Overall Rating

Turoa

Turoa3/511
Turoa3 out of 5 based on 11 reviews
  • Recommend
    91%
  • Would Revisit
    82%

Turoa - Reviews

Turoa - Reviews

Turoa

JH
11/07/2020
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    51-70
  • Month Visited:
    August
  • Admin Rating
    1

Turoa

JH
11/07/2020
A great by NZ standards all round ski field
A big variety of terrain with a huge easily accessible back country area
Can get crowded on weekends,so head up mid week
See our video here

Home

29/05/2020

LEXUSki

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy

LEXUSki

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    12-17
  • Month Visited:
    August
  • Admin Rating
    3

Home

29/05/2020
I've been going to Turoa since I was 5, and consider it home, it may be more ice and hard pack than powder and snow, but once you get used to that, it's amazing. The ice taught me to correct my form and weighting or slide sideways and if you can ski properly here, you can ski almost anywhere.
We do have our share of powder and bluebird days, but you have to share them with the rest of the north island, causing 20min queues that you can't easily get away from. Faster and better lifts than Whakapapa and less queues, as well as Ohakune Town at the bottom of the road.
I love going there and recommend it to those who live here as well, but if you're coming to NZ to ski, go south or Queenstown.
See our video here

Turoa Review

Jacob Rutheford
10/11/2019
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    12-17
  • Month Visited:
    September
  • Admin Rating
    1

Turoa Review

Jacob Rutheford
10/11/2019
I've been skiing at turoa since I was 3. Although Turoa can be pretty average, I've had some of the best days of my life skiing here.
See our video here

Probably the worst ski area on earth

Anthony
11/10/2015
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    18-35
  • Month Visited:
    September
  • Admin Rating
    2

Probably the worst ski area on earth

Anthony
11/10/2015
Terrible management, high prices, crowds, mediocre terrain (near constant ice makes it seem steeper than it is), ridiculously heavy wet snow, horrendous weather all team up to make this place quite firmly in the why bother category.

Save up a few trips worth and go overseas where they appreciate your $ and have actual powder.
See our video here

Turoa

Camilo
01/08/2014
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    18-35

Turoa

Camilo
01/08/2014
Season 2014. No Snow!!

A lot of Rock on piste and no mark.

Challenging snow conditions.

Do not come in holidays or weekend.
See our video here

Turoa

Brendan
14/10/2012
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    18-35
  • Admin Rating
    4

Turoa

Brendan
14/10/2012
Get a few days up Turoa each season and always enjoy it. The terrain is quite different to Whakapapa and powder days on Turoa can be pretty epic. Only problem is you usually have to share them with all of Ohakune and the rest of the North Island.
Turoa normally have a much better terrain park but also like Whakapapa haven't had a Halfpipe in a while. Turoa as of late have also had an Airbag set up. The Highnoon Express Chair is great (when it is open) and the new Nga Wai Heke Chair gives access to some great terrain.

Ohakune has lots of Bars and Restaurants and Accommodation options, more so than Whakapapa and National Park. Ohakune has a good range of Ski/Board Shops with Workshops/Tuning and Retail/Rental gear, but the drive from Ohakune up to the Turoa Ski Field is somewhat long and drawn out despite starting off in a Native Rain Forest, and the road is far inferior to Whakapapa's but unlike Whakapapa, Turoa offer Chain Hire on their Access Road.

Great place to be on a sunny day and this season they are open until November with great spring riding conditions.
See our video here

Love.

Janelle Hinch
20/09/2012
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    18-35

Love.

Janelle Hinch
20/09/2012
Living the dream in Ohakune.
See our video here

Turoa

06/11/2011

POWDERHOUNDS.COM

Powderhounds Ambassador
Powderhounds Ambassador

POWDERHOUNDS.COM

Powderhounds Ambassador
Powderhounds Ambassador
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Expert
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Admin Rating
    4

Turoa

06/11/2011
Turoa is a great resort for those interested in something different.

It has Australasia’s longest vertical descent, a mouth-watering 722 metres, and highest lift point, at 2,322 metres. The well-run resort is a carver’s paradise and offers more open space than any other ski area in NZ. The views aren’t bad either, with two glaciers and miles of rural plains vying for your attention.

Granted, the sealed access road is annoyingly long and winding, and rather narrow, with the occasional pothole, but god knows the road is twenty times better than many of the South Island ski field roads.

And there are fewer lifts at Turoa and fewer trails compared to Whakapapa. But the queues at Turoa seem shorter (even during school holidays and/or on Sundays) compared to Whakapapa, and the lifts are definitely faster and more modern. So once you’re there and weather permitting, you’ll have a fantastic time at Turoa!

For more detailed ratings of Turoa and to see how it compares to other ski resorts around the world, see our powderhounds resort ratings.
See our video here

Just unbelievable place to ski..

Tero Hannuksela
21/04/2011
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    36-50
  • Admin Rating
    3

Just unbelievable place to ski..

Tero Hannuksela
21/04/2011
7.11.2010 the dream came true - I finally got to ski at NZ soil, even though I live in Finland (other side of the planet).

Just amazing day - pure sunshine, -2 degrees centigrade, no wind whatsoever, some new snow and NO lift lines at the High Noon Express!

5 hours of pure fun!

Would the location be closer - I'd apply to ski school, would be so nice to work over there! Will be definitely back, when the High Flyer Chair will be relocated, just to enjoy more of the Glacier off-piste area.

Thumps up for the huge rework of HFC-lift!
See our video here

My Main Resort

Bruce
11/04/2011
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Age
    18-35
  • Admin Rating
    3

My Main Resort

Bruce
11/04/2011
I've been skiing here for 28 years and love it!

Have skied Japan, USA, Canada, Switzerland and when Turoa gets a fresh dump of pow and a sunny day, it is up there with the best (ok so the pow isn't as amazing as Utah but still good).

Turoa has a lift accessed glacier, massive amounts of off piste and you can literally ski the entire area (versus most resorts with large unskiable areas).

Only downside, days lost to bad weather and the need to replace the Jumbo T with an express chair out West, and upgrading the High Flyer and Movenpick to Express chairs.

Ohakune has some pretty epic night life - particularly the junction.
See our video here
[1] 2 >