North Island's Happy Valley ski area on track for Queen’s Birthday Weekend opening

Preparations for the winter ski season are well underway at Mt Ruapehu’s Happy Valley ski area with the location on track to welcome its first winter guests as of the Queen’s Birthday weekend early next month.

Whakapapa Ski Area Manager Steve Manunui says that the team is confident and excited about the upcoming season, advising “the snow factory has been pumping out snow for the last four weeks and there’s been a couple of dustings as well. There’s also snow in the forecast over the next week so it’s shaping up well.”

Depending on weather, the Sky Waka gondola and Happy Valley beginner ski area are scheduled to open for the winter season on Saturday 5th June with the rest of Whakapapa ski area and Tūroa to open on Saturday 3rd July.

All facilities at Whakapapa will be ready to open as the season progresses with the maintenance team working hard catching up on lost time caused by COVID-19 disruptions last year.

Manunui added “maintenance work is on track on the Valley T-Bar and West Ridge Quad, and maintenance is underway on all the other lifts. Also, a couple of months ago cable maintenance was completed on the Sky Waka gondola.

“We’re also busy with a general tidy up of the ski areas and ensuring that our processes are streamlined ready for the busy winter months ahead - for both New Zealand and Australian visitors.”

Mt Ruapehu has also revealed upcoming winter season pricing for skiing and boarding, with weekday passes costing $74 per day and family packages where two adults and two youth can ski any day of the week for $299.

Located close to the popular holiday spots of Rotorua and Tauranga, Mt Ruapehu offers the longest winter ski season in New Zealand on its two ski fields, Whakapapa and Tūroa.

Snow permitting its season will run through to Monday 25th October.

Image: Mt Ruapehu during the winter season. Credit: Mt Ruapehu ski area.