Turoa ski area on the south-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu has Australasia's longest vertical descent and New Zealand's highest chairlift.
With the 6 seated high-noon express chairlift, Turoa has become a favourite among the more advanced skiers and snowboarders. The 6 has opened up powder filled bowls and valleys either side of the main mountain trails, providing exhilarating skiing and boarding to get your edges stuck into. With a dedicated area for beginners, Turoa is suitable for all abilities. They offer great snow school packages with instructors who are more than willing to help you improve technique or give you a guided tour. For the more adventurous, you can walk up to the top of the mountain to the crater lake and over to the other side of the mountain, Whakapapa, or ski back down the unspoilt mountain face.
Turoa Tips:
- For adventurous skiers or snowboarders, head to the top of the High Noon Express and hit either left for the Organ Chutes or right for Triangle to experience some exhilarating back country terrain with fresh powder
- Make sure you head up early to get a spot in the top car park as Turoa can get quite busy which means a bit of a hike if you leave later. Also, an experts tip is to purchase your ski pass off the mountain so you do not have to wait in the ticket queues
- Turoa’s weather conditions can be unpredictable and change throughout the day so ensure this causes no problems for you by adding extra clothing layers
- Turoa is a family friendly ski field, so be sure to check out the great package deals offered as well as the Kid Holiday Programme for all snow enthusiasts up to 16 years