Mt Ruapehu is offering new places to click-and-collect winter passes to avoid queues up the mountain.
“We’re always looking for ways to streamline our customer experience and COVID-19 and its contactless requirements led to a re-think of our systems and delivery and Click-and-Collect is part of that initiative and this is now available in Torpedo7 stores," says RAL CEO Jono Dean.
After purchasing ski, snowboard or sightseeing passes via www.mtruapehu.com and downloading a QR code, people can head to 11 Torpedo7 stores around the North Island to print their passes.
“It’s a quick and convenient way to pick up pre-paid passes instead of standing in queues up the mountain to purchase and pick up passes. And we’re proud to partner with iconic New Zealand stores Torpedo7,” Jono says.
While in store or shopping online Torpedo7 is also offering season and life pass holders a discount on their purchases.
And again, with preventing queuing in mind the online pre-book carparking system will operate again this winter at Whakapapa, but only for the six busiest weekends of the winter season between July 31 – September 5.
“Bookable parking, accessed via our website, helps prevents congestion on the mountain and provides the guest a stress free arrival to the ski area,” Jono says. “And it’s free again this season.
“For those who don’t want to drive up the mountain they can book with a local operator to take them up.” Season and life pass holders won’t need to book.
Meanwhile on the mountain winter ski season prep is nearing completion with Whakapapa’s Happy Valley ski area on track to welcome its first winter guests at Queen’s Birthday weekend.
The snow factory has been pumping out snow for the past five weeks and there’s been a couple of dustings courtesy of Mother Nature as well. There’s also snow in the forecast over the coming week so the ski area is shaping up well.
Maintenance work is also nearing completion on T≈´roa with the team finishing concreting in foundations for a new snow fence. It’s designed to help catch snow that the grooming crew will then use to build trails.
The Sky Waka gondola and Happy Valley beginner ski area are scheduled to open for the winter season on Saturday, June 5, with the rest of Whakapapa ski area and T≈´roa to open on Saturday July 3, weather dependant.
And to add to the excitement of the upcoming winter season Mt Ruapehu has some incredible pricing for skiing and boarding, especially during the week when it’s perfect to escape the crowds. And there’s also new family package pricing.
Weekday passes are just $74 per day and there’s also some great family packages where two adults and two youth can ski any day of the week for $299.
Mt Ruapehu offers the longest winter ski season in New Zealand on its two ski fields, Whakapapa and T≈´roa. The Happy Valley beginner slope is scheduled to open on Saturday, June 5 and Whakapapa and T≈´roa on Saturday, July 3. The season – snow permitting – runs through until Monday, October 25.
