Insiders guide to New Zealand – North Island

Meet your New Zealand insider, Ronan Thompson. Ronan has been snowboarding for 12 years, and during that time, competed in the park and pipe for six years. For four years after that, he transitioned to freeride and spent a few seasons around Europe, going to Innsbruck, Verbier and resorts in France. But Ronan calls New Zealand home, and he’s here with a round-up of top tips and recommendations for New Zealand’s North Island so you can experience the best of this beautiful country on your next trip.

Why New Zealand

New Zealand offers a unique experience for snow sports enthusiasts. It boasts breathtaking scenery, excellent skiing, après-ski, and many other activities to entertain you on and off the mountain. The uncrowded slopes and stunning vistas of lakes, towns, forests, and rivers make it an irresistible destination.

The skiing season in New Zealand stretches from June to October. Winter peaks in July and August, while September welcomes the spring. For those who love warmer, slushy conditions with occasional powder days, September is ideal. However, if you prefer colder weather and a better chance of fresh powder, July and August are the prime months to visit.

Explore the North Island

I grew up snowboarding in Ruapehu on the North Island, the biggest mountain and resort in New Zealand. If you’re only heading to North Island, I’d suggest putting this at the top of your list of places to visit. It is an active volcano with a vast terrain sculpted by solidified lava and a beautiful view from the summit. Visit here for excellent touring and open terrain.

The two ski areas on Mount Ruapehu are Whakapapa and Tūroa. Tūroa, on the mountain's southwest side, has great terrain access and is awesome for touring. The resort provides amazing views of the entire North Island, partly thanks to it being home to New Zealand's highest lifted point. Growing up, this is where I spent my time snowboarding, so it’s a personal favourite. Tūroa offers a good park and some fun, playful freeride runs, plus the biggest vertical descent in New Zealand.

Best place to stay

The best place to stay if you’re heading to Tūroa is Ohakune. This little ski town at the base of the mountain is renowned for its cultural heritage and New Zealand ski history. It is a beautiful town, surrounded by New Zealand bush and rivers, so make sure you keep time to visit the waterfalls, old railways and mining sites. It is a classic and has time stored from the ages. The area is known for its variable snow conditions, and over the last few seasons, this section of the mountains has seen everything from very little snow to a lot.

Try cat skiing

If you want to experience cat skiing, Tukino is the place to do it. Tukino is a small resort on the eastern side of Mt. Ruapehu, known to be a lot quieter than Tūroa and Whakapapa. Here, the snowcat can transport you to the top of the Tukino skifield, where you can enjoy views over the Rangipo Desert and Kaimanawa Ranges, before you’re guided down the mountain.

Things to watch out for

The only downsides of North Island skiing are the inconsistency in the snowpack and its tendency to be windy and icy. But scored right, it can provide for some beautiful skiing with vast amounts of terrain. Challenging and easy. You can be assured that if you do go, it will be the experience of a lifetime, and even if the snowpack is not great, the culture, community, and mountain views will make for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

If you have more time on the North Island, I recommend visiting Rotorua for the naturally heated pools. If you are into surfing and would like to visit a beautiful surf town on the west coast on your way out of the country, Raglan is the place for you. It is renowned for the best left-hand point break in the southern hemisphere. Plus, the relaxed beachy surf town vibe makes it a great place to decompress.

Packing essentials

Whether you’re planning on spending your days in the resort or simply prefer the anorak style, don't forget to pack the following in your suitcase:

Base Layers

Alpha Base Layer Top for men / for women

Alpha Base Layer Bottoms for men / for women

Mid Layer

Echo Fleece for men / for women - To put on if it gets cold, keep in your backpack, or to chill out in while eating a sandwich

Lima Fleece for men / for women - To put on if you’re looking for something to wear when hanging out in town after skiing or watching the sunset by the lake

Jacket

Doom Jacket for men / for women

Pants

Fawk Pants for men / for women

Accessories

Kilo Gloves

Echo Beanie

Scope Goggles - Make sure you pack different lenses that you can switch out depending on the weather conditions

Sierra Facemask

Extra:

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Waterbottle

Swimsuit (a must if you want to visit the lakes)

Visa (It’s worth double-checking what the visa requirements are for travelling from your country to New Zealand to avoid disappointment)

If you’re planning on heading to the South Island and hitting up the backcountry there, head to my outfit check list and recommendations here.

See you in the southern hemisphere for an unforgettable season and experience.