In the middle of New Zealand's North Island, Taupo is right on the edge of New Zealand's biggest lake that stretches thirty kilometres towards the three snow-capped volcanoes of Tongariro National Park. It's the North Island's biggest and most popular winter playground where Mt Ruapehu hosts two ski fields, Whakapapa and Turoa.
Whakapapa offers beginners lessons nearly every half hour throughout the day within the fantastic surroundings of Happy Valley. The progression is then straight forward - skiing on the famous Rockgarden then up the Waterfall Express chairlift to a world of terrain for more advanced skiers.
Turoa, known to locals as The Giant, stands head and shoulders above the central North Island, also on Mt Ruapehu. With 500 hectares of south-west facing slopes and huge diversity of terrain, Turoa is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders.
Down in the South Island, the Southern Alps is a spectacularly rugged backdrop for some of the very best snow experiences in the Southern Hemisphere. And it's all so accessible and affordable. From easy to extreme, you are spoiled for choice in the South Island with the three main winter destinations of Queenstown, Wanaka and Christchurch. Queenstown offers Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski fields, Wanaka has Cardrona and Treble Cone at its doorstep, and further to the north Mt Hutt ski field is within easy reach of Christchurch.
If you've never felt the snow beneath your boots before, wherever you go you'll get friendly, professional tuition plus all the gear you'll need to make it happen. Or if you want to push the envelope and yourself to the limit, you'll find all the challenging runs and terrain you could ever ask for.
