Whakapapa

New Zealand’s largest resort of Whakapapa is a bucket-list destination – and not just because you’re skiing on an active volcano.

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Located on the north flank of the mighty Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa is home to over 550 hectares of terrain, served by an impressive fleet of lifts

which now includes a recently built high-speed quad and the country’s biggest gondola.

The base of the mountain is excellent for beginners, with gentle greens winding through the dramatic volcanic landscape, before the runs get steeper further up the side of the peak. There are some excellent long blues towards the Far West T-bar and a number of short, steep blacks in the middle of the mountain – which are the place to go after fresh snowfall. Just watch out for the slightly fickle North Island weather, which can bring lots of cloud to the resort.

On the mountain, the restaurant at the summit of the Sky Waka Gondola is the highest in the country, but aside from this there is little else away from the main base lodge. In terms of accommodation, if you can, join one of the many ski clubs that have huts on the mountain itself, giving you a ski-in-ski-out place to stay and a friendly atmosphere. If you’re just here for a short visit, then Turangi is a good option, but perhaps the best bet is Ohakune for its relaxed ski town vibe and great access to the other resorts of Turoa and Tukino. Make sure you visit the region’s hot springs and explore the centre of North Island further by visiting the likes of Rotorua and Lake Taupo. Both Wellington and Auckland are around 4-5 hours away by road.

Resort website: www.mtruapehu.com/whakapapa

Whakapapa Piste Map

Top (2317m)

	Thu 21 Aug			Fri 22 Aug			Sat 23 Aug			Sun 24 Aug			Mon 25 Aug			Tue 26 Aug			Wed 27 Aug			Thu 28 Aug			Fri 29 Aug			Sat 30 Aug
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Mainly fair	Mainly fair	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Generally clear	Light rain shwr	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Light drizzle	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Rather cloudy	Rather cloudy	Rather cloudy	Occasional rain	Light rain	Rain shower	Rain	Rain	Rain shower	Light rain	Freezing rain	Freezing rain
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.2°c	2.6°c	-1.1°c	2.1°c	2.6°c	-0.9°c	3.4°c	3.4°c	0.1°c	4.2°c	4.6°c	1.2°c	6.1°c	6.1°c	1.9°c	5.9°c	5.9°c	1.9°c	5.1°c	5.4°c	2.4°c	4.5°c	5.2°c	4.1°c	4.6°c	4.2°c	2.8°c	2.1°c	2.2°c	0.2°c
Min temp	-0.6°c	-1.2°c	-2.9°c	-2.9°c	-0.9°c	-1.9°c	-2°c	0.1°c	-0.9°c	-0.9°c	1.2°c	0°c	0.1°c	1.9°c	0.8°c	0.1°c	1.8°c	1.1°c	0.8°c	2.2°c	2.1°c	2.5°c	3.5°c	3.5°c	4.1°c	2.5°c	2.5°c	1.6°c	-0.1°c	-0.1°c
Feels like temp	-4.6°c	-0.7°c	-4.8°c	-6.5°c	-0.4°c	-3.6°c	-2°c	1.2°c	0.1°c	-0.9°c	2.1°c	1.1°c	0.1°c	5.6°c	1.8°c	0.1°c	3.7°c	1.7°c	0.7°c	2.1°c	-0.9°c	-1.9°c	0.2°c	-0.9°c	0.3°c	0.3°c	-1.2°c	-2.3°c	-2.4°c	-5°c