We don’t get depressed about the arrival of winter –
for Ohakune people it’s a buzz of excitement as their town
comes alive.
Skiers
and snowboarders flock to the town through the winter to take
advantage of New Zealand’s two biggest ski areas, on Mt Ruaephu, run by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts. Mt Ruapehu offers over
700 hectares of patrolled skiable terrain on 50 groomed trails,
with almost the same area off-trail. Turoa provides the only
lift access to a glacier in New Zealand – to the awesome
Mangaehuehu Glacier. Access on the Turoa and Whakapapa skifield
roads up the slopes of Mt Ruapehu (both sealed all the way) is toll-free and both have free
shuttle buses and car parks, and the company now offers “seamless”
lift passes – you can ski either side of Ruapehu on the
same ticket.
Because
Turoa faces south-west on Ruapehu's southern slopes, it holds its snow well and in good condition,
providing drier snow in winter and great spring skiing right
through October and usually into November. The field is a natural
terrain park for skiers and snowboarders. It has wide open slopes
for cruising, as well as tricky chutes and steeps for advanced
skiers. Down below, the Alpine Meadow, with full snowmaking,
provides a sheltered haven for the first timers. As if the natural
terrain was not enough, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts creates an impressive snowboarding
terrain park at the top of the Giant Chairlift as well.
Ruapehu's Turoa has NZ’s biggest vertical drop at 720m and over
400 hectares. 12 lifts – 2 quad chairs, 2 triple chairs,
3 T-bars, 4 platter lifts and 1 rope tow.
For just 20 minutes extra travelling, Ohakune visitors can
slide on Ruapehu's Whakapapa Ski Field, which offers more than 30 groomed
trails as well as its steep chutes, couloirs and superb off-piste
skiing. Whakapapa is NZ’s largest ski area, with 675 metres
of vertical drop: 23 lifts – 1 express quad chair, 1 quad
chair, 4 double chairs, 4 T-bars, 4 platter lifts, 7 learner
tows.
Throughout the winter there are events on Mt Ruapehu to entertain
as well as challenge. There are regular races for the serious
adult competitor but also for juniors through to masters. And
there’s numerous big air, slopestyle and boardercross competitions
which are great for the competitors as well as for spectators.
Ohakune is the place to be after a day’s skiing or sliding
on Mt Ruapehu, with numerous bars, restaurants and cafés,
as well as a huge range of accommodation where you can rest
up afterwards, in readiness for the next day on the slopes.
Topping the entertainment bill is the annual Ruapehu Mountain
Mardi Gras on the first weekend in August – a massive street
party with fireworks, bands and street entertainers. And right
through winter there’s various entertainment in the bars
and restaurants – bands, DJ’s and comedians.
Get to Ohakune and Do It!
