Whakapapa

Guys please enter whakapapa" into your GPS - I stupidly entered "mt ruapehu" into mine and ended up at the wrong ski field! After a long drive back we finally made it to the correct site. Guys if you want to do anything please book online in advance! Prices are quite hefty so try to cut costs by borrowing snow clothes / ski / snowboard gear. This mountain is a busy one but spaces are limited so recommend booking online prior to going."

Really beautiful placeYou have to be on time to catch gondola. Good restaurant on the top and more chiller there.

Very good skiing experience. For first times, make sure you take the skiing lessons. Amazing ski instructor

This place is amazing. It feels like you are in a dream. It is a must that you check the weather and book ahead so you won't be disappointed if you come on a random and bad day. Once you are at the top, you will be overlooking the clouds below. Constant flow of river-like clouds. Then I suggest you pick the tables at the window side near the alps if you want to eat because the view will leave you in awe.I also suggest coming early during peak season like that of Matariki day where everyone is on holiday so you can have a good parking space. Between 7am to 8:30 would be good before opening time of the Gondola at 9am. It gets congested quite fast so if you want to enjoy your meal at the top, come early. Then, if you want to go skiing, never go after 2 pm, or else you'll wait in line until almost closing time and might miss your schedule. This is during peak season only. On regular days, i think anytime will be fine. Enjoy!

We were there at 05:30am and we were able to park at the mountain.Cheaper if you bring your own sled.They need to put more toilets.

I had a wonderful time at Whakapapa ski field, one of the largest ski areas in New Zealand. The view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking, and the snow was perfect for sledding and skiing. I enjoyed riding the Sky Waka Gondola, which took me to the highest cafe in the country. The entry fee was free, and the price for the gondola and sledding was reasonable considering all the hard work put in to facilitate this place.Before going to the ski field, I checked the weather and road conditions from the Mt Ruapehu website, which was very helpful. The road was open, but I had to get chains or tyre socks for my 2WD car to go up to the mountain. There was a place where I could rent them along with other equipment and gear. Next time, I plan to come back for ski lessons, which are available at the Happy Valley beginners’ facility2m. I would suggest to purchase the tickets online to avoid the crowd, especially during peak season.Whakapapa ski field is a great destination for anyone who loves winter sports and nature. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a memorable experience in Tongariro National Park.

Went up for the snow. The next day, the ski field went into liquidation. So I'm not certain of its future but what a wonderful place. The mountain itself is magnificent.

Just an appalling and badly managed business and neglected facilities result in a terrible experience coming back some 20 years later. Use to visit Whakapapa regularly in early 2000s. Wow has it changed for the worst. Incredibly obnoxious and rude staff, mostly Americans so not surprisingly really. Filthy premises and dirty over crowed facilities.Endless ques for everything from toilets through to hiring, booking equipment, access food Seems everything has a $$$$ value attached and must be booked online but they don't staff the facilities with enough staff to cope with the hoarded and masses. Tiny eateries with huge ques to access food.Happy Valley endless ques for ski gear hire, the line never got shorter in 4 hours we were there. So we decided to take kids onto Happy Valley with the snow passes we had already pre purchased. An hour after being on area up a side away from any skiers or snowboarders.....a very angry and rude staff member who aggressively and rudely ordered us and some others to get off the field and go play in the carpark area. She yelled at us, this area is only for skiing and snowboarding.... I complained that there was no signage saying we had to ski or snowboard only...and nothing on their website.She got madder and threatened to trespass us if we didn't go immediately, yes she was also an American. So we packed up with kids and promptly left.....The first day we tried to get up the mountain we drove and were turned away as they had closed the road due to all carparks bring full, gates open at 9am.... We arrived at 9:20am. Weekday pass wasted as no shuttle bookings left and three disappointed children. There is just insufficient carpark facilities and these fill up with largely freedom sightseers who don't enter the fields. Or only go to ride the over priced gondola....As there is no parking management. Once the carpark is full it's one down one up rule, creating huge vehicle ques three quarters the way down the Bruce Road. This also prevent the private shuttle buses from getting to drop off points in timely manner. On bad days they close road completely and turn back everyone except the shuttles.As result legitimate customers whom have pre-purchased passes and gear are denied access to the mountain. Just a complete and utter fiasco.So we booked a shuttle $160 for the following day and managed to get on the mountain.Overall it's not hard to see why the business is in liquidation. Just a poorly run setup. No communication, no signage, rude arrogant narcissistic staff. Hoards of people, dirty rundown facilities, nowhere near enough toilet facilities, bad and grossly over priced fast finger food $12 50 for chips $18 for wedges, $9.50 for pies and $8 for sausage roles.Insufficient dinning space which is small and very cramped, people are crammed in shoulder to shoulder and kids get stood on and knocked over.....so we ate outside fortunately a blue sky day with no wind.Terrible snow I mean it's just groomed ice....Climate change has ruined the mountain. Only find good powder at 1900m or above. Most slopes are closed due to insufficient snow base. Best bring your ice skates as better suited to slopes than skis.My advice would be don't go. Save your money up and visit the South Island. Both Whakapapa and Turoa have been ruined by corporate greed, inept management and extreme over crowding with a gross under investment in infrastructure, poor staff training and hiring of people who have no personality of people skills.As the mountain is maintained via multi government agencies Department of Conservation, Waka Kotahi and Ruapehu District Council in conjunction with local Iwi creates an environment of complete chaos where nothing changes nothing improves.New Zealanders really can no longer access this mountain as rampant tourism and sightseeing has ruined it especially with introduction of the Gondola ride.Honestly Ruapehu Ski deserved to go bankrupt. Shame government has decided to bail them out to tune of 5 million...what a waste of tax payers money.

Was a lovely Easter Sunday and the sun was out in force, stunning views and very helpful staff with regards to asking how did they get the water up to make the snow, and where the natural springs came from.Had a lovely meal , and staff very attentive :)