Limited opening day snow on most Australian ski areas last weekend is probably the reason Aussie skiers have been rushing to book Queenstown ski holidays this winter.

Value Tours managing director Len Murray said from Australia yesterday there had been a late rush of Queenstown ski package bookings from Australians during the past week, which were up 10 to 20 percent on the same week last year.

Last season had been a record year with between 30 and 40 percent more Australian skiers hitting Queenstown slopes on cheap package deals.

Australian ski wholesalers contacted yesterday reported bookings were on a par with last year's "little ripper" season.

Poor or late ski area openings across the Tasman could bump up Queenstown ski package sales 10 to 15 percent, Mr Murray said.

"They (Australian fields) are open, but with very limited manmade snow and the temperatures until this week have been quite warm."

Australian skiers were "very much aware New Zealand is open" and wholesalers had been inundated with inquiries this week.

"Last year Australian ski areas had good early falls and our sales, which had been high, dipped. Our late-season sales weren't so good last year but this year they're ahead," Mr Murray said.

Ski Express Australia marketing manager Melissa Watt said they had also been inundated with a flurry of bookings this week.

"It's only just this week started to snow (in Australia) ... there is certainly a sector of the market that waits to see what snow conditions are like.

"The fact that Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt have opened on the day they said they would bodes very well," she said.

There was a strong move towards later bookings this year.


SOURCE: SUE FEA