Mount Ruapehu Skiing & Boarding Areas
Right at the heart of World Heritage-listed
Tongariro National Park, Mount Ruapehu’s long season, varied terrain and bustling après-ski make for a fantastic snow experience. Mt Ruapehu's scoria-clad flanks once stood in for Sauron’s evil realm of Mordor in Peter Jackson’s
Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but when the winter snow falls, the mountain's broad slopes are home to the country’s largest ski and snowboard area,
Whakapapa and
Turoa. A flexible lift pass from lets you ski and board at both fields - you can enjoy 1800 hectares of lift-accessed terrain, a huge array of groomed trails and some great off-piste areas for freestyle skiing and boarding.
Nestled beneath Mt Ruapheu,
Whakapapa Village is the closest base to Whakapapa ski area, with
accommodation just a jump from the slopes. The historic
Bayview Chateau Tongariro, at the foot of the mountain, is famous for its apres-ski ambience, and a great place to curl up by a roaring log fire with a warming winter drink.
The scenic resort town of
Ohakune makes an ideal base for skiers and boarders heading to Turoa, 6km away, with plenty of
accommodation and a lively apres ski scene that keeps going into the small hours. Ohakune is also 66km from the smaller club-operated
Tukino Ski Area on Mt Ruapehu's eastern slopes. There are daily shuttle services to Mount Ruapehu from both Ohakune and Whakapapa Village.
Fact File:
Turoa &
Whakapapa:
Season: late June to mid-November
Open: 8.30am-4pm (Whakapapa) / 9am-4pm (Turoa)
Skiable area: 550ha (Whakapapa) / 500ha (Turoa)
Highest lift: 2300m (Whakapapa) / 2333m (Turoa)
Longest run: 4km (Turoa)
Terrain: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 25%
Snowmaking: Yes
Mountain Statistics
Lift Pass rates
Events Calendar
www.mtruapehu.com
Links
