Reviews of Whakapapa. (Ice Cream) in Palmerston North (Manawatu Whanganui).

Whakapapa

0 Reviews

198 Comments

Ice cream

Ski resort

Manawatu-Wanganui 3989, New Zealand

View all the reviews

Description Map Open Hours Reviews Contact Photos

Description

Information of Whakapapa, Ice cream in Palmerston North (Manawatu Whanganui)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

We still don't have any reviews on this place

Map

Open hours of Whakapapa

Sunday

9am–4pm

Monday

9am–4pm

Tuesday

9am–4pm

Wednesday

9am–4pm

Thursday

9am–4pm

Friday

9am–4pm

Saturday

9am–4pm

Reviews of Whakapapa

Was a lovely Easter Sunday and the sun was out in force, stunning views and very helpful staff with regards to asking how did they get the water up to make the snow, and where the natural springs came from. Had a lovely meal , and staff very attentive :)

Well worth going up in the gondola to the cafeteria at the top. The return trip is about $38 per person from memory. The senior's rate is $25 per person. The cafe at the top has a good selection of food and drinks and is a surprisingly large building. Great experience.

A beautiful area for a short or long break. Multi day walks, or a few hours. The Sky Waka gondola is great to see Mt Ruapehu in summer as well as winter. Loved it

My partner and I had a most wonderful experience with exceptional weather to boot. This is a must do for all.

Went up the skywaka, weather was brilliant, food at the cafe was good and very reasonably priced. Skywaka is a little pricey but good for a one off trip. It was also extremly quiet due to it being off season but at least expected it to be a bit busier since it was school holidays.

Great family adventure and skiing experience. Awesome F&B services. A must visit during Winter months or early Spring!

What a great day. So happy to have been able to go up the Sky Waka, would recommend it to everyone.

An amazing experience without the snow. Pinnacles restaurant was lovely and I loved all the alpine plants

Whakapapa Holiday Park was amazing. The campground was lovely. Lots of stoves in the kitchen. Laundry was wonderful. 2 washing machines and dryers that catered for big items. At $4 each for washing and drying. Also had a drying room right there to hang clothes etc. We were parked in our caravan in a little area surrounded by bush with power and lights to show you where to go for the amenities. The showers were hot. Toilets were lovely and clean. Bath tub we did not use, but it was available. Dump station was available as well. Lovely.

I've lived in NZ all my life. I am almost 40 and this wasy first time up the mountain. This place was absolutely stunning, I was in total awe. Totally worth the $49 ride in the Sky Waka for a few hours in the snow with a beer. Go out of School Holidays!

Great place to spend day with the family if you love the snow! There is so much to do here, happy valley has plenty to do for the kids and those learning. Sky Waka will take you up the mountain for some killer views, and there are cafes both on top and bottom of the mountain. There is plenty of parking, but on a busy day, if you park in the car parks further away, it is a bit of a walk. The road up to Whakapapa is completely sealed and very good quality, take care during bad weather. Book for sky waka to avoid waiting times.

We went in the worse day as there was a very strong storm and made the whole trip not enjoyable , an advice to who ever is going don't book everything ahead first make sure of the weather on the same day , and i booked some unnecessary things like gondola it was frozen that day and couldn't see anything and also the slide that was only a short one and not worth it , also another advice is to wear waterproof clothes if you were gonna ski or play in the snow , another tip don't book a shuttle it was the worse idea take too much time , just put chain to ur car and drive

Lovely place to come even if you're not skiing...or your kids are young and just want to see snow! Beautiful fresh air and so close to Taupo. Definitely worth a trip

There are equipment and clothing available to hire here! Very cheap to hire $10each for jacket pants and helmet. You just have to bring your own goggles and gloves! Ski's / snowboard / boots, come with the pass you purchase online or at whakapapa. I definitly recommend you bring sunglasses here as the snow can be quite bright !! These photos were taken on a very busy day Also the food is very expensive! Costs more than your hired clothes, and often cold or not cooked nicely maybe because of it being busy

Happy Valley was awesome for the kids. The only thing I would recommend, when its a busy time maybe have an online booking line and some more staff if thats possible. We had such a great day. Will definitely be back.

Great day of fun. Food was below average for the price, everything undercooked, possibly due to being so busy. But we had great fun and it snowed a couple of times briefly which we all loved so much.

First time ski’ing in NZ during level 2 Covid times. Used the shuttle bus $40 each return from The Park hotel upto mountain and was dropped a 2 min walk from Happy Valley. Considering we’re “supporting local business” I was quite shocked to see no discounts or special offers for ski rental or passes. I guess they have a captive audience though as the ski field was pretty busy. The snow was ok but not the best but it is coming to the end of the season. I was only spectating but was told I’d have to pay $95 for a pass to set foot on the nursery slope to take some pictures..I declined paying and just used my husbands pass. The cafe at Happy Valley had a limited selection of drinks and snacks and is overpriced so take your own food and drinks if you can.

