Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
www.snow.co.nz
Reports, cams and ski info across the country.
www.nzsnowboard.com
Snowboarding information.
North Island Ski Areas
Tongariro National Park
Whakapapa & Turoa
(
Click here
) On either side of Mt Ruapehu, these well-run twin resorts comprise NZ's largest ski
area. Whakapapa has 30 intermediate groomed runs, plus snowboarding, cross-country, downhill, a terrain park and the
highest lift access in NZ. Drive from Whakapapa Village (6km; free parking), or shuttle-bus in from National Park Vil-
lage, Taupo, Turangi or Whakapapa Village. Smaller Turoa has a beginners' lift, plus snowboarding, downhill and cross-
country skiing. There's free parking or shuttle-bus transport from Ohakune 17km away, which has the North Island's
liveliest post-ski scene.
Tukino
(
Click here
) Club-operated Tukino is on Mt Ruapehu's east, 46km from Turangi. It's quite remote, 14km down
a gravel road from the sealed Desert Rd (SH1), and you need a 4WD vehicle to get in. Uncrowded, with mostly begin-
ner and intermediate runs.
Taranaki
Manganui
(
Click here
) Offers volcano-slope, club-run skiing on the eastern slopes of spectacular Mt Taranaki in the
Egmont National Park, 22km from Stratford (and a 20-minute walk from the car park). Ski off the summit when condi-
tions permit: it's a sweaty two-hour climb to the crater, but the exhilarating 1300m descent compensates.
