Whakapapa, Mount Ruapehu
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| Resort Summary | |
| Resort Name | Whakapapa |
| Location | {{{location}}} |
| Resort Altitude | 1640m-2300m |
| Winter Season | mid June to mid Nov |
| Terrain | Overall: 550 hectares Beginner: 25% Intermediate: 50% Advanced: 25% |
| Lift System | 2 quads, 5 double chairs, 4 T-bars plus various learner lifts |
| Highest Lift | 2300m |
| Lowest Lift | 1640m |
| Vertical | 660m |
| Longest Run | |
| Avg Snowfall | highly variable |
| Terrain Parks | |
| Snow Sports | |
| Facilities | |
| Nearest Town | National Park |
| Lift Pass | |
| Adult 5 Day | $NZ$ 340 (anytime 5 days) |
| Adult 1 Day | $NZ$ 76 (anytime) |
| Child 5 Day | ${{{lift_child_5day}}} |
| Child 1 Day | ${{{lift_child_1day}}} |
- Overview
New Zealand's largest and most developed ski area, right in the middle of the North Island on a spectacular and sometimes-active volcano Mount Ruapehu. Dozens of ski clubs have on-snow acommodation in club lodges at the base of the lift system. A busy day can have 3000-4000 people skiing there.
The terrain is volcanic boulders, with cliffs formed from old lava flows. This takes a good dollop of snow to be skiable. Once it gets its base, it lasts well into spring, and summer skiing is still possible after a good winter.
Stunning views. Excellent terrain. Variable snow conditions, and generally better in spring. The snow can be icy or soft and slushy, but if struck on a good day, it's fabulous.
Contents
Location
Central North Island, New Zealand.
Pros
- Large
- Huge variety of terrain and snow conditions
- Good lift system
Cons
- Crowded on weekends
- Subject to nasty weather
Contacts
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd. Private Bag, Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand.
Whakapapa Phone: +64 7 892 3738, Whakapapa Fax: +64 7 892 3732
Planning
Getting There
Flights from Australia to Auckland, Wellington or Palmerston North. Bus or train from there to National Park.
Accommodation
On Mountain
Club lodges only, around carpark and lower 1/3 of mountain. Approx 50 of them. See Ruapehu Mountain Clubs Association
Off Mountain
Hotel, motel, youth hostel, backpacker accommodation in Ohakune and National Park townships and Turangi and further afield to the bright lights of Taupo town.
Lift Tickets
Whakapapa and Turoa are both operated by RAL (Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd) a public non-profit company. An advantage of this is that ski tickets are interchangeable between the two resorts, allowing skiers to buy a multi-day pass and choose which ski area to go to on each day. Season passes are very competitive (2006 was $359 if purchased before May 1st).
Ski School
Large and well organised.
Equipment Hire
On-mountain and off-mountain easily available.
Resort Facilities
Getting Around
Buses go up the mountain roads from base towns. Sealed two-lane mountain roads.
Parking
Extensive and well organised.
Activities
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Dining
Usual options in base towns.
Bars & Entertainment
Ditto.
Shopping
Ski shops on mountain, and lots to buy in Ohakune.
Children
Very family-friendly, good beginners areas.
Ride Guide
Beginner Areas
Happy Valley is usually regarded as the best beginners' area in New Zealand.
Groomed Runs
Runs are groomed throughout the mountain.
Off Piste
Advanced skiers can check out Backstage, Broken Leg Gulley, High traverse, McKenzie's Mistake, Yankee Slalom, Cornice Bowl, The Amphitheatre, Wizard's and the Milk Run.
Out of Bounds
Go to the Far West T-bar, and head out west from there. Keep going. It's awesome on a good day.
Cross Country
Above the ski area is another 400-500m of vertical mountain. It can be icy, so crampons and ice axe are often useful. Be prepared to walk if necessary. AT gear and Telemarkers can get up with skins. Skinny skis, fishscale bases and klisters are pretty much useless. It is possible to ski traverse all the way around the mountain to Turoa, with skating and perhaps a short climb to gain a little altitude.
Note that there can be significant, and often underestimated, avalanche danger on Mt Ruapehu.
Park and Pipe
The Turoa park is way better, 2006 saw a smallish pipe made mid field.
Bumps
Some small mogels under the Waterfall chair.
Powder Zones
Out of bounds is the place to find powder. It doesn't last long, due to the number of people skiing there.
Sheltered Runs
Wind is a big issue. No trees. Lower mountain is generally more sheltered, but that's just relative. Inside the cafe tends to be the best shelter.
Snowplay
Lots of kids on toboggans and plastic bags, usually around the carpark and beginners areas.
Other
Weather
Changeable in the extreme. Windy and icy. Be prepared. Can be sunny and warm. Expect the lot (all in one day).
Geography
Ruapehu is a big isolated volcano, 2797m high, right in the middle of the North Island, and subject to winds and weather from all points of the compass. There were major eruptions in 1995 and 1996, disrupting the ski season, but luckily nobody was hurt. Sirens on the mountain are set to warn people of impending eruption. If it goes off, get to high ground and pray.
History
In September 1887 the sacred mountains Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu were gifted to the people of New Zealand by the Paramount Chief of the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe, Horonuku Te Heu Heu Tukino thus ensuring their protection for all people for all time. This gift formed the nucleus of Tongariro National Park, the first in New Zealand, and one of the first in the world. This is now a world heritage area on both cultural and natural criteria.
Bill Mead and Bernard Drake were the first people to bring skis to Ruapehu, in summer 1913. They made the first turns down the Whakapapa glacier and promptly formed the Ruapehu Ski Club. The focus of development was in the Whakapapa area on the north-western slopes, where a road was built (the Bruce Road) and club lodges started to be built. Rope tows were operated at first, but a public company was formed (Ruapehu Alpine Lifts) and Sir Edmund Hillary opened the first chairlift in New Zealand in 1954 on the lower slopes of Whakapapa ski area (the Rockgarden).
RAL has remained a non-profit organisation ever since, putting the profits back into development on the mountain, and keeping lift ticket prices reasonable. A separate ski area nearby, the National Downhill, was developed by Roy Turner and Jimmy Johns in the 1960's, but was bought out by RAL in 1975 and incorporated into Whakapapa. Turoa, a separate ski area on the south-western slopes, was developed in the 1970's, but was bought out by RAL in 2000.