Great ski resort. Gondola is a must but would recommend to purchase tickets online as the queue can be quite a wait. Also bring chains or drive a 4WD or an AWD or purchase snow chains/snow socks at the Whakapapa village. Great food choice at the top too.

The last time I bought the kids here was back in 2014, this time we came this year in 2021. Not much changes but sad to see that they charge so much just to go tobogganing, In the past you didn't have to pay to get down and play in Happy valley. And it's not a measly amount they're charging they charge quite a lot!! I get you have no overseas tourists coming in and you have to make your money somehow. But still what a rip, as if the cafes aren't already expensive they charge food at tourist prices which is just ridiculous. $15 bucks for fish and chips get real and it's a pitiful amount other than that we had fun playing where there was no health and safety. We watch our kids anyway so we don't need that all in all the kids had fun though.

We took the kids to the snow for the first time to Whakapapa Ski Field last year. Sledding passes can be purchased from the Happy Valley Rentals Building for $20, 1 hour sledding time. We also took the Sky Waka up to the top and there is more areas for the kids to play with snow there

Awesome place! Sky Waka was an experience. & we played in the snow using our rubbish bags lol! Fun times! Yummy food! Beautiful weather! Great company!

Had amazing pics when I was there 7 months ago. Wonderful views from the carport area but there was a slight haze for distant photos. Opportunity to see some plants & flowers blooming when the snow has receded. Got the chance to see what it is like without much snow.

It was a good experience. For this location I can say journey should matter rather than destination. The only thing to see there is snow. Yeah you can enjoy skiing too. One important thing if you are going first time search for Whakapapa instead of National park or Mt. Rupehu..Cheers

Á.

I am from Europe so I saw many ski fields in my life. This one is not bad but if you are experienced you will getting bored soon. (I just miss the trees around) but the vibe is cool. During winter is really busy (you must to book your car in the parking on weekend or you can not go up) only you can go up with 4x4 car or winter tires or chains ⛓ on the tires. They will check your car before you going up.

Absolutely enjoyable. Great birthday present. Whole Family went up...not as busy at the moment so terrific time to go. Staff absolutely wonderful both on the Waka and in the restaurant. Thanks for a wonderful day

Amazing family adventure trekking the Waterfalls Decent trail. Took just under 2hrs. Make sure you have good footwear I regret wearing sneakers/runners, wish I had wore tramping boots with ankle support. Makers were somewhat easy to identify and follow although we had limited 100m visibility at best. Lots of beauty to admire on the stark volcanic landscape.

Absolutely amazing place to visit. We just had the one day there but looks like there is plenty to keep you busy. The cafes were actually really good value and the food was decent. Can't wait to come back and hopefully being my kids one day. They would have a blast.

Nice. Lots of parking just up from The Chateau. The snow is still soft enough in places to play in and for the kids to throw snowballs. Nice and tidy. Not many toilets or rubbish bins in the area

Magnificent views on a clear day. The gondola trip alone worth the trip

Awesome on a good day, lots of options for walking.

We went there for some fun. Not too crowded at this time. Just enough for us to enjoy our photo shoot.

Was so amazing... The view from the top of Mt. Ruapehu is really amazing.. About the gondola, price is really affordable. Also there is a cafe on the top which is very good price too. If you want to have a lunch at the buffet restaurant, you need to make a reservation other wise you can always able to have a lunch at the Back cafe (no need reservations). It's cold on the top, so a proper clothes required. Really recommended, will be back here again!

Great ski field with a fantastic learners field. There are plenty of great slopes to ski and the Sky Waka makes the initial trip quite enjoyable. There are some great cafes to visit but be warned they can be quite pricy

Fun so much fun but very very busy especially the food establishments it's not easy to get a table!

The Sky Waka was awesome! I suggest going on a fine day, when we went it was a bit cloudy though it was stil an excellent view and not to badly priced!

Totally breathtaking views from here. You can see people ski from the top. And it looks like crazy how people can ski and fast. I really loved this place. They have two areas one is from the toilet side and one is the back side of the retail counter. Must visit both side.

Excellent place for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, love the variety of trails from beginner to advanced levels. I would recommend visiting during weekdays when it's not insanely busy, you would get much more quality skiing time by not being stuck in the queue for chairlifts.

It if get there any time of the year, visit the a cafe on top of the Mountain. It has gorgeous view. Food is as everywhere, good, but not outstanding.

