The most beautiful mountain scenery in the Southern Hemisphere!
Mt Ruapehu is one of the most active volcanoes in New Zealand. In 1996 the ski resort was closed during almost an entire season due to a massif eruption! It definitely is a very unique experience to ski down the slopes of a volcano. When the weather is nice you can enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful view up to the west coast and the Mt. Egmont Volcano. 40 intermediate level trails guarantee that skilled skiers can spend several days at Whakapapa without getting bored. And those looking for real challenge can venture into the difficult “Black Diamond” terrain in the “Amphitheatre” and “The Pinnacles” area (details see expert category). In case the ski resort is very highly frequented we recommend the trails at the “West Ridge Quad” (B) and the “Far West T-Bar” (A) in the western parts of the ski resort. These trails are much less frequented as the terrain at the “Waterfall Express Chair” (K) (see trail map).