South Island, New Zealand
Ohau
125 hectares, 400m vertical, 15 runs. Family-run field above Lake Ohau in New Zealand's South Island Mackenzie Basin.
Season 2026
Opens
20 June 2026
Closes
27 Sept 2026
Days open
99
Annual snow
2m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Ohau operates between 1425 and 1825 metres with 400 vertical metres across 125 hectares of skiable terrain. The field comprises 15 marked runs split 20 per cent beginner, 50 per cent intermediate and 30 per cent advanced, with no designated expert terrain. A 23-gun Techno Alpin snowmaking system covers the main Boulevard run, ensuring coverage from the June opening. The family-run operation has been managed by Mike and Louise Neilson since the mid-1980s, set in the Ohau Range between the Mackenzie Basin and the Main Divide.
The valley-contained layout favours off-piste riding over grooming, with only a handful of prepared runs. The Boulevard provides wide cruising from the chairlift summit to base, whilst Ridge Run demands a bootpack above the lift line to access untracked bowls. Advanced riders traverse to Escalator and the High Traverse for steeper pitches, or hike to the ridgeline for views across to Aoraki Mount Cook. Two small terrain parks service beginners and intermediates near the base and mid-mountain.
The day lodge sits steps from the car park, built from Oregon timber with a log burner, sun deck and the Avalunch Cafe. Lift queues rarely form and the skiable hectare-to-skier ratio keeps fresh snow accessible well into the afternoon. Lake Ohau Lodge, 20 minutes down the 9.6-kilometre access road, anchors the operation with 72 rooms, hot tubs, a bar and restaurant. The field's Māori name translates to windy place, though the turquoise lake views and Southern Alps panorama define the experience more than weather.
Ohau operates independently without pass affiliations, pricing adult day tickets from 135 to 160 New Zealand dollars depending on season. Lodge guests receive discounted rates and children under six ski free. The 2026 season runs 20 June to 27 September across 14 weeks. This suits families seeking uncrowded slopes, intermediates chasing consistent fall-line terrain, and advanced riders willing to hike for powder stashes beyond the single chairlift's reach.
400m
Vertical
15
Runs
309 acres
Skiable
2m
Annual snow
The Terrain
15 runs across 309 acres skiable
Ohau spreads 15 runs across 309 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 3 beginner runs to find your feet and 5 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
15
runs
15 runs across 4 grades
Beginner3 runs · 20%
Intermediate8 runs · 50%
Advanced5 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Ohau
The 2026 season opens 20 June and closes 27 September, spanning 14 weeks of operation. Most South Island fields target late June openings, though Ohau's elevation and snowmaking allow earlier access when natural cover permits. Historical seasons have run from late June through early October, with closures dependent on spring snow retention. The field typically operates daily once open, with occasional wind holds affecting the exposed upper mountain.
Ohau receives approximately 2.3 metres of natural snowfall annually, modest by New Zealand standards but augmented by reliable Main Divide weather systems. The 23-gun automated snowmaking system covers the Boulevard and main descents, crucial for June and early July when base depths build. The southeast-facing aspect preserves snow quality through midday sun, and the 1425-metre base elevation sits high enough to maintain coverage into September. Early season off-piste requires caution due to rock coverage until sufficient base accumulates.
July and August deliver peak powder conditions with the most consistent natural snowfall and coldest temperatures. September offers spring corn snow, longer daylight and fewer crowds as families return to school. Midweek visits from late June through early August provide the quietest slopes, whilst weekends draw day-trippers from Christchurch and Queenstown. The field rarely reaches capacity, making powder day timing less critical than at commercial resorts further south.
The events calendar remains low-key compared to larger fields, with occasional races and community days. No night skiing operates. Lodge guests can access the daily 9.15am shuttle up the access road, returning at day's end. The season pass program offers family and loyalty discounts for those buying before early June, and Lake Ohau Lodge accommodation packages bundle lift tickets at reduced rates throughout winter.
Season 2026
20 June 2026
Opens
27 Sept 2026
Closes
99
Days open
2 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Ohau, and where to stay
Ohau sits in the Mackenzie High Country on the Ohau Range's eastern slopes, part of the Main Divide separating Canterbury and Otago. The field overlooks Lake Ohau's southwestern shore at 1425 metres base elevation, cradled between the Ohau Range west and Ben Ohau Range east. The glacial lake stretches below in vivid turquoise, fed by snowmelt from the surrounding peaks. Aoraki Mount Cook rises 99 kilometres northwest, visible from the ridgeline on clear days.
Twizel lies 42 kilometres north and Omarama 42 kilometres south, both 30 minutes from the Highway 8 turnoff to Lake Ohau Road. The sealed 23-kilometre approach road hugs the lakeshore before reaching Lake Ohau Lodge. From the lodge, a 9.6-kilometre unsealed alpine road climbs 15 minutes to the ski field car park, steep and narrow with no barriers but maintained throughout winter. The Mackenzie Basin's stark tussock landscape and International Dark Sky Reserve designation define the broader region.
Christchurch Airport sits 320 kilometres northeast, a 3.5 to 4-hour drive via State Highway 1 through Ashburton, then west on Highway 8 past Lake Tekapo. Queenstown Airport lies 220 kilometres southwest, roughly 3 hours via Highway 6 and 8 through Cromwell and the Lindis Pass. Dunedin Airport is 275 kilometres southeast, a 3-hour drive. No commercial airports operate closer than 90 minutes, making self-drive the primary access method.
InterCity operates one daily bus from Christchurch to the Lake Ohau turnoff on Highway 8, requiring pre-arranged pickup for the final 23 kilometres. No public transport serves the field directly. Most visitors drive rental vehicles or stay at Lake Ohau Lodge, which runs a morning shuttle to the field. Chains or four-wheel-drive capability may be required on the access road during storms, available for hire at the lodge.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Ohau, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Ohau Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 3 Sept 2026
1825m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast-5°C / -2°C · NW 17km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
55cm
Season total
177cm
Total lifts2
Live open status isn’t available right now.
20 June 2026 - 27 Sept 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 46 hours· Updated Sep 5, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
1,825 mUpdated Sep 5, 2026 at 5:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
24cm
Days 8–14
9.7cm
Sat, Sept 5
Heavy Snow
Temp-2° / -5°°C
Snow10cm(100%)
Wind17 km/h NW
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Ohau snow report
Planning a day at Ohau? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 1425m base to the 1825m summit.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at Ohau is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 400m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Ohau's 1425m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Ohau come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 2 lifts in total.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.