The Remarkables was due to open for the 2011 ski season on Saturday. It is the third NZSki area to be put on hold in three weeks.
Coronet Peak's June 4 opening was put on hold on June 1 and Mt Hutt's scheduled June 11 opening was called off on June 8.
Ironically, snow was falling on the mountain when the decision was made just before noon yesterday.
Ski area manager Ross Lawrence said there needed to be a "minimum 30cm to 40cm base" over the mountain before it could open.
At noon yesterday the upper mountain had about 7cm, 2cm of which had arrived overnight and yesterday morning; but there was "still a lot of tussock" on the lower mountain.
About 48 hours of intermittent snowmaking had taken place, but warm temperatures between snowmaking periods and high winds were not helping, Mr Lawrence said.
The ski area had about 160 staff taking part in an induction and training week in preparation for colder weather and "much anticipated snow".
"As with Coronet Peak before us, it's massively disappointing and hugely frustrating to be in the position where we can't get the season under way this Saturday, but we will open on the very first day we possibly can," Mr Lawrence said.
"Our mountain staff are all on board and our snowmaking team is on 24-hour standby ready to make snow as conditions allow.
"We know winter's going to arrive when it's ready, so we just look to see what each daybreak brings.
"The forecasts we've been receiving have been changing on a daily basis, so all we can do is be fully prepared to take full advantage with our increased snowmaking capacity across large areas of the mountain."
Metview and Metconnect weather forecasting services had "conflicting views" on long-range mountain forecasts, but Mr Lawrence said the key was to be patient.
"We know everyone in Queenstown has everything crossed for that drop in temperatures and snow, and even our own staff have done a snow dance or two," Mr Lawrence said.
