Your Maunga Update, 22 Aug 2025

Aug 22, 2025, 2:00 AM•whakapapa

͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌

Kia ora -,

Last Saturday was one of my favourite days at Whakapapa. We saw that it was going to be a biggy and made sure that we had early lifts for breakfast and paired this with our first ‘Sunset Session’ of 2025. DoubleDrop kicked things off in the sunshine at the Knoll Ridge Back Bar, and the Rangatira ran into twilight for late skiing and snowboarding. Nearing the last lift call I think I spotted that the numbers out on the trail had swung to our team in the majority, but it feels good to be able to mix work and play…and I’m confident our guests had a great time down at LBC with the DJ!

I probably shouldn’t put the jinx on this…but, we are very excited for Monday 25th August which will see the return of the North Island Primary and Intermediate Ski Championship (NIPS). We’ve missed the last five seasons and it is brilliant seeing it back- its got a long tradition, and providing race events for rangatahi is a key part of our aim of growing north island snowsports. The event runs 25th to 27th - and assuming that I haven’t just put a weather hex on us…we will look forward to recapping the action in the next edition of Ngā Whakapapa.

Mā te wā,

Travis Donoghue
Chief Executive

Guests lighting up the dance floor at Knoll Ridge Chalet during last weekend’s Sunset Session.

OPERATIONS, LIFTS AND TERRAIN

We’ve had a good week on the maunga.

The snow earlier on was great, probably around 15cm caught up top. Some of it came straight out of the sky, some of it was wind-blown and transported around, but certainly above Sky Waka and up higher on the T-Bars, we’ve made a net gain. Once the wind dropped, that gave us the window we needed to get in there and do some work with that snow. That’s allowed us to open up the Valley Highway, which now has a groomed trail out, and that’s made the valley a whole lot more user-friendly.

We’ve also been back out working on the Knoll Ridge T-line. That work will continue through today and into tomorrow. We think we’re going to get there with the T-line. After that, we’ll get some work done on the load area, and we’ve still got a couple of connecting trails to sort out. The short version of all that is we won’t have the Knoll Ridge T-Bar running this weekend. Once we’re into early next week, we’ll reassess where we’ve landed and make a call on the next steps, keeping a close eye on the weather that’s building toward the back half of the week.

That incoming system looks promising. It’ll start with snow up high and build in intensity as we move through next weekend. The storm is gathering some solid momentum and it’s shaping up to deliver a decent amount of snow. In the interim, we’ve got a stretch of fine weather from here on through to next Wednesday.

Steve Manunui
GM Operations

SEE DAILY REPORT

EVENTS

Saturday 23rd — Peaks & Beats
From 11:30am

We’re turning up the mountain vibes again with DJs on deck, drink specials, and plenty of energy to keep you moving. It kicks off up at Knoll Ridge Chalet and keeps rolling all afternoon.

Sunday 24th — Rail Jam
From 2pm, Happy Valley

An afternoon of tricks, style, and spot prizes. Free entry for riders with a NIPS registration.

MORE EVENT INFO

SNOW SCHOOL

Meet Maya and learn more about lessons at Whakapapa!

Whether you’re skiing like Maya above, or prefer to strap into a snowboard like Miles here, our instructors personalise every lesson to your ability and goals, helping you build skills and confidence on the mountain.

Season Pass Holder Perks! Enjoy 2x 50% off private lessons, plus 10% off group lessons.

RIDE WITH CONFIDENCE

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Grab an Early Bird Breakfast tomorrow in the clouds

Ride the Sky Waka gondola from 8am and be among the first to take in the mountain views while enjoying a hot breakfast spread before the slopes open.

MORE INFO

GUEST SERVICES

Skip the queues and hit the snow sooner

Buy your pass online and pick it up from our Click & Collect machines when you arrive.

If you have a Season Pass and are bringing a buddy, log in to your profile and unlock your Buddy Pass vouchers.

BUY ONLINE NOW

WHAKAPAPA SHOP

Designed for the kind of days you talk about all year

Comfortable layers and everyday wear, made for your time on the mountain and wherever your adventures lead. Come by the Whakapapa Shop and check out our range of Whakapapa hoodies, beanies, crews, caps, and more.

Top of Bruce Road, Whakapapa Ski Area, Mt Ruapehu, Aotearoa New Zealand

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