Whakapapa comes to life during the ski season which is generally from late June to mid November, depending on snow and weather conditions with the terrain being divided up as 25% beginner, 50% intermediate and 25% advanced.

It is New Zealand’s biggest and busiest ski area with a total skiable area of 550ha and has a total of 43 runs ranging from beginner, to off piste expert. Accessing these runs is easily done on any one of the 16 lifts with a total uphill capacity of 26,710 skiers per hour. With the treeless alpine conditions you are guaranteed only the best snowboarding and skiing conditions around!

Whakapapa at the foot of Mount Ruapehu on New Zealands north island, is a snow sports hot spot but it’s not just about skiing and snowboarding here. With the renowned Tongariro Alpine Crossing and many other interesting walks, great mountain bike tracks and many exciting water sport options, this is an outdoor adventure playground and an all-year destination. Imagine skiing down the side of an active volcano… well that is what you will be doing when you come Whakapapa!

Being one of the busiest ski fields in New Zealand the area you can expect thousands of people to visit this wonderful location each day, but with an array of facilities you will never be left standing around waiting… there is always something exciting to do or see!

When you are planning you are accommodation you will have a wide selection of places to choose from both on the mountain and off. You can stay at either fabulous lodges on the mountain itself or perhaps book into a hotel, motel, hostel or suite at one of the nearby towns of Ohakune, Turangi and further afield to the bright lights of Taupotown.

The most popular activities here are hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, but there are also opportunities for horse riding, white water rafting, joy flights, canoeing and mountaineering. As you explore this pristine region you will be astounded with the amazing views and breathtaking scenery that you will be engulfed by. It is for this reason that some scenes from the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy were filmed at various locations in the Tongariro National Park including the base of Whakapapa ski area. It is a captivation place that you will never want to leave!

So start organising your snow skiing holiday to Whakapapa, New Zealand, where you can enjoy activities all throughout the snow skiing season, as well as enjoy a fabulous holiday in the warmer months.