Ski field operators in the south will be hoping a front delivers plenty of snow over the coming days and entices tourists back this winter.
Latest Stats NZ figures for April have revealed a dip year-on-year in Australian tourists as around 6500 fewer crossed the ditch.
But overall visitor numbers nationally were up from last year, with 3.19 million reaching our shores, up 821,000 to April 2023.
Director Clark Scott of tourism business Million Dollar Cruise told 1News: "We've had a fabulous summer, we've had increases in American [tourists], we've had increases in Indian [tourists] and we are looking forward to the winter."
But new figures suggest some traditional markets have stalled.
Independent economist Benje Patterson said: "In the early stages of the recovery after Covid, visitor numbers were picking up every single month and we've come to a point where it is really starting to flatten off."
Autumn was usually a quieter month for Queenstown, compared with the peaks in summer and winter.
Cardrona Alpine Resort was preparing to open learner conveyors and the McDougall’s Chondola this Saturday and Treble Cone was likely to open on Saturday, June 29.
Australians play a major role in the colder months, particularly during the ski season.
However, Patterson told 1News, "it's only one month, but, we have to put it into the broader perspective".
"Many of our key markets... are facing more sluggish economic growth at present. There's a cost of living crisis and travel is a discretionary thing to do."
Figures from Tourism NZ showed so far this year, visitors from China and the United States have surged.
Americans currently spent the most at around $350 a day, but Australians still made up nearly half of our monthly tourists.
Scott believed there had been a change in tourist habits but there was one thing that could raise the number of Australian visitors — snow.
"I think people are making their decisions later to their point of travel, I think — particularly in the winter — the Australians will wait until the snow is there."
"Hopefully that white gold will be delivered from the above,
"The moment that white gold arrives, the Australians, the booking numbers will lift and they will be here to enjoy the fruits of Queenstown."
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