Skiing NZ
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I'm a lifetime pass holder with RAL (seriously good value when they offer them) and have a bach down at Ruapehu that we can use, but we still go SI most years as well.
I think some of the info above is a bit out of date. Ruapehu - both sides - has improved heaps and I have barely ever had to queue for anything. The crowds thing I just haven't seen, but we never go weekends or school holidays. I love Cardrona but my experience has it busier than NI.
I will say this though, Apres in Queenstown is a shit load better than Ohakune for choice of venues and the central plateau is a bugger for predicting weather. You might end up in lockdown again. Take the board games.
Oh yeah - have a car. You will want to get out, go to Taupo, Whanganui, where ever, if the weather is shit.
I'm a lifetime pass holder with RAL (seriously good value when they offer them) and have a bach down at Ruapehu that we can use, but we still go SI most years as well.
I think some of the info above is a bit out of date. Ruapehu - both sides - has improved heaps and I have barely ever had to queue for anything. The crowds thing I just haven't seen, but we never go weekends or school holidays. I love Cardrona but my experience has it busier than NI.
I will say this though, Apres in Queenstown is a shit load better than Ohakune for choice of venues and the central plateau is a bugger for predicting weather. You might end up in lockdown again. Take the board games.
Oh yeah - have a car. You will want to get out, go to Taupo, Whanganui, where ever, if the weather is shit.
Ruapehu is great midweek and on a dodgy weather weekend when you can have gaps of visibility. Judging by last years visits though, the new Gondola at Whaka is pants. Mainly because there is now only one way up the mountain. I have never seen queues around Lorenz's and down the road to carpark 3 like that before. Fucking crazy.
Turoa has removed the Jumbo T and replaced it with nothing. One way to the top of the mountain and queues to get back up. I believe that the Giant has has an upgrade over summer (thank god) but three if the four main lifts are ancient old and slow.So enjoyed going to the snow in Europe where there has been infrastructure battles for some time now to capture the market. France got better than Austria then Austria went all out to beat France. Even 'small' and barely known ski fields will have fast 6 seaters with heated seats and storm covers.
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I'm a lifetime pass holder with RAL (seriously good value when they offer them) and have a bach down at Ruapehu that we can use, but we still go SI most years as well.
I think some of the info above is a bit out of date. Ruapehu - both sides - has improved heaps and I have barely ever had to queue for anything. The crowds thing I just haven't seen, but we never go weekends or school holidays. I love Cardrona but my experience has it busier than NI.
I will say this though, Apres in Queenstown is a shit load better than Ohakune for choice of venues and the central plateau is a bugger for predicting weather. You might end up in lockdown again. Take the board games.
Oh yeah - have a car. You will want to get out, go to Taupo, Whanganui, where ever, if the weather is shit.
Ruapehu is great midweek and on a dodgy weather weekend when you can have gaps of visibility. Judging by last years visits though, the new Gondola at Whaka is pants. Mainly because there is now only one way up the mountain. I have never seen queues around Lorenz's and down the road to carpark 3 like that before. Fucking crazy.
Turoa has removed the Jumbo T and replaced it with nothing. One way to the top of the mountain and queues to get back up. I believe that the Giant has has an upgrade over summer (thank god) but three if the four main lifts are ancient old and slow.So enjoyed going to the snow in Europe where there has been infrastructure battles for some time now to capture the market. France got better than Austria then Austria went all out to beat France. Even 'small' and barely known ski fields will have fast 6 seaters with heated seats and storm covers.
@Crucial The infrastructure was why RAL sold the lifetime passes - to raise some cash and the plans looked O.K. The Jumbo T was taken out by an avalanche. This is the plan:
"Sunset Express – replacement of the Jumbo TBar with a new detachable chairlift finishing uphill from the former location of the Jumbo T-Bar top bullwheel. This lift is longer and located adjacent to (not on) the existing Jumbo TBar line to reduce its exposure to avalanche paths."I haven't been to Whaka since the Sky Waka but that does sound fucking crazy.
All of the Turoa lifts are being upgraded and the snow making too. I hadn't noticed the SI lifts being any better than NI. Europe obviously is.
My only issue with Turoa is ice can be a bugger. South side and all of that.
Who knows what covid will do to the plans. I still won't be there for school holidays or weekends but I will be there.
