Sky Waka Gondola

Great views and well maintained facilities. The weather was sunny, but the wind speed at the top 42kmh prevented the SkyWaka from being open. Regular half hourly updates do keep you well apprised.

We went mid June- actually very excited because the weather said it would snow! Due to weather change there was no active snowfall! I would say the gondola rides are overly pricey for what they have to offer! If you are taking an eager toddler to make snowman then you will surely be disappointed if it’s not peak winter! It would be really good if they could have some activity for kids! Activities are very limited! We actually had expected to hire jackets and pants but they weren’t providing anything for hire at that moment!- would recommend to go prepared!Website needs to be updated! In saying this, very nice views!

Amazing experience, the views from the Gondola and restaurant are spectacular! Always best to check the weather before making the trip. The Gondola is modern, spacious & comfortable to ride. It does get quite steep in certain places and moves around side to side when the wind picks up so if you're a little afraid of heights you might need to reconsider. If you've ridden the old Queenstown Gondola you'll be ok. There's a restaurant & shop at the top. Food is pretty average & pricey. There's a snow play area outside the restaurant for kids to play around in if they haven't seen snow. Great experience for the whole family to enjoy...highly recommended.

The cable car ride up was great, with nice views and wasn’t crowded during our ride up and down (could be because it was summer).Enjoyed our time here with our 3 year old kid. Did a short walk downwards upon arriving at the top. Could have explored further and walked more if our kid could walk further without much help.

NZ$79.36 for two. If it’s a clear day it’s worth it, but not if you see clouds at the top of the mountain. We were lucky to have a glorious sunny morning with a cloudless summit.Clearly we visited during the summer so the place is almost empty. That’s good for visitors because you get a gondola to yourself!The craggy ridge is striking but the views are enjoyable mainly because one can see the inner workings of a ski resort.While there is a walk or two at the top the terrain is rocky, and unlike the European Alps there aren’t wild flowered summer pastures to enjoy.In fact the most interesting part of our visit was a ten minute conversation with Goody who was working at the top end gondola station. He knew a lot about the workings of the snow machines and the history of the area. It would be a really good addition for summer visitors if a temporary viewing area was created within the largely empty lounge. This could show a loop video all about the resort as per Goody!And I wonder if more non-snow attractions could be added to make the financials healthier? A series of water park-style chutes using the snow machine infrastructure? Mountain bike tracks? Skateboard ramps? All things people would buy tickets to use the gondola and other lifts for.

Really very fun! Longest gondola in NZ. I would recommend during the summer to go up and take a walk around the top. There is also a cafe up the top which is quite nice.

I had an amazing experience riding the Sky Waka gondola, the longest and highest gondola in the North Island. The gondola travels 1.8 km from the base of Whakapapa ski field to the Knoll Ridge Chalet, passing over waterfalls, lava flows and snow-covered peaks. The views were spectacular, especially of Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ruapehu.Before going to the gondola, I checked the weather and facility status from the Mt Ruapehu website, which was very useful. The gondola can be affected by the weather, so it's good to plan ahead. I also bought the tickets online to avoid the crowd, which was a smart move. The tickets were affordable and worth every cent.At the top, I enjoyed a delicious meal at the Knoll Ridge Chalet, the highest cafe in New Zealand. The cafe has a stunning design and a cozy atmosphere. There was also a sightseeing deck where I could admire the scenery and take some photos. I felt like I was on top of the world.The Sky Waka gondola is a must-do activity for anyone who visits Tongariro National Park. It's a great way to appreciate the beauty and diversity of this volcanic landscape. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature and adventure.

Sky Waka Gondola is an exciting experience. The staff is very friendly and give you a warm feeling of being welcome. On top of it: using the Gondola, you might see the impressie vulcano used for filming 'Mount Doom' in Lord of the Rings.

Great way to get up the mountain cafe at the top was really reasonably priced nice food insane views walking on ruapehu is tricky it is a volcano with rocky shale slopes do not underestimate this mountain it will chew you up and spit you out be prepared if your planing on tracking from the top of the gondolas.

You better visit it while you still can, the entity is $40 million in debt and on life support and got a further $4 million from MBIE to get it through the 2023 winter ski season.Come and see what your money has bought and I emphasize the word taxpayer money" has bought you.Global warming is making the company insolvent. Mt Ruapehu is the North Island's highest mountain.Described as one of the best short walks