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WINTER is the time when Ohakune come alive. Skiers and snowboarders flock to the town through the winter to take advantage of New Zealand's two biggest ski areas, on Mt Ruaephu, run by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.
Mt Ruapehu offers over 700 hectares of patrolled skiable terrain on 50 groomed trails, with almost the same area off-trail. Turoa provides the only lift access to a glacier in New Zealand - to the awesome Mangaehuehu Glacier.
Access on the Turoa and Whakapapa skifield roads up the slopes of Mt Ruapehu (both sealed all the way) is toll-free and both have free shuttle buses and car parks, and the company now offers 'seamless' lift passes - you can ski either side of Ruapehu on the same ticket.
Because Turoa faces south-west on Ruapehu's southern slopes, it holds its snow well and in good condition, providing drier snow in winter and great spring skiing right through October and usually into November.
The field is a natural terrain park for skiers and snowboarders. It has wide open slopes for cruising, as well as tricky chutes and steeps for advanced skiers. Down below, the Alpine Meadow, with full snowmaking, provides a sheltered haven for the first timers.
As if the natural terrain was not enough, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts creates an impressive snowboarding terrain park at the top of the Giant Chairlift as well.
Ruapehu's Turoa has New Zealand's biggest vertical drop at 720m and over 400 hectares. 12 lifts - two quad chairs, two triple chairs, three T-bars, four platter lifts and one rope tow.
For just 20 minutes extra travelling, Ohakune visitors can slide on Ruapehu's Whakapapa Ski Field, which offers more than 30 groomed trails as well as its steep chutes, couloirs and superb off-piste skiing.
Whakapapa is New Zealand's largest ski area, with 675 metres of vertical drop: 23 lifts - one express quad chair, one quad chair, four double chairs, four T-bars, four platter lifts, seven learner tows.
Throughout the winter there are events on Mt Ruapehu to entertain as well as challenge. There are regular races for the serious adult competitor but also for juniors through to masters. And there's numerous big air, slopestyle and boardercross competitions which are great for the competitors as well as for spectators.
Ohakune is the place to be after a day's skiing or sliding on Mt Ruapehu, with numerous bars, restaurants and cafés, as well as a huge range of accommodation where you can rest up afterwards, in readiness for the next day on the slopes.
Topping the entertainment bill is the annual Ruapehu Mountain Mardi Gras on the first weekend in August - a massive street party with fireworks, bands and street entertainers. And right through winter there's various entertainment in the bars and restaurants - bands, DJ's and comedians.