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Central North Island, New Zealand
Photo: Stas Kulesh kulesh, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mount Ruapehu, within Tongariro National Park, contains the largest ski resorts on the North Island of New Zealand.
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Located on the northern slope of Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa is the largest, busier and more beginner-friendly of the two large resorts. Has a large "Happy Valley" area for learners and tends be less windy than Tūroa.
On the south side of the mountain, Tūroa is the smaller and more challenging of the big two, with only a few blue courses for beginners but plenty of red and black trails. Winds tend to be stronger here and it's not uncommon for the chairlifts to close down at short notice when it gets too gusty.
By train
The KiwiRail Northern Explorer between Auckland and Wellington stops at National Park Village, from where there are shuttles to the slopes.
Travel between the two resorts requires a lengthy detour and takes at least an hour.
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Taupo · Regional · TUO
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