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-   -   Skiing at Mount Ruepehu? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/new-zealand-83/skiing-mount-ruepehu-598272/)

Am Loolah Mar 18th 2009 4:09 am

Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
Well, that times fast approaching again when we would love to take the kids skiing.

We haven't managed it yet as last April daughter number 2 broke her leg!:eek: Selfish minx!:lol:

Just wondering if anyone knows about the season expected this year at Mount Ruepehu - it's closest to us. I'm wondering due to the recent fire there?:confused: Anyone know whether season dates will be delayed this year or the same? And what's the best way to do it, presumably it's all DIY, but I've found different companies for hire and lifts - we'll also want lessons. Any recommendations please?

Really want to be organised this year!:sneaky:

nero Mar 18th 2009 5:19 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
We did it DIY last year and it was brilliant - there are various options for staying near Mt Ruepehu from Hostels to Hotels and we stayed in the National Park although Discovery Lodge is very good as well. As for skiing packages you can get these on the day (including lessons, gear etc). They did not reckon that the fire would delay opening this year and will be open in June. They seem to reckon that it could be another great year for snow (lets hope).
If you are going from Auckland you can get an all inclusive bus, accomodation and ski package that leaves Auckland Friday and returns Sunday.
Checkout this website for more infohttp://www.mtruapehu.com/winter/
Hope this helps

pixi-dust Mar 18th 2009 5:23 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
I read somewhere that the fires weren't going to have an effect on the season, but there would maybe be some makeshift arrangements - can't remember for sure though!

Who in their right mind would climb a flipping mountain to set fire to it is beyond me.

We went for a long weekend last year and stayed at the Skotel - you can then hire all your stuff through them and we found the folk there very knowledgeable and helpful. The prices are fair and you can get your passes from them too. We just had standard rooms.
http://www.skotel.com/default.asp
We just did daily passes as we weren't sure if we would ski every day or if the weather would be good etc. As it turned out it was amazing.

The Skotel is absolutely fine, the rooms are small but you're so tired all you need is a bed! The breakfasts were good and set you up nicely.

Everyone said last year was the best snow on record and I have to say it was equally as good as skiing in the alps as far as I was concerned. Mind you we did have pure blue skies the whole time!

There's a pub down the road from the hotel which does nice pizza and stuff.

You can see it wasn't exactly packed!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26...P1010336-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26...e/P1010345.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26...P1010350-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26...dle/skiing.jpg
icicles!!!!

Am Loolah Mar 18th 2009 9:08 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 

Originally Posted by nero (Post 7391813)
We did it DIY last year and it was brilliant - there are various options for staying near Mt Ruepehu from Hostels to Hotels and we stayed in the National Park although Discovery Lodge is very good as well. As for skiing packages you can get these on the day (including lessons, gear etc). They did not reckon that the fire would delay opening this year and will be open in June. They seem to reckon that it could be another great year for snow (lets hope).
If you are going from Auckland you can get an all inclusive bus, accomodation and ski package that leaves Auckland Friday and returns Sunday.
Checkout this website for more infohttp://www.mtruapehu.com/winter/
Hope this helps

Thank you nero - great link!:thumbup: We'll probably drive up from Tauranga for a full day and then home again a couple of times, or look at accommodation if not too expensive for 6 of us.:eek:

Am Loolah Mar 18th 2009 9:10 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
Fabulous photos - right that's it, am definitely going to organise it this time - irrespective of any children with broken limbs!!:p

Thanks my pixi friend!:thumbsup:

TurnersNZ Mar 18th 2009 9:43 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
Er hmm I guess its time to self promote:D

I drive a Bus for Tongariro Transport so guess you could say I have some local knowledge of the area. ;) All I can say is I hope the winter weather holds off until June before the low level snows your looking forward to start to arrive. Last week was one out he bag with snow to the Cra Parks on Ruapehu and made the Tongariro Crossing a no go zone for a couple of days. When that happens my work is erm on hold shall we say ;)

The Fire had no effect to the Turoa Ski Area on the Ohakune side of the mountain and as for Whakapapa again the Chair will be operational by Easter fingers crossed to get the last of the summer sightseeing programme in. As for the Snow well that comes when it feels like it and the season is due to open in Mid June BUT DONT EXPECT anything beyond the lower learners faciltys to be open until the first week of July or until some decent snow arrives. Ruapehu is volcanic has big boulders to cover up so needs at least 1 metre of snow before trails are groomed up higher.

You right Pixi-dust who in their right minds would climb the hill to torch a couple of buildiings, but if you understood the local politics and some of the negative effects of the ski area influence you would find its not all fun and roses.

Accomodation well I will promote Howards Lodge where I work as well as Discovery Lodge, Plateau Lodge, Tongariro Crossing Lodge and National Park Backpackers of course theres the Chateau and the Skotel as well :D

You guys really should come down here in the summer its so much more beautiful than the winter months and so much more to do than just ski on Ruapehu. You also might appreciate why it takes so long to get the trails groomed when you see the Rocks.:ohmy: Put it this way from my own prespective I have more work in summer and during the winter have more headaches dealing with the hassle of people heading for two places only up on the mountain.

You will be surprised how many Brits you will meet working around here, quite scarey really.

