Snowscene Help Guide for Whakapapa, Mt Ruapehu

2024 UPDATED:

Make the most out of your trip to Whakapapa Ski Field!

The team at Snowscene have complied a guide to help you have the best day for your visit to Whakapapa ski field! We update this guide often with the latest information and updates regarding Whakapapa Ski Field

In this guide, we will cover:

Overview of travelling to Whakapapa: Getting there, travel times, mountain road accessibility and restrictions, carparking, shuttles, accommodation options
Preparing: Ticket/pass options and prices, ski rental, lessons, weather conditions
What to expect at Whakapapa: Facilities, chairlifts, cafes
Sightseeing, sledding, snow play
Whakapapa locals tips: Pros and cons, snow scene tips!

About:

Whakapapa, Mt Ruapehu - is approx 40 minutes drive from our shop in Turangi. Operating times are 9AM to 4PM from June to October. Whakapapa is known for its excellent beginner facility - Happy Valley, which is perfect for your first time ski and boarders!

View Trail Map

Getting up there:

The BRUCE ROAD is the Whakapapa access road that takes you to the base of the ski area. Its fully paved and suitable for any car - no matter how big or small (depending on the road conditions).

If its your first time visiting Whakapapa, we recommend reading our first timers guide on preparing for your journey and learning vital information regarding the changing road conditions and restrictions

Estimated travel times:

Auckland & Wellington: 4 ½ Hours
Taupo: 1 ½ Hours
Tauranga: 3 ½ Hours
Hawkes Bay: 3 ¼ Hours
Turangi: 40 mins
Ohakune: 60 mins
National Park Township: 20 mins

Mountain Road accessibility:

Make sure to check the DAILY MOUNTAIN REPORT for WHAKAPAPA, BEFORE YOU TRAVEL! This is paramount to making sure you can access the mountain safely. The status of road accessibility changes daily.

Carparking:

In previous years, carparking spaces on Whakapapa had to be booked online. For 2024 however, there is no need to book a carparking space prior to your arrival

Carparking is now first in - first serve. During peak times like school holidays and weekends, we advise driving up to Whakapapa earlier rather than later so you don't miss out on a park. We advise aiming for a 9am - 10am arrival (the earlier the better)

Road restrictions: 4WD or not?:

If there is snow or ice buildup from a frosty morning - or snowfall the night before, the road may become restricted to only certain vehicles.

Typically, if there is a road restriction, it will mean you MUST have either a 4WD car or AWD car, or a 2WD car with chains. You won’t know the road restrictions until the road report is released at 7 AM on the day. You can find this at www.whakapapa.com/report

If you had planned to drive up in a 2WD car, and suddenly you are not able to due to a restriction on the road - not to fear! You can usually purchase chains from local mountain shops, such as Snowscene Ski and Board in Turangi. If you are not comfortable with driving in chains - then booking a shuttle is going to be your next best option

Shuttle options:

There are many shuttle companies that operate throughout the winter season - allowing you to easily access Whakapapa when road restrictions are in place.

Most shuttles will pickup and drop off from the National Park Village 'Park and Ride' depot. See it on google maps

We have compiled a list of all shuttle operators for you to choose from. We highly recommend booking in advance. If the weather is looking marginal for Saturdays, then we recommend you book your shuttle the Friday night before, or first thing Saturday morning when we know what the road restrictions are for that day.

There is no free shuttle services being operated by the mountain company (Whakapapa) in 2024

Where to stay near Whakapapa:

If your looking for a nice, local resort town for your snow holiday, then you can't get much better than Turangi.

This mountain town is your closest option if you still want decent amenities such as tourist activities, supermarket, etc.

If you need some guidance on planning your ski holiday, we have a great article explaining all the items to plan for, and finer details to prepare for to make sure your holiday goes smoothly

Ohakune and Taupo are also good options if you prefer.

On-mountain accommodation:

If your tired of the commute to Whakapapa every day for your ski-trip, why not try staying at one of the club-operated lodges on mountain?

This can be quite a exciting adventure, and you always will be first on the slopes! Although you need to be a bit more prepared than staying at your local mountain town, the community vibe and lodge life can be a great experience.

Ski passes:

Whakapapa, Mt Ruapehu, has a range of ski passes that allow you to access either just the beginner area or the whole mountain. These differ in pricing, along with the sightseeing pass for the Skywaka gondola and sledding pass. For the 2024 season, Whakapapa passes cannot be used to access the same facilities at Pure Turoa

Pass Types:

All Mountain - Access all terrain
Lower Mountain - Access Happy Valley and Rangatira Chairlifts (both beginner)
Sightseeing Pass - Access the Skywaka Gondola for sightseeing only
Sledding Pass - Access the Whakapapa sledding area for 1 hour

Pass Restrictions

Weekend Pass - Access the facilities of your given pass, Monday to Sunday
Weekend Pass - Access the facilities of your given pass, Monday to Friday

Buying your pass:
All passes for Whakapapa need to be brought ONLINE at Whakapapa.com. This is the quickest way to get them. Once you have paid for them online, you will receive a confirmation email with a QR code. Scan this code on their self-serve ticket kiosks at the base of the mountain to collect your passes

Remember to purchase the mid-week passes if your skiing Monday to Friday to save some extra dollars.

