Comparably, a day pass costs $119 for adults or $79 for youth.
Those under 10 can continue to ski for free.
Whakapapa has launched a heavily discounted two-day spring pass, while Tūroa’s spring season pass offers unlimited runs for the rest of the year. Photo / Mike Scott
Comparatively, Tūroa’s two-day adult passes cost $265, with senior and youth (aged 6 to 16) passes priced at $225 and $185 respectively.
But while Whakapapa’s spring deal will appeal to those locking in a last-minute weekend ski trip, Tūroa’s strategy is more focused on securing regular mountain-goers for the remainder of the season.
Tūroa’s new spring passes – costing $499 for adults, $399 for seniors, $299 for teens (aged 13 to 16) and $249 for youth (aged 6 to 12) – provide unlimited skiing and rides until the end of the 2026 season.
Snow at Tūroa (left) and Whakapapa (right) skifields this morning. Photos / Tūroa, Whakapapa
Tūroa’s brand and marketing manager James Simpson told the Herald that while it isn’t the most affordable pass the skifield has offered, with early bird deals historically the cheapest, the spring pass “keeps us talking about the ski season while there’s still snow”.
“It looks like a really good spring, so that’s why we’re offering it,” Simpson said.
“Some people might want to ski for three days, but basically, for another five bucks, they get unlimited skiing.
“We just want to get more people skiing, more people enjoying the North Island and kind of letting the secret out that it’s so good here.”
Despite the caveat of an unclear, possibly early end to the season, passholders are offered benefits including “Bring a Buddy Wednesdays” and an unspecified discount on early bird passes for next year.
“People start to think about their boats come the spring turnover, but we all know, those who know, know that Tūroa in spring is some of the best skiing in the world, arguably the best … compared to North American resorts, Japan and everything,” Simpson said.
“We don’t get the great, deep powder that they do over there, but we do get the best spring conditions in the world and the best terrain when it opens up.
“So we basically want to share that with as many people as possible and make an accessible pass that’s really good value.”
Simpson said he hoped Tūroa would remain open until Labour Day (October 26), potentially later, which he called Snovember.
“Yet to be seen whether that’ll happen this year, but at the moment there’s still enough pack to go top to bottom and when it thins out, we truck it down from up high to keep it open top to bottom.”
The Whakapapa and Tūroa skifields sit on different sides of Mt Ruapehu, although they operated in tandem for nearly two decades until parent company Ruapehu Alpine Lifts entered liquidation in mid-2023.
Ahead of the following season, Pure Tūroa was granted a 10-year Department of Conservation concession to run the Tūroa side, with Whakapapa Holdings granted its in 2025.
Whakapapa has been approached for comment but did not respond prior to publishing.
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