Queenstown Airport expects passenger numbers to and from Australia during July and August will increase to 90,000, up 20% on last winter. At the peak of the winter season, there will be 41 inbound flights a week from Australia to Queenstown, compared with 34 last year.
''The industry has created this wonderful demand and we have responded with capacity,'' airport chief executive Scott Paterson said.
Coronet Peak, the first skifield to open in Australasia this season, boasts a thick crown of white, including a 30cm lower base, and is ready to welcome an estimated 300,000 skiers and snowboarders to its slopes this season.
NZSki said the field had some of the best opening-day snow cover seen in recent years. Other Southern Lakes fields are expected to open from June 21. Ski Tourism marketing network South Island promoter Trish May said the network had launched its promotion of South Island skifields in Australia in early April.
Australians accounted for about 30% of the skiers and snowboarders on South Island skifields and they were willing to spend money during their ski holidays, which were, on average, between seven and 10 days.
Often, they would rent ski equipment, buy food on the slopes instead of taking a packed lunch and, in the evenings, they ''are often out dining and in the bars'', she said.
Australians were ''the biggest market by a long shot'', she said.
Queenstown hotels regional chairwoman of the Tourism Industry Association Penny Clark said bookings were looking positive and accommodation providers were confident ''things have picked up''.
''We all know the stories in this town - `snow in May doesn't stay' - but it's June now.''
Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore said the influx of New Zealand and Australian visitors was a welcome boost for accommodation providers.
In Wanaka, that included a large number of holiday homes.
''Ballpark, across the year we are talking about two-thirds of the domestic market staying in holiday houses or private houses and for the Australians it's in the region of 40% or so.
''So right across the board - holiday houses, lodges, B&Bs, hotels - the vast amount of that money goes into the local economy.''
