Snow

Whakapapa Skifield - Cinder Track

Boarding and Skiing

Throughout the ski season the Tararua Tramping Club runs many ski, ski-touring, snowboarding, and instruction trips, including both weekend and week-long trips to Mount Ruapehu and often further a field to South island ski-fields. Check out the Club's snow ski and board fixture card.

Non-club members are welcome on all trips - but we also have one special rate weekend for potential club members!

Learn to Ski or Board Courses

Learn to Ski at the start of the season, then...

... compete in the Club Ski Sports Competition

Ski or Board Instruction with the Tararua Tramping Club is a great way to meet other beginners and the club skiers. We don't promise to turn you into a downhill champion, but if you're a little flexible and of average fitness, we will introduce you to skiing, in a fun, friendly and un-pressured environment.

The Learn to Ski or Board course is designed for the 'never ever' beginners through to beginners who may have been skiing a few times. Ratios are usually one instructor bewteen two to four pupils. Pupils are grouped with others of similar skill levels and abilities to make learning progressive and fun.

The course consists of an information evening on clothing and equipment held at the club rooms and two practical weekends which are held at the club ski lodge on the Whakapapa Ski-field. The practical weekend trips leave Wellington on a Friday night and upon arrival we usually walk up to the lodge, which is a 40 minute walk up the ski field. The trips return on the Sunday night.

With Ski Instruction, the hassle of organising your Learn to Ski weekend is taken away. We share transport to reduce costs and take care of the weekend food.

There is a course fee of $40 per weekend to help cover the club's instructors' costs, who give their time freely to coach beginners. For transport we usually hire a minivan which costs about $50 per person. Ski and Board rental is done in Wellington with a group discount ($40 ski/$50 board per weekend). Lift costs are the standard ski field charges and our Lodge charges are given here.

For full details of the course come along to our Ski, Board and Alpine Promotion Night (look out for the next on in June 2007) or one of the regular club meetings and chat with a member of the ski committee or contact Ski Lodge Committee on (04) 383 4980 .

Tararua Lodge - the Club's Alpine Lodge

Tararua Lodge

Many ski trips are held at Tararua Lodge, our club's alpine lodge situated right on the Whakapapa Ski field on the northern slopes of Mt Ruapehu, a 10 minute walk from the top of the Rock Garden or Centennial chairlifts.

Facilities at the lodge include 31 bunks, bathrooms with hot showers, drying room, full kitchen and dry stores, ski service area, comfortable lounge with stunning views of Whakapapa Ski field and Mt. Ngauruhoe.

Tararua Lodge can also be booked by clubmembers, non-clubmembers, and independent parties. For more information about the Lodge and booking prices, click here.

Ngauruhoe from the Tararua Lodge lounge

Sunset from Mt Ruapehu

Special Rates Weekend for Non-clubmembers

Non-clubmembers are welcome on all trips, but one special weekend is available to encourage skiers and boarders to come along and experience skiing with our club at member's rates. That's accommodation on the mountain for $20 per night! The next weekend will be in 2007.

Club ski trips to the mountain share transport to reduce costs and take care of the weekend food. All that you are expected to do is a few small chores. This makes skiing for the weekend a breeze. Trips leave on Friday night and we usually walk up to the lodge that night. The lodge is a 40 minute walk up the ski field.

If this sounds like you come and try us out. Spaces are limited, so book early. You may apply for membership after two trips with the club. If you have any questions phone Ski Lodge Committee on (04) 383 4980 .

Ski Trips for Families and Children

The Club runs several ski trips for family groups to Tararua Lodge on the Whakapapa Skifield during the winter season, ranging from weekends to week-long trips.

For further enquiries, come along to any Tuesday night club meeting or contact Pete Smith on (04) 386 2304.

For information about other ski trips run by the club, check our snow fixture card.

For more information about the other kinds of family trips run by the club, click here.

Whakapapa Expenses

Here's an idea of the costs for a typical weekend at the Tararua Tramping Club Ski Lodge.

How do I join in?

Upcoming ski trips are listed on this website, in the monthly Tararua Tramper magazine, and on the ski noticeboard at the club rooms.

To sign onto a trip, contact the leader of the trip to discuss the trip, transport arrangements (usually a car pool or a hired mini-van), and equipment. Alternatively, come along to any Tuesday night club meeting and put your name on the relevant trip list on the ski noticeboard.

If you need to hire ski equipment, the trip leader can recommend some ski hire shops. If you come on the Ski Instruction Course, the instructors will even pick up and return your hired ski gear for you.

For more information come along to one of the regular club meetings and chat with a member of the ski committee or contact Ian Howat on (04) 977 7517.