Review is not for skiing/snow boarding - just for snow play. A bit less accessible for the public for just snow play - most areas require a pass to access (there is still a small free public area outside). The Sky Waka is quite a pricey affair - but it does allow you to access a bigger snow play area and quite a good view. With Level 2 restrictions the limitation on parking spaces makes it a bit of a pain if you don't camp the parking website and they are limiting shuttle passengers to 300 so try and get in early.

Á.

With level 2 restrictions in place and crazy weather we couldn't enjoy the full swing of the ski arena, but still had two days of snow fun and first attempts at skiing for the little ones. Great facilities, helpful staff and an amazing mountain!

Nice place. Staff are super kind and they work hard. The lift at happy valley looks a little old and really busy, the most time waster.

Was chasing cyclists doing both this and the Ohakune climb. Great little coffee cart just past the Chateau. Incredible views all the way up.

Not much snow at the mo! But it is early in the season. We had a perfect bluebird day!.

Very good place to experience snow sports and to experience snow, coming from tropical country is totally an amazing experience. It is advisable to be early and with the new online system booking of parking you are assured to have parking spot and not to be turned around or lining up for so long. The new facilities that have been built like the Gondola and Sky Waka are very good for all ages. Nice to see the view from the top.

Very confusing for first time visitors. 1. No parking= No snow. 2. If you dont have parking booked ( or a shuttle) you wont get access. 3. The website does not limit ticket sales, so you could spends hundreds of $ and be refused access due to no parking/ no shuttle availability. 4. Cannot book sledding in advance or online- we tried repeatedly over 24hrs to get a parking spot, finally succeeded 5am the morning, then drove with still a chance that the sledding would be sold out. Queued for 40 minutes ( It problems), then only 2 lanes open. 5. There are no ' free play snow areas'. 6. If you did manage to secure parking, pack a bag with water, snow boots etc and take it up with you. Its quite difficult to walk uphill with all your gear. 7. Happy Valley is extremely busy. As a 'first time on snow skier' we were totally overwhelmed by the sheer nr of people who clearly aren't beginners. It would be great if there was a dedicated 'beginner beginner' area. 8. Book lessons, its worth it.9. Once you have parking secured, book your ski passes online- it will save you from standing in a very long queue on the day.

Awesome if you catch the scenery on a clear warm day. Advise to leave early to beat the crowds and be patient on the road as it gets windy and you need to be aware of patches of road that dont get a lot of sun - can be slippery. You can catch a shuttle to the main building. Car parked was packed but we found a quiet spot.

Went to the pinnicles for lunch, off season so no snow, can't believe we ski on top of all the rocks. A very different view of the slopes but views out just as impressive.

Good slopes for all skill levels. If you really want the best experience go on a week day where there's no crowds. If you go on a Saturday definitely be sure to book parking, especially if you plan to rent gear there. Staff are all very friendly.

Had my first snow experience here! Best to go up there with a 4WD if not shuttle services are available for $20. Lots of activities such as skiing, sledging etc. There's only one resto, so better bring own food cos lines can really get long.

Nice place. Won't say that you can expect a great view. Also, the place is too much crowded during season time. However, it's a very good place to go in the weekend if you live in Wellington or Palmerston North. The nearby lake Taupo is an additional gift to your weekend tour!

Amazing view at the top, you need to do the skywalk, otherwise you spend a lot of money just for the restaurant. Price for the Gondel ride is 49$ inkl. return. No pay wave available, if you pay per credit card you will be charged an additional 1,75% fee. When you leave the Gondel at the top, the skywalk begins right next to the restaurant. There’re also lockers and free water refills, the water has a great taste. The skywalk will took you around 1:00-1:45h inkl. return, it depends on your physical condition. Some parts are a bit difficult, cos the ground is very slippery. But it’s worth the long trip up to the top, be careful at the top, cos it could be very windy and there’re no barriers. You can easily fall from the top.

Very friendly staff everywhere we went from the kids sledding area to the skiing instructor and the gondola operators... this was our first skiing trip as a young family and will definitely be back... the views from cafe at the top of the mountain is amazing...

This is, on a good day, the greatest resort terrain in the country. There is a massive variation of aspects and features, and remarkable buildings and facilities. The hut culture is like nothing in the world. The staff sometimes seem to be a little behind the play in responding to machinery failures or weather events but there has been a huge push on infrastructure lately, so hopefully we'll see more of a focus on upkeep and and operations in future seasons.

Aboard the gondola lift are stunning 360d views of the magnificent snow covered slopes of Mt Ruapehu. Wherever you turn the sights take your breath away. Nevermind the crowd, the noise and stress while waiting in the qeue to board the lift, the ride is worth it and the views will leave you in awe. The buiding at the top is very nice but it was very crowded and took us a wee while to find seats. Food was delicious, and reasonably priced. Other than looking at the views, not much to do at the top. Hopefully, they'll add more activities/ exhibits and areas where guests can explore outside.

