Lockdowns see closure of all ski resorts in Australia and New Zealand

For the first time since the Coronavirus pandemic began 18 months ago, there are no ski resorts open in either Australia or New Zealand, with Victorian snow resorts having closed as of 1pm on Saturday as all of regional Victoria move to the same lockdown conditions as being applied in Melbourne.

Given several recent COVID-19 cases in the Victorian city of Shepparton, the latest lockdown announcement - set to last until 2nd September - had been anticipated.

Resorts in NSW are closed until at least next Saturday - 28th August - with an announcement as to whether restrictions in regional NSW will be lifted next weekend, allowing the resorts to reopen, due to be made this Thursday.

As reported by Mountainwatch, at the start of winter there was an air of optimism in the alpine communities and regional centres in both countries, but that optimism has been impacted by lockdowns in both countries.

In May, a study by ski tour operator, We Are Sno, analysing Google search data and trends, suggested that Australia’s ski resorts were set for a booming season with the top five ski resorts recording a combined 117% increase in search queries compared to pre-COVID levels.

In New Zealand, reports have today emerged that Police in Queenstown have dealt with people breaking the travel rules to access nearby snow filled slopes.

Elsewhere, resorts are hoping the country’s lockdown will not be extended again.

A statement released from The Remarkables, advised “we’ve been having so much fun this season but unfortunately at level 4 we aren’t able to operate.

“We haven’t given up on winter just yet and hope we’ll be seeing you all back up here soon.”

The New Zealand Snow Industries Federation (NZSIF) annual Trade Fair is scheduled to be held in Wanaka from 18th to 20th October.

Click here for more information in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: The Remarkables. Credit: NZSki.