TL;DR
Discover the excitement at New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu as a perfectly timed snowstorm blankets the ski fields at Tūroa and Whakapapa. With Tūroa's upper slopes now boasting 80 inches of snow, the much-awaited High Noon Express lift is all set to open this Sunday. Whakapapa is also gearing up for an early opening of the Knoll Ridge T-Bar and far west trails, thanks to the abundant snowfall. After two years of closure, some areas are finally reopening, and the team is working diligently to prepare the runs and lifts. Additionally, visitors can conveniently collect their passes from select retail locations in the North Island. Don't miss out on the winter wonderland adventure awaiting at Mt Ruapehu!
The recent storm blast has come at the perfect time to replenish the snow base of New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu just before the weekend. At Tūroa ski field, the upper slopes now boast an impressive 80 inches (2 meters) of snow. Skiers and snowboarders are eagerly awaiting the opening of Tūroa's High Noon Express lift, which is currently undergoing final checks and is scheduled to open from Sunday. Meanwhile, over at Whakapapa, the Knoll Ridge T-Bar is expected to open on or before the upcoming weekend.Thanks to this generous snowfall, Whakapapa is making preparations for an earlier-than-expected opening of its far west trails and T-lines. The hardworking team is diligently de-icing and grooming the runs, eagerly awaiting a suitable weather window to install the haul rope on the Far West T-Bar. Additionally, for the first time since 2021, they will be firing up the West Ridge Quad. Snow has even made its way to the lower levels of Whakapapa, allowing the beginner's area to open the Double Happy run for the first time in two years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ruapehu NZ (@visitruapehu) “Fresh snow is falling, and we are thrilled to be able to get more lifts going for skiing and riding much earlier than what has been possible in recent years. Our de-icing, maintenance, and grooming teams are working round the clock to open the Knoll Ridge T-Bar and High Noon Express for guests over this weekend. We’re eager to open maximum terrain and lifts now that winter proper has arrived and provide our skiers and boarders with a great value winter season over the next twelve weeks. Guests planning to visit Mt Ruapehu’s ski fields this weekend and over the coming months are strongly encouraged to plan their trips early and save time and purchase their passes online prior to arrival.” — Jono Dean, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Chief Executive Officer
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
