Hit The Slopes Of Ruapehu This Winter

Mt Ruapehu is the North Island’s premiere ski destination: approximately half way between the largest city, Auckland and the capital city of Wellington. It can be reached by self drive car, bus, shuttle, train or plane. Mt Ruapehu is home to two commercial ski fields, Whakapapa on the Northern slopes, and Turoa on the Southern. The season typically lasts from June to October, but the weather in New Zealand is notoriously unpredictable and opening is of course dependent on weather and snow conditions. These volatile weather patterns mean all visitors to the mountain should be well prepared and carry basic survival equipment. Always check the weather forecasts before leaving your accommodation. Mt Ruapehu is an active stratovolcano and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is also one of the best monitored with changes in volcanic gas output, seismic activity and crater lake chemistry continually measured.

Whakapapa and Turoa are two of the largest ski fields in New Zealand, offering the highest lift access, some 1800 hectares of lift accessed terrain, and the longest vertical drop in Australasia. Whakapapa is home to Happy Valley, which is a world class beginner’s facility for first time skiers and snowboarders. Further into the basin, Whakapapa also provides challenges for the more experienced skier and snowboarder also. There are 5 licensed cafes, over 30 groomed trails, lessons and rental facilities. Turoa is home to New Zealand’s best terrain park with a full time half pipe, and staggering views across to Mt Taranaki on clear days.

There are numerous options for enjoying your Mt Ruapehu experience: a charter flight can have you in and out for a day of skiing, or you could choose to base yourself in any of the towns servicing the alpine area. For a real New Zealand winter holiday you can base yourself in Ohakune, National Park village, Raetihi or Turangi or in the popular tourist destinations of Taupo or Rotorua, slightly further away but well serviced with daily shuttles and transport options. You can mingle with backpackers in shared bunkrooms, indulge yourself in the luxury of high end resort style accommodation or settle in with high quality self contained and self catered accommodation. The advantage of planning your stay over a few days is that you are more likely to get some good days on the slopes even if the weather isn’t perfect every day.

One thing is certain, the world class facilities combined with the rugged natural beauty of New Zealand means a guaranteed perfect winter experience.