We get asked this question all the time: what’s so good about skiing Whakapapa? For those of you that aren’t aware, Whakapapa is located on the northern side of Mt Ruapehu, on the Central Plateau – right smack in the middle of the North Island. So it tends to be popular for Auckland skiers; as it takes around 4.5 hours to drive, this makes it the closest skifield to Auckland.

Skiing Whakapapa has a bit of everything. Terrain-wise, it has plenty of wide-open runs for beginners (even some of the more advanced runs still offer wide-open areas for the above-beginner skier).

If you are a beginner you will love Happy Valley, it’s a seperate set of ski runs that are accessible by its own elevator (you actually travel down the Happy Valley). With its own cafe, Happy Valley Bistro and ski rental you feel seperate from Whakapapa’s main trail runs and chairs. You can spend the whole day there and learn to ski or board. However, we love the more challenging areas, which tend to be in the valleys and gullies—the most standout example of this is the Valley T-bar.

Whakapapa is the kind of ski field where you can spend the whole day exploring and still not cover it all, as some of the runs are not visible. The West Ridge Quad Chair & Far West T-Bar are not visible from the main ski field. The Sky Waka gondola has made getting up the mountain so much easier. Instead of messing around with older lifts or long waits, you’re straight to the top, and the views on the way up aren’t bad either. However, during peak times on the weekends, you can expect some delays for the Sky Waka.

When the weather’s good, it’s hard to beat. Blue skies, no wind, and one of the best views on a ski field in the country. Mount Ngauruhoe stands out like something from a postcard. And then there’s spring skiing! It’s when you get the snow softening, the crowds thinning out, and a relaxed vibe that we just love. It’s a great way to wind down the season—smooth skiing, empty slopes, and a bit of warm sunshine to top it off. Whakapapa’s just a good, solid spot for skiing, plain and simple.