Mt Ruapehu - North Island, New Zealand

Mt Ruapehu is the largest ski destination in the North Island and it attracts almost 65% of the country's skiers. The skiing season lasts from late June to early November and people travel in droves from Auckland and Wellington to enjoy the skifields of Mt Ruapehu.

Mt Ruapehu Activities

Whakapapa is located on the northwestern slopes of Mt Ruapehu, the skifield on the south flank is Turoa. Both skifields have excellent ski slopes suitable for skiers of all levels. They are also famous for natural half-pipes created by volcanic ridges, ideal for snowboarding.

Whakpapa Ski Field

Whakapapa is New Zealand's largest skifield with over thirty groomed runs and over a dozen chair lifts. There is an exclusive area earmarked for learners called Happy Valley. The skifield itself has over 675 vertical metres of piste, ski schools, a couple of cafes and ski gear rentals.

Bruce Rd is the main access to Whakapapa Skifield. There is a fitting service for tyre chains available if necessary. Car parking is free. Shuttle buses run from Whakapapa Village, National Park, Turangi and Taupo.

Turoa Ski Field

The Turoa Skifield on the south side of Mt Ruapehu offers some of New Zealand's best vertical range piste and a skiing area comparable to Whakapapa with wide groomed trails ideal for intermediate skiers.

Turoa also offers Mt Ruapheu's best apres-ski scene in Ohakune, the entry town to Turoa. There is a chain fitting service available from the skifield operators if necessary and the parking is free. There are many shuttle buses running from Ohakune.

Tukino Ski Field

To the east of Mt Ruapehu is the lesser known Tukino Skifield, owned and operated by club members with the season lasting from July to late September. It is not crowded and the passes are cheaper.

The weather is quite stable here however access is via a fairly rough road and there is not much ski gear hire on the skifield. There are shops close to Tukino which hire skiing gear.

Mt Ruapehu Accommodation

Due to its protected status as a national park, there is no accommodation on the skifields other than the private clubs at Whakapapa. Visiting skiers have to stay at Whakapapa Village at the base of the mountain (6 kms to skifield) or 22 kms away at National Park Township. For those skiing at Turoa, Ohakune has an excellent range of accommodation (17 kms to skifield).

Ruapehu Crater Rim is a steep ascent of eight hours return from the Top of the Bruce. It is a good 5 hour ascent from the top of the Waterfall Express chair lift. Though the climb is a tough one, it is worth the effort because of the spectacular view it offers.

The Dome Shelter at 2672 metres is the last frontier as it is dangerous to go beyond it due to volcanic instability. It is right on the crater rim and offers breathtaking views of a small glacier and the Cathedral Rocks. The crater lake is in the process of refilling after the 1995 eruption. There are organised treks with commentary.

LooknbookNZ can take care of your Mount Ruapehu accommodation and Mt Ruapehu activities bookings and allow you and your family/friends have a fantastic adrenaline pumping skiing experience at Mt Ruapehu Skifield.