Since 1953, New Zealanders have been discovering their first love of snow at Whakapapa’s premier learner facility, Happy Valley, while more advanced skiers and riders hone their skills exploring natural bowls, wind lips and exhilarating chutes.
Snow fills natural gullies and rocky crevasses from June through to October. Whakapapa’s expert team traditionally enhances a snow base upwards of 1m from August, making for some of the best free-ride terrain in the Southern Hemisphere.
Vertical Decent: 690m
Ski Area: 550 Hectares
Elevation of the Top Lift: 2320m
Lifts: 4 x Chairlifts, 4 x T Bars, 4 x magic carpets
Beginner: 30%
Intermediate: 45%
Advanced: 25%
Spanning 550 hectares on the northern side of Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. Whakapapa is one of NZ’s largest ski areas & boasts the country’s premier beginner facility Happy Valley along with vast intermediate and advanced trails. Explore everything from cruisy groomers to exhilarating chutes, bumps & drops, made all the more exciting by the natural volcanic terrain.
The Knoll Ridge Café, in our humble opinion is one of the best Cafés/Restaurants on New Zealand ski fields. The reason why? simply the view. It is located at 2,020 meters at the top of the Sky Waka gondola.
The Knoll Ridge cafe gives you breathtaking views for a unique dining experience. You are surrounded by the beauty of the Whakapapa ski field alpine landscape.
New Zealand’s premier gondola experience (wheelchair accessible). It transports guests 1.8km up the Whakapapa side of the maunga 2020m above sea level and offers panoramic vistas across the volcanic terrain and neighbouring mountains, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. Skiers, boarders, and sightseers are welcomed to the architecturally awarded Knoll Ridge Chalet the highest year-round eatery in the country. The Sky Waka gondola runs daily, 10 am – 4 pm.
Families looking to give their kids a snow play experience can access a snow experience zone at the top of the Sky Waka gondola with a sightseeing pass. The Whakapapa sledding zone in Happy Valley offers fun for snow-seekers of all ages. Kids need to be 8 years or older to ride their own sled unaccompanied.
Travelling is an amazing way to expand your horizons. Each journey brings something unique, offering lessons that help you grow, adapt, and appreciate the world from different perspectives.