Think we had the post-covid / early season experience. Happy Valley is a decent slope. I ski’d years ago and was very comfortable on the slopes. Only the carpets were working and were congested, I ended up walking up and down. Good coffee. Not sure why there was no food on offer other than a few sweet things and some bags of chips? The place was pumping? Could have had some pies at least? Would love to explore more of the mountain later in the season.

Nice day activity with a a scenic restaurant area on top. A bit expensive as previously mentioned, but you get free water and seats to hang out up there ;) Looks like it's also possible to hike the way up. There are a few trails out here, too.

Me and my friends were afraid that the road might be closed due to the rain but luckily the skies cleared up the next day. It's our first time here and we really enjoyed ourselves. The view is magnificent going up and down the mountains. Car park can be challenging though especially if you are coming in later in the day

First time skiing and experiencing a snowy wonderland like this. This place was huge with many different tracks and slopes (for beginners to experts). It was very crowded when we got here on a Sunday. Getting here was quite the challenge, there are buses that bring you up to the resort from Whakapapa Village or National Park. There's usually a long queue for the buses and it's paid (about $6 from National Park and $20 from the village). Prices for the rental equipment and entry were also quite high (paid about $182) but the rental system and team were really efficient. Had a good 5 hours worth of skiing before having to return the equipment at 4pm. Might try snowboarding next.

We went at the start of winter so due to not enough snow unfortunately the sledding side wasn't open (and our little ones were not ready for skiing lessons) But we had so much fun playing in the snow, will definitely go back.

There's a new way to go up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful scenery which has made it more convenient and safer - the Skywaka. I love the new building for restaurants, café and clean toilets. However, the buffet restaurant which we tried for lunch had very low to average food serving, choices and presentation. Was not happy with the menu presented apart from the desserts (loved it!) and the unlimited tea and coffee. The view from the restaurant is also breathtaking which makes it worth the trip anyway.

Great place to visit when there is no snow. Hard to believe that it can cover such a rough terrain. Nice cafe and shop. If we stayed one more day snow was forcasts would have been good to see the change. Plenty of car parking. You can climb to a ridge excellant photo opportunities.

Great experience regardless of skill or experience. This was my first ever time seeing, touching and experiencing the snow and I'm so happy we chose this location. Hiring equipment was a quick and easy process, I booked snowboarding lessons and the instructor was skilled, knowledgeable, patient and easy to interact with. The "beginner" slopes weren't overly crowded and were very well maintained. All the facilities were clean and well maintained. My only negative was the price.......my partner owns his own board, bindings, boots, goggles, and clothing so all he purchased was a entry pass and it cost him $129. I had to hire my board, bindings and boots, book lessons and gain entry and it cost me $169........I dont understand how hire equipment and 3 hours of lessons cost only $40 and why there is such an extravagant cost just to use their grounds and maybe (we didn't use them at all) ride their chair lifts. We would've loved another day out there but just couldn't justify another $300. Overall though an unmatched experience and great day.

Beautiful ski resort! Open runs, lifts are decent. Lines can be long when the place fills up. Good prices for a big resort. Went on one of the last days and the snow was slushy, but that was expected. Compares to the ski resorts back in north America.

Worth a visit ... as its unique to New Zealand... A real volcanic wonderland..... The new SKY WAKA Gondola is state of the art, but WAYYYYY too expensive for the one way adult trip....

I used to ski here all the time, but this was my first visit back in several years, to go sledding with my kid. Was free for him and $20 for adults, including basic plastic sleds and an excellent enclosed conveyor-belt-style lift running up the side of the very child-safe run.

Unfortunately went in a rainy day. There are some cafes open after 8.30 on top and on the happy Wally. And there are some public area near the car park. In case if some one visited in a rainiy day

Great ski field. Very easy and quick to drive up there. Very big ski area with lots of chairlift. Very easy to get your pass and then all your gears.

After hearing some horror stories about how crowded this place gets, I was expecting the worse but had a great day, even on a bluebird at the weekend in the school holidays (nightmare scenario right?). Here’s how I did it: ARRIVE EARLY! I was there just after 7am. Parked right up the top, no queues for lift passes or rental was through it all in about 20 mins. Then had time to get breakfast at Lorenzo’s, before hitting First Tracks at 8am, also nice and quiet as it seems most people don’t want to pay the extra $19. It definitely got much busier as the morning went on, but I don’t believe I ever waited more than about 10 mins for a lift. My only suggestion would be that the trails need to be better marked, as a first timer here I was constantly pulling out the map for fear of inadvertently ending up on a black run!!

This is just located under a small bridge at the entrance of the Skifield after Whakapapa Village.

