Rainbow Ski Area

14/09/2026

📸 Photo Competition Reminder!

Just a reminder about our Photo Competition from the weekend! 🎿🏔️

Choose your favourite photo and send it through to [email protected] by 5pm today.

After the cut-off, we’ll upload all the entries for everyone to vote on — the photo with the most likes wins! 🏆

Good luck, and we can’t wait to see them all! ❄️

📸 SHOW US YOUR RAINBOW! 🌈🏔️

We want to see the people, places and moments that make Rainbow special.

Get out there this Sunday 13 September, capture your favourite Rainbow moment and enter it into our 2026 Photo Competition!

📷 Photos must be taken at Rainbow on Sunday 13 September.
📩 Entries close 5pm Tuesday 15 September.
👍 The photo with the most likes wins!

🏆 Prizes include a 2027 season pass and Rainbow merchandise.

Full details on how to enter, share and vote are in the graphic below.

Get out there, get creative and show us your Rainbow! 🌈📸

13/09/2026

☃️ Snowman Competition! ☃️

What an awesome bunch of snowmen from our Visitor Access Day! ❄️ There were some seriously creative builds out there.

A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the day so much fun. We loved seeing all the different creations! ❤️

Here are all the entries from the day — enjoy! ☃️🏔️

13/09/2026

Thanks so much to everyone who came up and supported our Visitor Access Day. It was fantastic seeing the mountain busy, so many awesome snowmen for the competition, and plenty of people making the most of the snow. ☃️❄️

📸 Don’t forget about our photo competition! One photo per person — send your photo to [email protected]. For more info, see the original post here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BUa7fGqYM/

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported Rainbow this season. We really appreciate it! ❤️

12/09/2026

At 0700 we have cool temperatures and light winds across the mountain.

The day is looking good, with temperatures rising to around 8°C and generally light winds at the surface. Some cloud is expected early, with clearer periods possible through the day.

Ski operations remain closed due to marginal snow cover, however we are opening Rainbow for visitor access from 10am–3pm today.

Come up, enjoy the snow, take in the alpine environment and make the most of what could be one of the last chances to see snow this season.

☃️ Snowman competition — judging from 1pm
📸 Photo competition — don’t forget your camera!
☕ Café & fundraising sausage sizzle

See you up the mountain! ❄️🌈

12/09/2026

Tomorrow! ❄️🏔️

The forecast is looking good and Rainbow is ready for a day on the mountain!

Come up, see the snow, build a snowman, explore the alpine, grab a hot drink and make the most of what could be one of the last chances to see snow at Rainbow this season.

Sunday 13 September | 10am–3pm

🎟️ Visitor Access: Child $10 | Adult $20 | Family $50

☃️ Snowman competition
📸 Photo competition — bring your camera!
☕ Café & fundraising sausage sizzle

🚗 Remember: chains must be carried in all vehicles travelling to Rainbow.
🚌 Coming up by bus? Make sure you register your interest at 4wdbusnz.com so they know how many buses are needed and can make sure there’s a seat for you!

📢 Check the 7am snow report Sunday morning before heading up for confirmation that we’re open.

See you tomorrow! ❄️🌈

11/09/2026

☃️ RAINBOW SNOWMAN COMPETITION - THIS SUNDAY! ☃️

Think you can build the best snowman on the mountain? 😎❄️

Bring your creativity, get stuck in, and build your best snow creation this Sunday!

🏆 Prizes up for grabs!
Rainbow merchandise and plenty of chocolate will be on offer for our winners.

👀 Judging begins at 1pm Sunday, so make sure your masterpiece is ready!

Get creative, have some fun, and show us what you can build! ☃️❄️

Sunday 13 September | Rainbow Visitor Day | 10am–3pm

11/09/2026

📸 SHOW US YOUR RAINBOW! 🌈🏔️

We want to see the people, places and moments that make Rainbow special.

Get out there this Sunday 13 September, capture your favourite Rainbow moment and enter it into our 2026 Photo Competition!

📷 Photos must be taken at Rainbow on Sunday 13 September.
📩 Entries close 5pm Tuesday 15 September.
👍 The photo with the most likes wins!

🏆 Prizes include a 2027 season pass and Rainbow merchandise.

Full details on how to enter, share and vote are in the graphic below.

Get out there, get creative and show us your Rainbow! 🌈📸

11/09/2026

❄️ SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER – RAINBOW VISITOR DAY ❄️

10am-3pm

The forecast is looking sunny and good, so come up and enjoy Rainbow this Sunday! 🌱🏔️❄️

While there isn’t enough snow for skiing, we’re opening the mountain for visitor access. Come and play in the snow, build a snowman, explore the alpine environment, or simply enjoy the views and a hot drink at the café.

🌱 Spring is starting to show — plants and shrubs are poking through, streams are reappearing, and the mountain is changing for the season. It may be one of your last chances to come and see the snow this year!

☃️ Snowman competition! More details in a separate post.

🎟️ Visitor Access:
Child (4–17) $10 | Adult $20 | Family $50

☕ Café open with warm drinks, snacks and cuppa soups.
🌭 Fundraising sausage sizzle also running.

No toboggan hire will be available, as there are currently no safe areas to use them.

🚐 Coming by bus? Please register at 4wdbusnz.com so they know how many buses are needed. Pay on the day — cash preferred, bank transfer available from the top of the hill.

🚗 Chains must be carried in all vehicles. Current road conditions don’t require them, but conditions can change. Chains are available for hire from the Alpine Lodge in St Arnaud.

📢 IMPORTANT: Please check Rainbow’s Snow Report from 7am Sunday morning before travelling, as this will confirm whether we are open.

Conditions permitting — see you at Rainbow

08/09/2026

❄️ LET’S MAKE THE MOST OF THE SNOW! ❄️

We’ve been on pause for long enough, and we’re keen to get people back up the mountain!

A little top up of snow over the past few days has given us enough to plan a Snow Play Day at Rainbow on Sunday 13th September, conditions permitting. There’s currently enough snow for snowballs and getting out and having some fun, but not enough for skiing — and at this stage, not enough for tobogganing either.

We’re expecting more snow on Thursday 🤞 so we’ll see what Mother Nature delivers and make a call after that.

🎟️ Snow Play:
Child $10 | Adult $20 | Family $50

Coming up to Rainbow and paying for snow play is a great way to support the field. We need the community behind us to keep Rainbow going and make sure this special place is here for many years to come. ❤️

Wristbands can be purchased from the cafe, which will be open with hot drinks and snacks. ☕️

Keep an eye out for further updates later in the week.

04/09/2026

❄️ Rainbow update

Operations are still paused for now, but we definitely haven’t packed up for the season!

We’re keeping an eye on the forecast and hoping for a good spring snowfall. If the snow comes, we’ll be ready to get things back up and running again. So don’t put the skis away just yet — there’s still plenty of season left if winter decides to make a comeback!