Winter is on at Mt Ruapehu! Whakapapa and Tūroa is pumped to announce that the winter season is poised for lift-off at from this Saturday, July 1, as the school holidays begin.
Day passes, Sky Waka Gondola sightseeing and sledding passes are available now to be purchased online, while season passes go on sale Monday, July 3, for a two-week period.
In exciting news for Life Pass holders, it is confirmed that their passes remain active and valid whilst Ruapehu Alpine Lifts operates the 2023 winter season.
As temperatures continue to drop, new snowfall has landed and is looking promising over the opening weekend – timed perfectly for the start of the July school holidays, with Sky Waka and snow play open.
“We’re back and ready to host an epic winter of good times on both sides of the maunga,” says Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive officer Jono Dean.
“Our teams have been diligently working on getting everything prepped and ready for opening weekend sledding and sightseeing. I’m so proud of our crew who have continued to put in the hard mahi during an extraordinary period for RAL, and we cannot wait to share the treats with all our loyal supporters, skiers, and riders later in July.
“We’re thrilled with the timing of the snow’s arrival and cannot wait to welcome our manuhiri back to the maunga. It’s time to dust off the thermal undies, sharpen your edges and come support the central North Island tourism operators and communities who deserve a great winter season this year.
“We’re also very excited to confirm for Life Pass holders that their passes remain honoured whilst RAL is in operation on Mt Ruapehu. We’re calling on Life Pass holders to bring the froth, bring their mates with them, and spend up in the cafes and retail stores to help keep the machine rolling for the season,” says Jono.
The Mt Ruapehu team will be progressively opening lifts and terrain on both sides of the maunga throughout July and into August as snow conditions and weather allows.
The Tūroa team are expecting to open all lifts, except for the Nga Wai Heke lift which is undergoing some last-minute maintenance and may potentially open later in the season.
