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Advantages: Luxury, friendly atmosphere Disadvantages: Middle of nowhere if you aren't skiing or hiking
at the southernmost edge of the Tongariro National park, on the southern foothills of Mount Ruapehu, a very active volcano which is also home to the North Island?s two ski areas (Whakapapa and Turoa). Turoa is the ski field that is serviced by Ohakune ? all the accomocation is down in the village and skiers must daily brave the narrow knife-edge winding road leading up to the resort ? but, hey, this is New Zealand and the locals don?t do things by halves, particularly their famous love of adventure sports.
As well as skiers, this is also a good place for hiking. The Tongariro crossing is one of the North Island?s most celebrated trails and has the added advantage that it is only one day long. The area is in the middle of nowhere though, so if you leave the main road, you quickly reach places that feel like there are no humans for many miles around ...
Advantages: not too cold, nice views, close to lakes, beaches etc Disadvantages: slushy snow in later season, volcanic eruptions!
Whakapapa is a very fun ski field. I have been skiing there every weekend in the winter from the age of 3 so it is part of my history.
A relatively small ski field compared to those of North America and europe but very different. Whakapapa is situated on Mount Ruapehu in the central North island, an active volcanic mountain hosting one other major ski field, Turoa.
It has only blown up once while I have been alive, and amongst it but it was resonably harmless although very spectacular.
Whakapapa has many slopes of varying degrees of difficulty and an un patrolled area for experts called "black magic". The slopes are nice to ski on and some can be meandering around rock faces etc. The landscape is volcanic rock with some alpine shrubs and grasses. The snow is good when there is a solid base but can get a little slushy on a hot day ...
hunkaspunk 07.02.2004
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