Aweson location... in my top three Must visits in NZ .. Perfect active volcanic geological zone to explore in the summer and alpine sports adventures in the winter!

Fab gondola to top to walk up to skyline. Then coffee and cake in restaurant before heading down. Super price for super day

Absolutely best day on the mountain and we didn’t even ski! Try something different and do the sightseeing package as the views, the views are breathtaking.

Amazing experience, Scenic place.

Amazing family day out

First a skydiving jump from 18500 feet then onto the mountains for a bit of snow

I really like to come here to ski! My favourite place is the top where the snow is the best in my opinion. It is a lot better especially at the end of the season when a lot of the snow at the bottom starts to melt. However if you are new at skiing I would suggest the bottom since some parts at the top are quite challenging. Something I do suggest you do here if you come on bad weather is to wear a raincoat outside your ski/snowboard clothes. The day I went it was raining and hailing. So my clothes got wet and so did my car.

Despite the fact, skiers had a hard time skiing on little snow, Whakapapa was quite busy. Liked the wintery atmosphere, dramatic views of raw natural scenery and the food at the mountain cafe.

Most beautiful place in north island I saw. I love this place very much. I enjoy the whole day with my family in here. Parking facilities are available for everyone. If you want to visit this place you have check the weather before you leave home or place you stay. There lots of facilities for ski lovers. Who love to do ski all day.

Grandsons had a great day they learnt how to Snow board from their older cuzzie and were up and off in no time

Wonderful winter experience with the beautiful snow capped mountains of Mt. Ruapehu. It's a sight to behold. Plenty of activities to do - snow skiing, snow boarding, gondola ride or just play around with the snow. Good restaurants to fill your tummy after all those physical activities. You need to be early in order to get a good parking in the base though and always check the snow and weather forcast before going.

Excellent place for bigginer of ice sports and even just ice lovers. Please check weather before visit. Good cafe on ground and on the top as well. Gondola could be little cheap.

Aweson location... in my top three Must visits in NZ .. Perfect active volcanic geological zone to explore in the summer and alpine sports adventures in the winter!

1st time seeing snow so I have really enjoyed my stay here

+ Plenty of areas for you to explore + Happy Valley is fantastic for first timers + Rock Garden is a prefect trail to hone your skills before moving up the mountain - North facing, so getting very good snow is a bit hit or miss - Step up from Happy Valley to Rock Garden is a big step for some beginners, the difference in skill is bigger then ideal - Step up from Rock Garden to blue trails is quite big, better make sure you know what you're doing before going up the mountain for the steeper trails.

A beautiful day at middle earth

Go up in summer and take a hike to the lakes near the peak. On a clear day you can see for miles and miles. It may be hot at the bottom but if the wind is pumping at the top it’s going to be cold!

Amazing place in the summer! Well worth the time and effort to get here!

Great place to Ski. Safe slopes. Does get crowded over the weekends though.

What a great day. Weather beautiful saw views we have not seen before. The Skywaka was absolutely worth it.

First a skydiving jump from 18500 feet then onto the mountains for a bit of snow

Spent two beautiful days on the mountain. Couldn't see any disability parking. Long time in a queue for tickets, I tried to sort online, but not everything available online. Ticket sales was friendly, helpful but not quick. Sledding tickets purchased elsewhere. Sledding ticket location under Rental Return sign in HV, poor signage seemed the norm. No safe/designated kids snow play area, used area across from carpark. We were told we would get priority entry on to sky waka as pre paid for lunch, but no signage and when finally found a staff member eventually got let in, but people in queue tried pushing us out which staff didn't address. Couldn't find staff at top, scanned and seated ourselves. Views from The Pinnacles was stunning. Then we knew what we were doing and everything got lots easier. 2nd day entry was a breeze with pre-purchased tickets.

Went there in February so not much of snow going around. Went there to do a hike. Place is very beautiful. Nature at its best.

Aa awesome place to visit. Well worth the trip not just in winter but in summer too.

Worth it. Great staff. awesome experience. even in poor weather the skywaka was a great ride.

Lovely place! You can do ski, snowboard, sledding and take classes if you need to. There's also plenty of snow to play for free if you don't want to do any other activity. There is a couple of bistros with good food and fair prices, but the daily passes are a little bit expensive... Buying the season pass is a good idea. There are also free bathrooms and a shelter you can use

The newly opened Sky Waka gondola were awesome, clean and well operating. It was worth the drive all the way to Ruapehu. There were still some constructions, but the sky gondolas were uninterrupted and seems like a great tourist attraction. Going above the clouds and having coffee with an awesome view was a priceless experience.

Beautiful natural reserves with pristine nature. You often feel like you’re alone for miles. It’s all very well taken care of with many trails to choose from.

