Skiing and snowboarding will be free at Mt Ruapehu on Friday, as it opens a day ahead of schedule on the first day of winter.

"After the recent massive May snow dumps there's been lots of requests from the public around opening earlier than Saturday," Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive Ross Copland said.

"We've listened and will be offering a free taster in Happy Valley on Friday, so there will be no charges for lift passes to ski from 11am to 2pm."

The Whakapapa Customer Relations office will be taking optional donations to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter fund.

Lessons, rentals, food and beverages will all be priced as usual.

On Saturday, the ski season will officially kick off - with Mt Ruapehu being the first commercial ski area to open.