Some South Islanders woke up to a winter wonderland this morning as a polar blast swept up the island overnight, dumping up to 40cm of snow in some places.
MetService meteorologist Dom Barry said there has been "significant snowfall" in the area over the past couple of days.
"The majority of Southern Alps passes had road snowfall warnings, which have since been lifted."
He said 40cm of snowfall was recorded at Aoraki/Mount Cook village.
"There were also reports of 12cm of snow at St Bathans this morning."
Stretches of three alpine state highways reopened this morning after closing late last night due to snow and ice.
A road worker told 1News that motor graders had been working the whole night to get State Highway 8 reopened.
"Not many people actually turned up to the road closure points, but there were a few movements."
A Canterbury dairy farmer, who was having a snowball fight with his children on the roadside, said he was glad he wasn't working in the snow.
"We haven't got snow where we are, but you see a few tractors flying around here this morning. A few sheep waiting for their breakfast this morning, waiting for some bales."
Several alpine state highways have since reopened after closing overnight due to snowfall. (Source: 1News)
A pilot for Air Safaris in Tekapo said there was a "great bit of snow" overnight that has covered all the mountains.
"We're really looking forward to getting into flying once the cloud lifts. The mountains will look superb."
The company, which conducts scenic flights over the Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland National Parks, has seen a lot of snow over the 50 years it has been operating, he said.
"It's always great to see it, especially for the ski fields and things, so hoping we just keep getting regular dumps like this."
He joked that he had a lot of experience shovelling snow.
"Shovelling is the easiest. We've got heavy machinery, but sometimes a basic shovel is the best way to shift it around hangars."
Photographer Sharlene McKinlay posted multiple photos to her Facebook page of the snowfall in and around Aoraki/Mount Cook village.
She told 1News she loves taking photos out in the snow.
"The mountains are my favourite place to be, especially in the winter when to me they are even more beautiful."
At the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore of Lake Tekapo, residents made the most of the snowfall.
A mother told 1News it was her daughter's first time seeing snow.
"It's so beautiful. I'd love to see it, but now she's feeling a bit cold, so that's why she's crying."
She said she comes every year to see snow in the South Island.
"I'm so happy to see that. I come whenever I know the snow is coming."
One tourist said the snow dump was "beautiful" and "very picturesque".
"We were crossing our fingers and hoping the roads were gonna be closed so that we would have to stay."
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