Season passes:
Season passes are typically available either near the season end, or a few months before the ski season starts. They will start out at a cheaper price, and gradually rise in price. They are a great idea for someone who is committed to skiing or boarding many days throughout the season. Plus you get amazing perks like half-price passes for friends, discounts on retail and food and discounted season passes for children.

These perks and prices change seasonally, so its best to check and read the terms of the pass before you purchase. You can find information for this on Whakapapa's website.

Whakapapa Day Lift Pass Prices 2024	Weekend Price	Weekday Price
Adult All Mountain	$149	$99
Youth (age 5 - 17) All Mountain	$99	$59
Adult Lower Mountain	$79	$59
Youth (age 5 - 17) Lower Mountain	$59	$39
Infant (age 0 - 5)	FREE	FREE

Multiday Lift Pass Prices 2024	Weekend Pass	Weekday Pass
3 Day Adult All Mountain	$349	$249
3 Day Youth All Mountain	$249	$149

Ski rental options:

Mt Ruapehu does have a on-mountain rental option, but we HIGHLY recommend you pick up all your rental skis, boards, and clothing from one of the local ski-shops that can be found in your mountain town.

WHY? It’s much cheaper, heaps quicker to get fitted out (usually less than 20 mins compared to sometimes an hour on-mountain during busy times). Plus you receive lots of local knowledge on preparing for the ski field, and the conditions of the day BEFORE you head up. This local knowledge is GOLD, especially for first-timers to the snow, and can often make or break your day.

To make sure your ski holiday goes as smoothly as possible, we recommend visiting SNOWSCENE SKI AND BOARD for all your ski, boarding, and snow-play gear needs!

Lessons / learning to ski:

Whakapapa has its own ski school that caters to all ability levels from beginners’ group lessons to advanced private lessons. This is all organized by Whakapapa, so visit their lessons page for more information

Weather Conditions:

The weather at Mt Ruapehu can change very quickly and is known for its strong winds that whip over the mountain. Always be prepared with the right gear so you are good for any situation. Even on a hot, spring day conditions can change relatively quickly. Before you go, it could be a good idea to check out 'Mt Ruapehu Essentials' Checklist to make sure you have everything packed, and double-check the metservice website for weather conditions

What to expect:

Let's discuss what to expect once you reach Whakapapa. There are a number of facilities to make your stay for enjoyable, and some great ski-lifts and terrain for you to explore.

Happy Valley and Rangatira (Lower Mountain):

Happy Valley
This is Mt Ruapehu’s premiere learners ski slope. It contains a mixture of chairlifts and carpet lifts to make your learning experience as enjoyable as possible. This is also where all beginner’s lessons will operate from.

Lifts include:

Double Happy chairlift, and TWO carpet lifts.

Lessons can be brought from whakapapa.com, and will all take place in this area

Happy valley has its own building complete with a large cafe, toilets, storage area, and lesson ski rentals.

Rangatira Chair

The Rangatira Quad chair allows access to the Rockgarden beginner/ intermediate run and is the perfect step up for those who feel like they can graduate from Happy Valley to some more slightly challenging and longer terrain

Rest of the mountain (Upper Mountain):

The rest of the mountain can be accessed with the FULL mountain pass. This will allow you to access 100% of the ski-able terrain at Whakapapa.

Terrain

Terrain: 25% beginner, 50% intermediate and 25% advanced

Lifts (in order from the base to the highest elevation)

Sky Waka Gondola: Allows access to intermediate & advanced runs at the top of the mountain, the waterfall intermediate run, and sightseeing at the knoll ridge cafe
Delta Quad chair: A great beginner to intermediate run
Valley & knoll T-bars: Whakapapa's highest elevation t-bars, opening up a range of intermediate to advanced trails
Far West t-bar and Quad chair: A favorite for local skiers and boarders. These lifts open up a range of intermediate and advanced, on the trail and off-piste trails

Food options

There are TWO cafe’s with a range of food options for you to choose from (excluding happy valley bistro)

Lorenzo’s cafe: Situated at the base of Whakapapa, this cafe has a full menu and drinks available all day long.
Knoll Ridge cafe: Accessible via a ski or sightseeing pass on the Skywaka, this facility boasts NZ highest eatery - with 3 dining areas to choose from ranging from a restaurant dining experience to quick eats for a good price. This is definitely a must do for all visiting Whakapapa

Other facilities

Retail and rental stores
Toilets situated throughout the ski-field, with the best place for this being the cafes
Customer service center for all inquiries. This building is found at the base of Whakapapa, below the Lorenzo’s Cafe

Sightseeing / Sledding

A great day trip option for yourself, family or friends it to experience the snow at Whakapapa. If you don’t want to ski or snowboard, how about a sledding day and a ride of the sky waka gondola?