Wonderful setup, fantastic mountain. Love this place

Really liked this one, great ride in the Sky Waka, enjoyed the meal in the restaurant and had a good walk around at the top too.

Fab gondola to top to walk up to skyline. Then coffee and cake in restaurant before heading down. Super price for super day

Good place come with full gears so that u can enjoy the max . As without gears u won't be able to be as happy as ur r with gears. So do visit sometime and feel the experience

Beautiful day with the help of all those excellent staff and friends. Definitely worth giving it a go at least once.

The 3 day window, as the saying goes, this time , The weather after a big storm and lots of new snow was high winds on both sides of the mountain and low cloud so skiing this time was not so good as other times ... but it was good to be out.

Under construction for new Gondolas so couldn't get a ride up to see crater lake. Beautiful hikes and view's from the area!

Amazing I would recommend the gondola ride. Beautiful views.

Even in off season, the staff are efficient and nice! Great ride up the Sky Waka to the Pinnacles restaurant for buffet.

Fantastic guides and support from the staff who work on this ski field. Friendly helpful positive anticipatory workers.

We choose the worst possible day to visit the mount. It was raining like there was no tomorrow. It was really you foggy and the visibility was low. Wasn't able to enjoy much of the mount and didn't get into any activities. Would love to visit again with on a day with better weather.

Lines are too long for tickets and restuarant. Ski fields are great.

Beautiful experience. Weather was not very cold as we went there on early September.

Skiing tracks easily accessible from Taupo. Large car parks. Beautiful scenery. Worth a visit.

We went July and there was not much snow.Happy valley was only open.We did ice sledging..and was fun.It can get crowded as lot of ppl want to do.

With friendly, welcoming and helpful staff who were pleased to help oldies into the chairs and a beautiful sunny day, we just had to enjoy it!

So fun!!! Didn't even bother to pay for skiing... go off to the side of the village and explore the mountains instead!! So much better and completely FREE. If you drive up, that's a free day trip to the snow or if you catch the bus from below, only $20 return which is pretty damn good if you ask me. Can't wait to return :)

So i came here just for the walks and had an incredible time. I also got myself a hoodie whilst here too. A beautiful place in the summer months, very few people to what I'm sure is the crazy winter season. I took the gondola ride up the mountain and it's incredible, well worth the money to go.

Lot of new development looks good for 2022ski season

Epic terrain... But very busy. Even midweek this year has been crazy some days just like weekends. New gondola helps but they need to open up more terrain on Ruapehu, as current fields can't cope with demand.

Such a beautiful place to enjoy snow. Need to park at whakapapa village and pay $20 for a shuttle to bring u up there. Easy way to go up especially when chained tyres are required.

Had a private lesson at happy valley. Definitely worth the extra cost to fast track our progress. Get in early to beat the big queues.

Very crowded cafe .. limited space to sit. Good area for skeeing ⛷ and play.

Surprisingly enjoyable

Wonderful place. My family from Malaysia are luck coz still can play snow on October (end of Spring).

Great fun and kids really enjoyed it. Rained a bit but did not deminish the fun. Shuttle was quick, free and comfortable.

We went up on a really cold day, busy day in the school holiday. Kids loved it. I didn't. Wildy,rainy and no where to rest as the place was so packed with people. Just glad the kids enjoyed it.

Lovely walks, bring on more snow!

Cool place to visit! Wish I brought my snowboard. The café on top was very nice! Only downsite was the queue for the skywaka and the price.

Superb place, must visit this place. Near to ohakune. By taking chair lift we can go to sking area, we can hire sking things here

Good. Gondla is really cool. Would recommend. Also walking to Crater lake.

Amazing place! The only place we experienced snow on our "summer" holiday to New Zealand! The tickets on the ski-lift were overpriced but the overall experience was amazing!

Had a great time, pity weather was only good for one day. Staff were friendly and helpful. Did manage to go back a couple of days later and did the scenic chair lift. Well worth it.

Wow! I've been to many places in my time, but Whakapapa must be one of the snowiest of them all. The snow is bright; almost like ice but fluffier in a pleasant way. It's kind of hard to describe. You should go and see for yourself. Pricey but gondolas are nice. And me oh my is the water FRESH.

Cloudy as we arrived. But they lifted just in time for decent views of Mount Ruapehu and Mount Doom, with a cloud crown.

Love the Gondola, interesting to see Mt Ruapehu without snow

Beauty exists everywhere so have fun and enjoy guys... place is lovely, beauty, snow, cafe, food, 4wd, snow chains, shuttle, people and love

Amazing place on the top of a volcano! Decent food at the cafe up the top. Well worth the visit to see snow even in summer 😁

Was there on an absolutely gorgeous day, we tried to access the carparks but it was too busy so had to go to national Park and use the park and ride option, 6nzd return, definitely worth it. Also, you can buy your park and ride ticket on your way back so don't hesitate to julp straight in the shuttle. The snow was pretty good and the slopes were not too busy. My girlfriend told me that happy valley was extremely busy though and it was not great for the beginners.

