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Whakapapa, New Zealand

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Whakapapa summary

Whakapapa (New Zealand's largest ski area since joining with Turoa Ski Resort) is part of Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest National Park and a World Heritage area. Whakapapa is operated under a license issued by the Department of Conservation and is owned and run by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd. There are 43 trails with terrain for all ability levels, including off-piste expert terrain. The ski area can be broken into three: Happy Valley (a self contained beginners area), the east side (where the majority of lifts and services are located) and the west side (highlighted by the lift accessed backcountry terrain).

Resorts close to Whakapapa include: Tukino (8 km), Turoa (10 km), Manganui (126 km), Rainbow (380 km), Mount Lyford (410 km),

	Trails (Pistes): 30	Halfpipes: 1
	Summit: 2300 m	Toplift: m
	Beg: 30% Int: 45% Adv: 25%	Terrain Parks: 2
	Vertical Drop: 675 m	X-Country: -
	Lifts: 14 ( 7 chair lifts, 7 surface lifts )	Snowmaking: 10%
	Gondolas / Cable Cars: -	Slopeside accom.: -
	Restaurants: 4	Acres of ski: 1100
	Bars: -	Nearest Airport: Taupo
	Nearest Train: National Park Village	Info phone: +6478923738 \| Whakapapa Resort Info Website

Visitor Reviews of Whakapapa

Andrew Crang from NEW ZEALAND writes:

Whakapapa, New Zealand's biggest ski resort and in my opinion-the best!. Whakapapa has an average snow depth of 3.5m in the peak of winter ( august-september) Along with breathtaking scenery of the three volacanoes comes the awesome skiing, great lift acsessed backcountry terrain and those double black diamond runs down the famous pinnacles. My obsession with skiing is all thanks to Whakapapa. Not only does whakapapa have those changelling runs but 5 lifts are dedicated to beginners. I took the famous "walk to the summit" and the breath taking ski down along with six inches of fresh powder. The far west in my eyes is the highlight of this ski area ranging from blue to double black diamond, this area acesses the three glaciers that run on the west side of Mt ruapehus whakapapa ski field. On a good year skiers can ski from summit (2797) to the grand chateau (800m) and the bottom chair is 1600m above sea level I enjoyed that run! all 15km of it! all I can say to you is ive been to america, ive experieced those powder days and I can say to you as an american Whakapapa is up there and with only 2% of the mountain used, who could no, one day there might be in excess of 200 lifts, 150 more than we have now. Come to Mt ruapehu and enjoy what I experienced afterall its in our summer!

2005-07-11

Click here to read 7 more reviews of Whakapapa or submit your own

Whakapapa on the map

(Also see our detailed Weather Map around Whakapapa, which will give you visual overview of current and future snow conditions)

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