Ok off to find some pictures to promote the area again :thumbsup:

bourbon-biscuit Mar 18th 2009 9:48 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
We did an up and back in one day from Hawkes Bay- right up there with the best days of my life (and dh's too). It was four hours each way, but no worries given the slopes opening times- we still got a full day, hot chocolates on the mountain after and fish and chups on the way home. Bloody marvellous :thumbsup:

TurnersNZ Mar 18th 2009 9:56 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...0420Medium.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...0418Medium.jpg

Taken on the 15th March we got an early snow dump it didnt last thankfully.

But this is what you really want to see

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...3922Medium.jpg

Geelong Gent Mar 18th 2009 12:06 pm

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 

Originally Posted by Am Loolah (Post 7392369)
Thank you nero - great link!:thumbup: We'll probably drive up from Tauranga for a full day and then home again a couple of times, or look at accommodation if not too expensive for 6 of us.:eek:

We used to drive down from Auckland for the day and although a long day it was still cheaper than paying accomodation on the mountain. Just means you leave early afternoon ie 2pm - 3pm.

You could try Turangi. Stayed there once in a place used by River Rats. Not flash but functional clean dry and warm.

Also you must go to the hot pools afterwards to soak away the aches - either at the bottom of the Mount (when you get home) or try the ones near Turangi.
As you come back from Whakapapa you come down over the pass (about a 3km straight drive down the hill near the dam). You will turn right towards turangi (if you head left they are about 3 km on your left).

bourbon-biscuit Mar 18th 2009 10:52 pm

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
We didn't leave until the lifts stopped- so we got up at 4am and hit the road at 5am, had a full days skiiing and left the mountain about 4 or 5pm (I think), stopped for chips and got home about 10pm.

I envy you enormously as coming from BOP you'll be able to stop for a starry soak in the Polynesian Spa on your way home and perhaps even dinner in Fat Dog cafe. I love Rotorua :wub:

Kiwiprincess Mar 18th 2009 11:19 pm

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
Regarding accommodation -for people who like backpackery type accommodation contact some of the ski lodges. They aren't always full at weekends - even in winter - and some of them do hire to non members. School holidays they tend to be pretty booked though.

Unfortunately one I would recommend burned down (Forest and Bird Lodge). Although that place was run down, the location was very good (not at the ski fields but just up from the Whakapapa Camping area) and they allowed alcohol.

Another one - across the carpark is the Crusader Lodge. It's a Scripture Union place and they don't allow alcohol (which would actually have put me off straight away!) but it's across from the Forest and Bird one.

Both places were around $20 a night. Not fancy but had full kitchen facilities and everything.

Skotel is good too. Chateau often has some good deals but you really need to keep an eye on them.

I would agree with TurnersNZ regarding staying in summer as well. Ruapehu is a great place in Summer. There are so many walks and things from even just an hour long to day long hikes (not to mention the Crossing).

Am Loolah Mar 19th 2009 9:10 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
Thank you all, great replies!:thumbsup:

I think we will try and do a couple of day trips as we are pretty close - my 16 and 14 year olds will love the 5am starts!!:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Now, as far as clothes go with have none. Well, clearly we have clothes per se, just no ski clothes. Do we need to buy them or can we rent them along with all the kit and caboodle when we get there? Only ask because I may feel a slight chill if I arrive in my beach gear ... :o

bourbon-biscuit Mar 19th 2009 9:15 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
You can rent *everything* and it's decent quality. TBH we found the 'packages' offered on the mountain for lessons, passes and kit&clothes hire were FANTASTIC. check out their website- even my then 5 yr old picked up skiing basics in an hour or two. Really recommend the whole experience!

Am Loolah Mar 19th 2009 9:23 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 

Originally Posted by bourbon-biscuit (Post 7396950)
You can rent *everything* and it's decent quality. TBH we found the 'packages' offered on the mountain for lessons, passes and kit&clothes hire were FANTASTIC. check out their website- even my then 5 yr old picked up skiing basics in an hour or two. Really recommend the whole experience!

Now, another query ...

There are a lot of recent comments on other country forums regarding the very said death of Natasha Richardson.:( Apparently had a pretty minor fall on a nursery slope and an hour later was rushed to hospital with a head injury that wasn't apparent at the time. I've not read anything yet regarding whether it was some kind of existing condition that was bought on by the fall. But the discussions now are whether a helmet could have saved her life? Should people wear helmets when skiing? Are they available?

My kids bike wearing helmets (as I do.) My son races go-karts wearing a helmet as a motorcyclist would - thank goodness. But they don't wear one skateboarding or on their scooters.

Does one see people wearing helmets skiing or snowboarding here?:unsure:

owen Mar 19th 2009 10:16 am

Re: Skiing at Mount Ruepehu?
 
Kids wearing helmets are becoming more popular, even on euro slopes. Very good idea IMO and I wsh adults would too, been thinking about myself last season but never got around to it.

In my line of work i see lots of traumatic brain injuries and you don't need a very traumatic fall to get one (iremember a very tragic case of a person just tripping over in their office). Again remember although a very real risk, things like this shouldn't stop people living life to the max. My kids? I'd definately kit them out.


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