warm winter
Although snow resorts are opening one after another, concerning weather data for the 2023 snow season in the Southern Hemisphere is generating a lot of buzz. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), April 2023 was the warmest month on record in the Southern Hemisphere. There are also predictions that 2023 could be the hottest year on record, not just in the Southern Hemisphere. The Japan Meteorological Agency also released a forecast in March of the progress of the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon, forecasting the period from March to September 2023 (see chart)
The main reasons behind this are rising CO2 emissions, climate change, and the return of El Niño, which is the latest wave of the La Niña phenomenon of the past few years. El Niño usually causes record-breaking global temperature increases. It's going to be a very worrying season, and we'll have to wait and see how much snow we get
Lift Pass Information
Globally, few countries offer lift tickets as cheap as Japan. In New Zealand and Australia, like in the United States, lift ticket prices are constantly rising. In recent years, the price increase has accelerated, and as of the 2023 season, a one-day pass in New Zealand costs around NZ$160, which, at an exchange rate of 1 NZ$ = approximately 85 yen, comes to a very high 13,000 yen. In particular, from the 2022 season to the 2023 season,NZ$10-20.
Skiing is now considered a luxury pastime for the wealthy in the area, but locals apparently buy a season pass for multiple resorts for around NZ$1,300 (approximately 110,000 yen) and diligently go to all the resorts during the season
| Resort | 2022 Season (NZ$)Prices | 2023 Season (NZ$)Prices |
| Mt. Hutt | Cornet Peak | Remarkables (1-day ticket) | NZ$139 | NZ$159 (+NZ$20) |
| Mt. Hutt | Cornet Peak | Remarkables Combined Season Pass | NZ$1299 | NZ$1399 (+NZ$100) |
| Cadorona (1-day ticket) | Treblecorn (1-day ticket) | NZ$150 | NZ$160 (+NZ$10) |
| Cadorona | Treblecone combined season ticket | NZ$1499 | NZ$1649 (+NZ$200) |
For guests traveling from overseas, this is sure to put a strain on their wallets. Additionally, the current (as of June 2023) exchange rate for the yen is extremely low at 1 NZ$ = 85.5 yen, which is also a cause for concern. Still, the appeal of escaping the scorching heat of Japan, traveling abroad to escape the heat, enjoying dynamic powder snow on the other side of the world, and experiencing heli-skiing more casually than in North America is irresistible
Resorts' response and changes for the 2023 season
Despite concerns about the impact of El Niño, resorts have largely emerged from the pandemic and are looking forward to the new 2023 season, making various upgrades. For example, Commercial Field in New Zealand has published the following "CHANGES" for the 2023 season:
In particular, the hardware aspects have been upgraded to address light snow conditions and enhance comfort, such as increasing the number and power of snowmaking machines, which are essential for creating slopes at the start of the season and maintaining initial conditions, and improving the lifts and slopes. On the software side, it appears that they are improving facilities and services that allow guests to enjoy resort life, such as upgrading the number and quality of rentals, schools, shops, and restaurants.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it can be said that the impact and shadow of the pandemic have almost disappeared. Looking at resort websites, the words "COVID-19" (coronavirus) are hardly found. However, it seems that they are leaving no stone unturned in expanding various services to attract guests and make up for the past three years.
Mt. Hutt 2023 (Improvements)
- 14 snow machines were deployed to allow the trails to be ready as early as possible in the season (operations began on the scheduled opening day)
- Introducing new products and upgrading rentals
- Sledding area upgraded for beginners
- The coffee shop has expanded and its services have been expanded
Cornet Peak 2023 (Improvements)
- A fun slope (a gentle slope for beginners) was created on the west side of the mountain
- Introducing a new snow groomer: the latest sustainable model
- Upgrade the type and number of rentals
- One-day kids club for children aged 5-12 years old is back (closed during the COVID-19 pandemic)
- Expanded and improved lineup, including breakfast buffet
- Introducing a footbridge from a parking lot at the bottom of the mountain
- Fan gun (snow machine) firepower increased
- A new shop near the bus stop on Duke Street. You can rent a bike in advance in the city and then take the shuttle bus (shared with Remarkables)
Cadorona 2023 (Improvements)
- Admission will be limited, same-day ticket sales will be reduced, and crowding will be alleviated by setting rules for specifying in advance which areas to visit and when
- Online advance discounts available
What are Japanese users doing?
When it comes to overseas ski trips, Fellow Travel is famous as a company specializing in overseas ski tours since 1977, escorting Japanese users to snow resorts all over the world. New Zealand is very popular with Japanese people because you can ski there in the middle of summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic subsiding, sales of New Zealand ski trips are picking up in earnest this summer.
For example, the "Southern Lakes 9 Days" package tour, which went on sale in April, is a 9-day package tour that includes a stay in Queenstown and 5.5 days of skiing at four surrounding ski resorts. The price starts from ¥528,000 for weekday departures and from ¥598,000 for weekend departures, but all dates were sold out before the season even began.
Judging from the price, it is a very luxurious overseas ski trip, but for Southern Hemisphere fans who have been eagerly awaiting this trip during the pandemic, it is sure to be an exciting one.
Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has calmed down and we're able to travel abroad again, I'm sure there are many people who want to go skiing in the Southern Hemisphere this summer! This summer, La Niña is over and El Niño is returning, predicting scorching heat. Everyone wants to escape Japan and go powder riding on the other side of the world