When you’ve finished carving up the slopes and want to explore off-mountain, admire the views, and soak up the ambiance, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the ultimate winter getaway in Ruapehu. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 1.      A stargazer’s paradise With two national parks side by side, Ruapehu is a natural dark sky area in the Central Plateau. No traffic lights, minimal light pollution, pristine skies, and a vast natural wonderland all around you – Ruapehu is a true stargazer’s paradise. Check out the information panel about stars and planets at the Ohakune Carrot Adve ..read more

Mt Ruapehu, Monday 15 April 2024: Winter is on at Whakapapa with its 2024 season passes launching today, set to bring even more magic, perks, and the best value skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand.     Supplied by Whakapapa Whakapapa is focused on its mission to provide more kiwi kids with affordable and accessible opportunities to develop their love of snow sports. The 2024 season will see tamariki aged 10 and under ski and snowboard for free with the “purchase” of a child season pass before Wednesday 15 May 2024. Rediscover ..read more

Provided by Pure Tūroa Ltd We are excited to announce that as of today, Pure Tūroa Ltd has completed its acquisition of the Tūroa ski field assets from Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (in receivership). This means that Pure Tūroa Ltd is now the owner and operator of the Tūroa ski area, bringing their 18-month journey working with MBIE and the receivers to a close. Cameron Robertson and Greg Hickman, the directors of Pure Tūroa Ltd, celebrated the momentous occasion with staff and supporters. “We’ve all been working hard to see this come to fruition, and for a lot of the staff on the mountain, today will ..read more

After a thrilling day carving through the snow at Whakapapa Ski Field or conquering the majestic Tongariro Crossing, imagine sinking into comfort and tranquility in the heart of our quaint National Park Village. Welcome to Manowhenua Lodge, where relaxation meets adventure. Formerly known as Ski Haus, this cozy haven underwent a remarkable transformation in the winter of 2019, thanks to the passionate stewardship of local dynamos Thomas and Tracey. With a deep connection to the land and a vision for its potential, they set out to breathe new life into this accommodation. Their journey wasn ..read more

Three lives were tragically lost in a helicopter crash amidst the majestic Swiss Alps on Tuesday, April 2nd, leaving three others injured. Among the deceased are Jerome Lovey, the skilled Irish pilot, alongside Irish skier James Goff and their American guide, Adam George, who was renowned for his climbing prowess and co-owned the guide service Into the Mountains with his wife, Caroline. Despite the devastation, three British skiers managed to survive the harrowing ordeal, thanks to the swift actions of one among them. Edward Courage, aged 68, heroically pushed brothers Ted and Guy Hitchens, ag ..read more

The government confirmed on Saturday, granting Pure Tūroa Limited (PTL) a 10-year concession to operate the ski-field. It follows the government’s warning last month that a $7 million bailout for the field’s previous operator, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), “The concession means the public can continue to enjoy the recreational benefits available in the Tongariro National Park – one of the most majestic places in the country – for years to come,” Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said in a statement on Saturday. “The 10-year concession allows for outstanding Treaty settlement negotiations to unfo ..read more

  Luca Harrington (Wānaka, 20) has claimed the first World Cup podium of his career overnight in Switzerland, with a third-place finish at the Silvaplana FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup.   An ecstatic Harrington explained; “To get my first World Cup podium means the world to me, it feels amazing. It has been a goal of mine since I was a little kid and it was one of my biggest goals of this season, so I am absolutely over the moon!”    After numerous delays due to gusty winds on Sunday morning (CET), the decision was made to cancel the World Cup finals, meaning the results ..read more

  Finn Bilous (Wānaka, 24) has finished in third place at the final stop of the 2024 Freeride World Tour, held on the formidable Bec des Rosses in Verbier overnight NZT.    Bilous put down an incredible run, including a gnarly 360 over the Hollywood cliff and a huge cross-court 360 on the super exposed face, impressing the judges and delighting the huge crowd gathered at the bottom.   When asked about throwing the 360 off the Hollywood cliff, Bilous explained; “We came here last year, looked at this face for a whole week and never got to ski it, so it has been percolating a ..read more

  Snow Sports NZ athlete Tiarn Collins (Queenstown, 24) has finished just off the podium in fourth place at the Silvaplana Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup.    Collins laced together an absolute heater of a first run, landing every trick cleanly. His run included a backside 1620 melon grab on the second jump into a frontside 1440 stale fish grab on the third jump. To round out his run he stomped a huge cab cork 720 on the quarter pipe and finished off with a cab 270 on, 450 out of the final rail.   After the first run, Collins was sitting in podium position and was ..read more

  Snow Sports NZ athlete Alice Robinson (Queenstown, 22) has finished in second place at the thrilling Giant Slalom World Cup finals held in Saalbach, Austria overnight.   Robinson explained, “I am really happy to end the season with another podium, I think this year I may not have got a win but I feel like the consistency in my skiing has been the best it’s ever been so I am really happy with that.”   Tonight’s results marks Alice’s fifth World Cup podium this season and the tenth World Cup podium of her career, an phenomenal achievement for the 22-year-old.    With o ..read more