The Mt Ruapehu volcano provides the country's largest ski fields with two expansive resorts – Whakapapa on the northern side and Turoa on the southern slopes. The region boasts the highest lift in New Zealand and the longest vertical descent in Australasia.
For more information regarding Mt Ruapehu ski holidays contact a friendly Flight Centre consultant and don't forget to ask about our great deals on hotels, tours, travel insurance, transfers and more.
Fast Facts
Ski Season:
Mid June - Mid October
Opening Times:
9am - 4pm
Terrain Grades:
Whakapapa has 2 beginner runs, 23 intermediate runs, 18 advanced runs & 5 expert runs. Turoa has 2 beginner runs, 10 intermediate runs, 17 advanced runs & 7 expert runs.
Elevation:
1629m base elevation, 2272m top elevation
Lifts:
Whakapapa has 2 quad chairlifts, 5 double chairlifts, 4 T-Bars, 2 Platters, 1 Learner's carpet conveyors & 1 Learner's rope tows. Turoa has 1 x 6-seater chairlift, 2 x triple chairlifts, 2 quad chairlifts, 1 T-Bar, 2 Platters & 1 Learner's carpet conveyer.
Ski School:
Child and adult ski school catering to all ski and snowboard abilities
Cost of a Day Pass:
AU$75
Car parks:
Both Whakapapa and Turoa have 4 parking areas each.
Getting There
The nearest international airporta to Mt Ruapehu are in Auckland, four hours drive away and Wellington, almost five hours drive away. There are domestic flights from Auckland to Chateau airfield at the base of Whakapapa and to Rotorua. There are privately-operated shuttles from most the surrounding service areas to both ski resorts. Book flights to New Zealand online.
Accommodation
There are only club lodges at the Whakapapa resort. However nearby Ohakune features accommodation options catering all tastes and budgets. Other service towns for the ski fields include Raetihi, Turangi and Taupo. Book accommodation online
Car Hire
Hire a car in Auckland or Wellington. Chains are essential so be sure to hire chains also. You can book your car online to guarantee availability.
Travel Insurance
Skiing and snowboarding are great activities. So you can enjoy the snow with peace of mind, consider travel insurance for your winter holiday.
Events
The volcano hosts several winter based events including the Nordica Retro Games, the Ski Masters Race, Peak to Powerkeg and the Export 33 Pond Skim.
All Inclusive Packages
For an all inclusive ski holiday package including flights, tours, ski passes and more please contact a Flight Centre consultant on 133 133 or fill in the enquiry form below.
Trail Maps
Download the below PDFs for detailed trail maps of Mt Ruapehu's two resorts. On these maps, green lines represent the easiest trails, blue are more difficult and black lines are the most difficult trails. The straight red lines mark the ski lifts.
Weather - 7 day forecast
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
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| max | 23° | 23° | 19° | 16° | 16° | 16° | 15° |
| min | 12° | 9° | 10° | 13° | 12° | 10° | 8° |