Whakapapa at the Mt Ruapehu - New Zealands largest ski resort!

In comparison to the Southern Island the North offers only few very high mountains. The 2797m high “Mt Ruapehu Massif” in the Tongarino National Park is the highest elevation on the North Island and features with “Whakapapa and Turoa” the largest ski resorts in New Zealand. Whakapapa Village at the north-west face of the volcano is a four hour drive away from Auckland. From Welingon, New Zealand`s capital it’s 4, 5 hours. We recommend to travel there via the “State Highway 4” up to the village “National Park”. From there take highway 47 to Whakapapa. Unlike the ski resorts in the “Southern Alps” on New Zealand`s South Island, Turoa and Whakapapa are very comfortably and easily accessible via tarred access roads. It is still recommendable to carry along snow chains in the winter months or make use of the shuttle buses in the valley (with costs). In Whakapapa a large parking lot is located right at the base. However especially on weekends the resort is very well frequented it is therefore recommendable to start the day at Whakapapa early.