Traveled up the new skywaka, staff, food, service and views were awesome!

Beautiful drive, location, atmosphere, views and great dining at Pinnacles. Thanks so much!

Lovely staff , clean facility and a good experience even thou there was no snow

Gondala in summer was excellent. Pinnacles Restaurant buffet excellent. Try to avoid midday rush.

So much fun, great service at cafes, great slopes, and great friendly staff

Weather was sunny and there was a good snow covering which made the skiing good. Happy Valley. This is not crowded before 1030 but after that the queues to the lifts can be longer. Happy valley is good for beginners only. The cafe is reasonable. I like many brought some of my own food and ate there due to high prices. Rock Garden (Rangitira chair). The quad chair was keeping up with the demand with queues about 7mins. The skiining was rough and icy off the groomed tracks. After lunch the off track areas were softer and more accessable. The restaurant/bar at the ski rental area was packed and allong with happy valley and knoll ridge (upper mountain pass obly) was one of three places to get food. The old Shuus Hus was not open.

This skiing area rewards those who make it with beautiful tracks and spectacular views. But the field suffers from a couple of major flaws: The area is choking under the influx of people. The car parks are commonly full early in the morning, from as early as 7:30am. Fetching a bus from Whakapapa Village for an extra $20 will take you more than two hours (!) in a queue. Should you then have to buy a ticket you will spend further 90min at the counter. By the time you’re on the slopes it is already lunch time. Catching a bus back down is quite chaotic as there are several operators in place but no signs in place guiding you to the right place. Since this was not a one-time incident but is happening quite frequently I will have to reconsider future trips to Mt Ruapehu.

Great day on the mountain. Loved tge Sky Waka

Word of warning, unless you're keen on 60mins+ in the rental building, avoid the first busy Saturday of the season!! Other than that, can't fault it. Booked snowboard lessons and the instructor was fabulous

Beautiful ski area. Visited during summer. So it had a lunar landscape.

Always exciting going up the mountain. It is a shame that now it is difficult to find a large flat area for snow play. Didn't mind too much paying to use the tobogganing area but thought $20 for one hour was a bit stink. It would have been good to be able to come and go tobogganing as we needed as we have two kids under 5 so it's often difficult to take advantage of a full hour. Love the new lift and carpet travelators to Happy Valley. RAL need to figure out a better/faster way of processing crowds wanting to get to the upper mountain though, the wait times are quite significant on good weather days.

Great place for sight seeing, Sking ,Bush walk..

We only go in winter and its geat fun. It can be cold so dress warm.

Beautiful clear sunny day made the most of the facilities recommend

good place for the first timer. nice staffs in the rental, don't need to worry about your rental gear size, you can try on and change for different size if need. There are staffs around carpetlift and chairlift to help you get on and off. Disappointed place is about the cafe. Too crowded, hard to find a seat in the peak hours.

Didn't know u had to book a ticket when we got there after a 4hour drive we couldn't do anything cause it was sold out, but it was really pretty gud for fotos ಥ‿ಥಥ‿ಥಥ‿ಥಥ‿ಥಥ‿ಥ

Highly recommend if you haven't gone yet, it's a must do.Staff are amazing.

A smooth ride up to cafe and back again. Fantastic views when no cloud cover.

It was a great experience but I bit pricey

Had a blast skiing with the kids on happy valley

We loved the snow. Unfortunately the ski field was closed so we could not do skiing. But enjoyed making snow man with my family.

Great day out with climb to the top of ruapehu. Nachos a bit average for lunch.

Needs better dining and accommodation options.

Pretty sweet mods to the chair system. Just need some snow

Awesome place to visit at least once a year. Just have to be careful on choosing your day as rain may bring down your happiness... Awesome staffs too from the cafe as well as the ski place

Recommend to check ski lift condition before even booking accommodation. Only 1 out of 15 chairlifts is open and the only one open is the beginner area which takes just 10 seconds to finish the track. Waited half day for gondola to open in the afternoon but found out open for SIGHTSEEING ONLY. Paid full ticket so kind of waste of money and time.

This is just located under a small bridge at the entrance of the Skifield after Whakapapa Village.

Beautiful

Lovely outing but very busy (too busy) on the weekend in season. Definitely will be back next year but during the week.

My 3year old grandson and I loved our time in the sledding zone. Our group were processed quickly. Staff were friendly and helpful. Facilities were clean. We took our own kai so can't rate that.

Gret place to witness actual snow and learn the ability to Ski! Plus, the views right up there is magnificent hehe!