This activity is every increasing in popularity due to its cheaper costs and is a less stressful experience with young kids. Here are some things to keep in mind:

2024 UPDATE:
You now need to book sledding online, prior to your arrival. We would advise booking a few days in advance to make sure you don't miss out. Visit whakapapa.com to purchase sledding tickets

Be prepared: Even if you are not planning on skiing or snowboarding, you still need to be prepared for a mountain environment when you decide to visit. This means having warm, waterproof layers from head to toe. We have a great checklist for you if you are unsure what to pack, and if you find you don’t have these items - it can all be rented from SNOWSCENE SKI AND BOARD for just a few dollars.
Sledding options: There are TWO options when it comes to sledding. You can pay for Mt Ruapehu’s Happy Valley purpose-built sledding area, which consists of sled rental and sled lift usage for $15 - 29 per hour. Otherwise, you can rent or bring your own sled to use ANYWHERE on the mountain, except for Happy Valley Sledding or ski runs, for FREE! This is often a popular option as there are some great spots that you can ‘free sled’ at.

Visit Snowscene for SLED rental. Only $10 a day, and we will let you know all the best spots to take your sled and have the best time! Typically, the best sled spots are around the base area - behind the customer service building, and to the left of the Gondola loading area. (Please note, free sledding spots will depend on how much snowfall there has been. Early or late season, there may not be any options to free sled)
Sky Waka: Lastly, don’t forget to take a trip up the SKY WAKA gondola. The views from the ride up and the cafe up the top are phenomenal. The views are literally as far as the eye can see. You don’t want to miss out on this. Make sure to buy your Skywaka ride tickets online beforehand

Lift Pass	Sat/Sun Price	Weekday Price
Adult Skywaka Sightseeing	$59	$49
Youth Skywaka Sightseeing	$39	$29
Family Skywaka Sightseeing (2 Adult + 2 Youth)	$159	$129
Adult Sledding (1 Hour)	$39	$29
Youth Sledding (1 Hour)	$25	$15
Infant Sledding (0-4)	FREE	FREE

Benefits of visiting Whakapapa

It is the NUMBER ONE place to learn to ski, snowboard and experience the snow in the North Island. It has an amazing learners area that will have you improving your skills day in and day out

It's well organized. As long as you have your rentals sorted BEFORE you arrive and are familiar with checking the Mt Ruapehu Whakapapa Report - then your journey and experience up the maunga should be pretty stress free and enjoyable

The Skywaka gondola is a amazing experience for both skiers and visitors. It features world class views, and a cafe experience at the top like no other. Great for NZ families and tourists alike.

Access to the mountain is easy. Its a tarmac road all the way to the top, and as long as the road has no restrictions - its a super safe and easy drive.

Shortcomings of visiting Whakapapa

It can be expensive. Although you can mitigate this by purchasing a season pass, and organizing rentals off-mountain at a cheaper local shop, the costs of operating lifts, cafe’s and facilities in a mountain environment can be expensive - hence reflected in their ski-pass price.

Weekend crowds. Specifically, Saturday weekend crowds. Saturdays, no matter the weather, are usually pretty busy to the point that the ski-field can reach capacity. If you only have the option of Saturdays, then just be prepared for an early start to the morning, and slightly longer lift waits. Although if your just going to visit for a sled and a coffee, then there’s no need to worry about this if you have your rentals and passes sorted.

LOCAL SECRETS!

If you are travelling with bit of a crew, then it could be a good idea to drive right to the end of the mountain road - to the drop off zone, and drop off your passengers and gear here. Then one person can go and park the car in one of the lower carparks.
If you are after a great beginners run, but want to avoid the crowds - we recommend the 'Delta' chair which is a green run, but without the usual queues. You will need a full mountain pass to access this chair, and the return runs may be a bit tricky so you may want to take the gondola back to base

OUR FAVORITE RUNS:

Beginner / intermediate: Delta Chair Turtle Run. Open easy run with less queues.
Intermediate / Advanced: Really anything out west ways is great. You can pick whatever route suites your ability. Start at the top of the west t-bar, and make your way down the right side (looking down) all the way to the loading bay to the west chair.

Have we missed anything? Please let us know of anything we can add to this list :) Happy shredding!

Other guides

Rent skis for Mt Ruapehu with Snowscene - Book online