Mt Ruapehu

Please remember

Please remember that School and Youth Group rates apply only to New Zealand schools or youth groups. Our guideline definition of a Youth Group at Mt Ruapehu is as follows: A Youth Group is a group based in New Zealand, consisting of members aged 18 and under who are themselves based in New Zealand. It should be an established group that operates year-round primarily as a Youth Group and making a booking at Mt Ruapehu with at least 10 youths and no more than 20% adults in the group.

For schools or youth groups outside New Zealand or who do not fit this definition, please refer to the Other Groups section.

Bookings

Advance bookings for all school/youth groups are essential and there must be a minimum of 10 youths (aged 18 and under) in the group to qualify. If you are a small school with a roll of 30 or less, there must be a minimum of 5 youths in the group to qualify. Discounts will not be available to groups who arrive at the ski area without having pre-booked and we cannot guarantee the availability of rental equipment or lessons.

Availability

Please send your booking form at least two weeks in advance, even if only with a rough idea of numbers and requirements. We can then make minor changes as your numbers firm up. At certain times during the season we book out very quickly. If rental equipment or lessons are not available due to heavy bookings, your Mt Ruapehu Group Co-ordinator will contact you to make alternative arrangements. Any clothing requirements should be indicated on the form, but please note that it cannot be ‘booked’ in advance and any groups will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis along with other visitors to the mountain.

You can also book to visit both ski areas over a multi-day visit. Rentals can be picked up from one ski area and dropped of at the other. Please ensure you indicate this clearly on your booking form.

Confirmations

After we receive your booking, a written confirmation will be sent to you along with some further information. A booking is not made until a booking form has been sent and you have received a confirmation form by email from us.

NOTE: Unless you have received a confirmation from your Mt Ruapehu group co-ordinator within 10 days of sending us your initial booking form, please assume that your booking has not been received and contact us.

Payments

The preferred method of payment is via an account with Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd. Any unused products (tickets) must be returned on the day and, if a refund is appropriate, a credit invoice will be issued.

If you intend on paying via an account please fill in the credit application form and send it in along with your booking form. If you already have a credit account with us, we ask that you update your account annually by completing and returning the first part of the credit application form (contact details).

NOTE: You will receive a receipt with your tickets when you pick them up. A tax invoice will be forwarded to your accounts department by mail.

If your group is paying by cash, card or cheque, payment is required on a daily basis when tickets are picked up at Customer Services. Any unused products (tickets) must be returned on the day and they will be refunded appropriately. Payment by cheque must be presented with a valid credit card – we will write the credit card details on the back of the cheque as security. The credit card will only be charged if the cheque bounces.

**Use of credit card will incur a 2% processing fee

Rental cards

Once we have confirmed your booking in writing, we will post rental cards to you. These should be filled out prior to arrival at the mountain and brought with you on the day. Instructions on how this system works will be included with the rental cards.

Lessons

Ski lessons contain a maximum of 15 people whereas snowboard lessons cater for a maximum of 10 people. Lessons are pre-allocated for each group:

• At Whakapapa time slots start daily at 9.30am. Discover lessons begin every half hour and large groups will be split into rolling time slots. For example, a group of 60 beginner skiers will take their lessons at 9.30 and 10.00 with 30 people in each group. Explorer (Advanced Beginner) and Explorer (Intermediate) lessons are at 10.00am, 12.00pm and 2.00pm.
• At Turoa lessons begin at 10.00am, 12.00pm and 2.00pm. If you have particular lesson time requirements, please state this when you make your booking and we will do our best to cater to these. Morning lessons will be allocated to absolute beginners first. It is sometimes not possible for large groups to take their lessons at the same time because of the availability of snow school instructors.

You must ensure that your group is on the mountain at least 1 hour prior to your first allocated lesson time. Due to the huge demand for lessons we cannot transfer groups at short notice. Therefore, groups who miss their check-in time will automatically have their lessons cancelled.

The Discover Package includes beginner lessons only. The Explorer (Advanced Beginner) package includes advanced beginner lessons only. The Explorer (Intermediate) Package includes intermediate lessons only. Please discuss all other lesson requirements with your Mt Ruapehu group co-ordinator.

Please try to determine the levels of those requiring lessons before sending in your booking form. Click here for an explanation of ability levels.

Adaptive - anyone can enjoy the slopes!

We offer an adaptive service to students with all forms of physical and intellectual impairments (e.g. autism, Downs Syndrome, paraplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, brain injury, amputation, cancer). And these specialist Adaptive lessons do not come at a premium - check with our Adaptve Centre for special rates for a 2 hour private lesson, including lift pass and gear rentals. Students booked for Adaptive lessons will also be eligible for a higher adult-to-youth ratio.

Do you have any students who might benefit from this service? If so, check out the information on the Adaptive Centre web page, download and complete the details on the booking form. It is important to contact the Adaptive Coordinators at Turoa and Whakapapa to discuss the requirements of each student.

Contact

Whakapapa Ski Area
Ph: 07 892 4000 ext 7703
Fax: 07 892 3732
Postal: Whakapapa Ski Area, Private Bag 71902, Mt Ruapehu
Email: groupswhakapapa@mtruapehu.com

Turoa Ski Area
Ph: 06 385 8456 ext 5664
Fax: 06 385 8992
Postal: Turoa Ski Area, PO Box 46, Ohakune
Email: groupsturoa@mtruapehu.com