Amazing day on the mountain today. Sun was out and it felt warm up there. The sky waka was an amazing trip to the top. Nice restaurant at the top and amazing scenery. You could see much of the Taupo area was covered in cloud. The one on one or two on one sessions were well done. Very enjoyable day.

Great lots of fun even with the little bit of snow around.

If you like snowboarding, skiing, snowball, snowman, hiking, playing with snow, here you should visit in Winter

Great place to take the kids staff were excellent and very helpful the maunga is so beautiful it's definitely a go to during the winter season. Definitely recommend skiing if it's your first time the idea of snowboarding sounds fun and cool but in reality you spend most of your day trying to get up 😂 skiing is abit easier especially for younger kids. Or if you do want to look cool on the slopes on a board then you should definitely go for some lessons they will save your day

This place is magical! Make sure to check weather reports before heading there. Be well prepared with water resistant or water proof warm clothes.

Staff are awesome. Pania especially. Made our first trip even better.

Spectacular scenery and views of the Central Plateau, well worth the climb

Great place hopefully they expand the cafe to accommodate more people.

Beautiful scenery, good for snow sports. Lovely Gondola ride.

This is so amazing. Loved it here.Even though I didnt ski .The cafes .The sky waka to the top watching skiers skiing down the slopes. The day was warm & sunny.

Took the family sightseeing up the sky waka and went for a walk on the mountain. Amazing walk.

Big ski field, many trails available. Must visit knoll ridge cafe for its awesome view.

So much amusing place, nice for skiing nd enjoy ice

It was really quite nice, but the gondola was very expensive I think. Also the queue to the women's toilets was about 40 to 50 people long, although the queue did move fairly fast. Didn't appear to have much of a queue at all to the men's toilets. I just think women need approximately twice amount of time to see the same thing in a toilet given that we need to sit down for both functions.:-) Other than that and the fact that there was almost no car parking as well it was a really pleasant experience. The public were really nice although we were at some points quite crowded,. Most people seem pretty happy! The snow was not very deep but there was enough of it to enjoy! Made my first snowman and had my first snow fight. Lots of fun!

Had a great time. The kids area was great and well priced. Look forward to going back.

Cool, we were a bit early. Recommended to book ur plan on after middle of July to get fresh snowflake. No luck to get in the highest cafe around 2000m high thru the skyline as visibility was low. We played snowball and had fun... Next time coming back with a better plan.

Absolutely beautiful and so much fun, bring snacks and a drink bottle and get ready for non-stop fun from 9am till 4pm but get there early for a good carpark, I'm talking 7.30am

Great skiing. Well organized base with clear signage. Probtip: use the drop off area for families. Don't make them walk all the way from parking. Sky Waka was a great break in the day to get up to a not too busy cafe. Nice snow and plenty of runs too do to spread out the crowd. I hear they got some good snow this week too!

We had good time there..

Great place to cool down and ski or snow board. I would highly recommend going there on a weekday as weekends are always full of people

An awesome team, we had a person in a wheelchair the team up the mountain were very helpful and we were able to go up the sky Waka and we were very impressed with the service friendly and helpful thank you for making our trip what it was

Amazing experience, Scenic place.

The addition of the Sky Waka was a great experience. If you don't actually ski and want to spend time with little kids, no many options available or free locations to enjoy snow.

Good

My home mountain. Early memory were made here. A lovely mountain with everything you could want. Ground level staff are happy joyous and ethuseatic whereas management has made some tough decision which isn’t making us ski snowboarders clubbies very happy. But regardless of skiing coming up and having a look at the mountain and heading up the sky waka(gondola ) is a worthy trip for us kiwi. But pack your lunch and save yourself a second mortgage!

Enjoyed Gondola ride but a long queue for the coffee. Good coffee though.

Stunning views, nothing like being on the side of an active volcano

Great runs and terrain, but effectively a 3 T-bar field if you exclude beginner chairs

We know not to come here in the school holiday again, otherwise it would have been an amazing trip. There needs to be better signage around the entrance on where to go etc we had to ask in the gift shop, maybe a guide at the front entrance could have solved that problem for qlot of people as we weren't the only one's. We couldn't book sledding online, waited 15mins in the first line to get down to Happy Valley then 45mins in the sledding line only to get told that the 4 next sessions are fully booked and we couldn't sled till 3hrs later. The line was a long enough wait so we ditched the line and took our kids up the Sky Waka so they could play with the snow. The eating areas are small, no spare tables in sight and food was pricey but expected, at least that line went quicker. Over all it would have been a marvelous trip just not during the holidays. Beautiful views at the top and the kids loved playing in the snow.

Contact

Phone number

Website

Photos

Reviews of Whakapapa in Palmerston North - Ice cream