Mt Ruapehu Summer Pricing and Hours

The summer season at Mt Ruapehu will operate from 3 December 2021 – 1 May 2022.

The Sky Waka gondola will run daily, 10am – 4pm. Adults can travel on a return trip on the Sky Waka gondola for $39, and youth (aged 5 – 17 years) for $19. Seniors (over 65 years) and students are discounted at $25 for the return trip.

The Pinnacles restaurant and buffet lunch will operate daily, 11am – 2pm. Adults can dine at the buffet for $25, and youth (aged 5-17 years) for $19. Bookings are recommended.

A coffee corner will be open from 10am – 3pm each day, and an expanded café experience over peak periods from 10am – 3:30pm.

Note: both the Sky Waka gondola and therefore Knoll Ridge Chalet dining experiences will open weather dependent. It is recommended that guests check the Mt Ruapehu / Whakapapa report page to check whether both experiences are running.

Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate Requirement

RAL will introduce vaccine requirements at all its facilities, both on and off mountain, from 3 December 2021, for the duration of its summer period through to 1 May 2022. This decision aligns with the government’s move to the Covid-19 protection framework, and the introduction of the My Vaccine Pass. All guests of Mt Ruapehu, aged 12 years and over, will be required to use the My Vaccine Pass to enter our hospitality and retail offerings on mountain, and including our Taupō retail store, and to access the Sky Waka gondola. This decision has been made to help minimise the risk of Covid-19 spreading in our community, and to keep everyone, including our staff, safe. Putting this requirement in place also means that we can maintain our levels of service to the best of our ability, at any traffic light level. An announcement regarding our winter offering will be made in due course.