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Has anyone here done much? I haven't ridden here since I was at Uni, 20 years ago.
In particular, has anyone spent time at the North Island ski fields? Is Ohakune a fun place for family to stay? (I had a wicked time there as a 20yr old working at Turoa for a season). Is it easy to get up the hill every day with shuttles etc or do you need your own vehicle with chains etc? And Turoa or Whakapapa?
Looking at spending between 2 weeks and 4 weeks somewhere in late June if it all opens up again
Any advice appreciated!
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That's a good article, Crucial.
I have in mind that you were once recommending a family-run lodge near Tekapo - but, maybe it was at Ohau?
Since no-one has talked about Rainbow - it's well worth considering if you are in Wellington (as an alternative to Ruapehu) and can make the economics stack up. Weekdays and even much of the time at the weekend you can ski straight onto the lifts. It's a basic commercial field - small cafe, ski-hire, instruction - main lift is a T-bar.
In a good snow year when the West Bowl is open it becomes quite a decent sized field. Even if the WB is closed, there's enough to keep you interested over a weekend.
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Great post Crucial.
Haven't been for 20 years when I did a 1-month roadie of the S Island.
Skied most of the places.
My favourites were Ohau and Dobson.
Stayed at Ohau Lodge. Great vibe, great food.
Stayed in Fairlie for a three nights. Bats way above its name.
If you don't mind a walk then Temple Basin is magnificent.
And heard very good things about Mt Olympus.
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@voodoo Oh yeah and June is normally "too soon" for Ruapehu as @Crucial said. Late, might be O.K. but a bit of a risk.
If it's any good I'll be there and join you for a beer (if you are brave enough).Reckon I could summon the courage...But it sounds like the SI supporters are winning the day. Maybe on my NI Road Trip though in a couple of weeks
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Great post Crucial.
Haven't been for 20 years when I did a 1-month roadie of the S Island.
Skied most of the places.
My favourites were Ohau and Dobson.
Stayed at Ohau Lodge. Great vibe, great food.
Stayed in Fairlie for a three nights. Bats way above its name.
If you don't mind a walk then Temple Basin is magnificent.
And heard very good things about Mt Olympus.
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I definitely like the idea of tacking a club field lodge stay onto a few weeks in Wanaka - are there any lodges that non-members can stay at on-mountain?
I definitely like the idea of tacking a club field lodge stay onto a few weeks in Wanaka - are there any lodges that non-members can stay at on-mountain?
https://www.mtcheeseman.co.nz/accommodation-2/
Usually at Cheeseman - Snowline is right on the field (but apparently isn't going to open this year). Forest Lodge is - I'm pretty sure - lower down the mountain so would require some travel up the road each day.
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I definitely like the idea of tacking a club field lodge stay onto a few weeks in Wanaka - are there any lodges that non-members can stay at on-mountain?
https://www.mtcheeseman.co.nz/accommodation-2/
Usually at Cheeseman - Snowline is right on the field (but apparently isn't going to open this year). Forest Lodge is - I'm pretty sure - lower down the mountain so would require some travel up the road each day.
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@MiketheSnow said in Skiing NZ:
Stayed in Fairlie for a three nights. Bats way above its name.
This is very good and made me laughout loud
@MiketheSnow said in Skiing NZ:
Stayed in Fairlie for a three nights. Bats way above its name.
This is very good and made me laughout loud
Really enjoyed the place.
Didn't take themselves too seriously.
Two pubs - Top Pub, Bottom Pub. Great welcome and craic. Watched loss to SA in Tri Nations at the Top Pub. Took it well.
Good food, baked goods and coffee at the Fairlie Good Bakery.
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@Chris-B Thanks Chris. Will send them an email.
Where do you stay to ski Ohau?
Ohau lodge.
That’s the one others have mentioned as well.
Different accomodation options from bunks to hotel style rooms. Not flash by any means but the best part is hanging around in the central area/bar sharing stories. Food is tops.
If you can, book one of the top end rooms with the view over the lake toward Aoraki. Stunning. Can always get the kids their own cheaper room. They would probably love being independent. -
View from room at Ohau Lodge
Beautiful but what type of space craft is emerging through the cloud there?
Altocumulus Lenticularis. They can sometimes stack up like pancakes as well. Usually seen near mountains next to plains. Pretty cool.
