New Zealand is a country near and dear to my heart. It was my home for four winters, the birthplace of my full time ski career and where I met and got engaged to my wonderful ski gypsy man. It seems only fitting that a kiwi mountain should feature as my first destination post. It’s safe to say that faithful readers will encounter many more reports on the land of the long white cloud (which, subsequently, is also the title of a fabulous read). Without further ado, I give you: Mt. Ruapehu & Turoa.
Fully clothed, hop on a Naked Bus (for as little as $1) and head to one of the most bizarrely beautiful mountains you are likely to encounter. Home to New Zealand’s largest ski areas, Whakapapa and Turoa, Mt. Ruapehu is situated on the North Island of New Zealand. Try flying into Taupo to avoid a long bus or car ride. Loving life on the edge as only kiwis do, the two ski areas are not just settled on any mountain. In fact, Ruapehu is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, not to mention the largest in New Zealand. If ever you were to tick “volcano skiing” off your bucket list, this would be the place to do it.
For us Northern Hemisphere-ers, skiing in the summer can be likened to finding the holy grail. However, New Zealand resort conditions can range from several feet of fresh snow to bare gravel- it’s that variable. If you’re planning a ski trip to this Southern Hemisphere destination, you had better be praying to Ullr. This past July, I experienced fantastic conditions in the very first weeks of the season. In fact, there was so much snow fall that the first couple of days of my stay I couldn’t even get up the mountain due to closed access roads.
Snow permitting, Turoa should be welcoming skiers until early November 2013. My sources tell me there are still fantastic spring conditions on the upper mountain. Want in on some sliding action? It’s always winter somewhere.
The lowdown on skiing at Turoa
Lift tickets: $97, adult full day
Vertical: 722m or 2,368ft
Resort food: Typical NZ mountain fare is served from three different venues including pies, fries, burgers, pizza, hot chocolate and wildly overpriced bottled drinks ($5 for a Vitamin Water!). Giant Cafe, the highest dinning option on resort, offers hot mountain specials and has it’s own espresso bar.
Biggest reasons to go: Being the largest resort in Kiwiland, you will discover long, steep runs. It has terrain for all abilities, many friendly instructors and access to some serious adrenaline-producing backcountry. The Snowflake burger on the Giant deck gets rave reviews.
The downfall: Turoa is known for some pretty foul weather patterns that can change in less than 30 minutes. This results in a number of closed days and can make for some challenging travel on and off mountain.
Bonus fact: Some scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed on the slopes of Ruapehu in order to depict the fictional Mount Doom.
A special mention needs to be made for my favourite dark brew, as New Zealand has to be one the easiest places to get consistently good coffee. Looking for simple drip coffee? Good luck. Espresso is the way forward here and baristas are typically armed with some amazing pouring skills. My favourite is a flat white- a cross between a latte and a cappuccino. In Ohakune, try it for $4 at OCR Cafe.
For and off-slope adventure, consider renting a mountain bike at TBC from $35. You can head up the Old Coach Road for a moderately challenging ride between Ohakune and Horopito. Starting from Ohakune means mostly uphill pedaling, but shuttle services are offered for those wanting to start from Horopito.
Have you skied at Turoa? Leave a comment to share your favourite trails, food or activities!
*All prices are in NZD