I sent that photo to the lodge a few years back as they requested a good copy to use. -
View from room at Ohau Lodge
Beautiful but what type of space craft is emerging through the cloud there?
Altocumulus Lenticularis. They can sometimes stack up like pancakes as well. Usually seen near mountains next to plains. Pretty cool.
I sent that photo to the lodge a few years back as they requested a good copy to use.Lentics are normally a lens shape hence the name, that is an interesting one. Caused by a stable layer of air above a mountain so the prevailing airflow effectively bounces between the stable layer above and the mountain below. Causes the condensation in parts and hence the cloud. Great indicator of lift and downdrafts when flying.
Anyway this is a skiing thread so this email from RAL just now:
*Lift OperationsDue to the time lost through lockdown, alongside the inability to bring in overseas expertise to work on some of our lifts, this means we will not be able to open every lift this season. Our focus has been on offering top to bottom skiing at both ski areas, with a beginner focused offering at Whakapapa’s Happy Valley.
At Whakapapa, the following lifts will be in operation:
• Happy Valley Carpets
• Rangatira (Weekends and inclement weather days)
• Sky Waka
• Knoll T-BarAt Turoa, we will be operating:
• Movenpick
• Giant
• High NoonThe Valley T-Bar and Parklane/ Wintergarden may open later in the season dependent on demand.
Whilst we recognize this might be some disappointing news for some of you, we had to make decisions based on a number of factors including: top to bottom skiing, reliability of the lift, ability to complete maintenance required and length of season we get from each lift.
As a result of not every lift operating, we anticipate that our maximum daily capacity will be lower than usual so we can still account for physical distancing and spacing on the ski area and in our cafes. We will be releasing more information on this as we get closer to the season, but do not anticipate this will have much of an impact on Season and Life Pass holders. We are also encouraging mid-week skiing as much as possible to avoid those inevitable bluebird Saturday crowds!*
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Lentics are normally a lens shape hence the name, that is an interesting one. Caused by a stable layer of air above a mountain so the prevailing airflow effectively bounces between the stable layer above and the mountain below. Causes the condensation in parts and hence the cloud. Great indicator of lift and downdrafts when flying.
Anyway this is a skiing thread so this email from RAL just now:
*Lift OperationsDue to the time lost through lockdown, alongside the inability to bring in overseas expertise to work on some of our lifts, this means we will not be able to open every lift this season. Our focus has been on offering top to bottom skiing at both ski areas, with a beginner focused offering at Whakapapa’s Happy Valley.
At Whakapapa, the following lifts will be in operation:
• Happy Valley Carpets
• Rangatira (Weekends and inclement weather days)
• Sky Waka
• Knoll T-BarAt Turoa, we will be operating:
• Movenpick
• Giant
• High NoonThe Valley T-Bar and Parklane/ Wintergarden may open later in the season dependent on demand.
Whilst we recognize this might be some disappointing news for some of you, we had to make decisions based on a number of factors including: top to bottom skiing, reliability of the lift, ability to complete maintenance required and length of season we get from each lift.
As a result of not every lift operating, we anticipate that our maximum daily capacity will be lower than usual so we can still account for physical distancing and spacing on the ski area and in our cafes. We will be releasing more information on this as we get closer to the season, but do not anticipate this will have much of an impact on Season and Life Pass holders. We are also encouraging mid-week skiing as much as possible to avoid those inevitable bluebird Saturday crowds!*
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@Snowy ugghh, sounds average. We are now booked for 4 weeks in Wanaka/QT from late June, fingers crossed for more snow and less restrictions
@voodoo Might be better down there. Had an email about QT today as well and they are hopeful of some good snow fall this week. How many lifts operate will be interesting.
*We’re stoked to be back on the mountains and gearing up for opening Coronet Peak on June 26 and The Remarkables on July 4. Work on the new Sugar Chairlift is charging ahead and we’re getting pretty excited with the forecast for early next week!
While Covid-19 requirements continue to change we are adapting our planning for the season as your Health & Safety remains our number one priority. You can read about our level 2 operations and updates for winter 2020 here, keep checking back as we regularly update this page. We will be flexible throughout the season and consider scaling up our operations if there is demand.*
Doing special prices for 3 peak passes as well.
