North or South Island?

[chunky]

If you had 2 weeks where would you prefer to go? Can't decide. Flight deals appear to be very good to NZ atm fo August.

[The Frog]

Never been to the North Island so can't help.

[Spiceman]

North Island is good, Ruapehu generally gets more snow then south island resorts but it does need it as there are a lot of rocks so needs to be around 2metre base for top to bottom, last year they had around 4 metres from memory it was insane apparently and a record for them..

[Bendalong]

[ 17.03.2009, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: Bendalong ]

[chunky]

For 2 adults and 4 kids would you go a motorhome or use a car and stay in normal accomodation?

[Bear]

Ditch the kids and have a great time. ;)

[chunky]

Ahahaha if only. I don't have an option on that. They come smile.gif

[The Frog]

Originally posted by Spiceman:
North Island is good, Ruapehu generally gets more snow then south island resorts but it does need it as there are a lot of rocks so needs to be around 2metre base for top to bottom, last year they had around 4 metres from memory it was insane apparently and a record for them.. actually I'm pretty sure it went over 5m.

[Spiceman]

I think you are right Frog, I just knew it was big so thought I'd be safe saying 4metres, but it was way more than they'd ever had...

Chunky, your best bet is probably is car and stay in Ohakune somewhere... Motorhome would not be comfy with 4 kids in winter there IMHO... I wouldn't do it. And trust me, I've camped in some cold places...

[skichic]

I took my kids to Tekapo and based ourselves there. Stayed in a backpackers, had 4 beds and share bathroom/kitchen and dirt cheap! Then visited the little commercial fields about the place. Was great for the kids at the time as they were still beginners at that stage.

[Donza]

Personally i'm a fan of the north island.
Once you get out of Auckland. (even though I lived there for 10 years)
So were you planning on a bit of sightseeing as well?.
I could do up a bit of a plan if youre keen.
car wise I'd get a 2003-2006 model outback for about 65 aud a day.
I'd stay in Motels that have kitchenettes (better at breakfast).
I could do up a few places-plans etc if youre keen?

[popshuvit]

Been to Nth Island once.
Stayed at Oakanue & boarded both major resorts.
I was there in a bad season, but still found the runs enjoyable, however, as with most NZ resorts, but especially Ruapehu, it is very exposed and the lifts get shut a fair bit.
I even saw a few years back on a NZ ski website that Turoa even had an avalance in bounds.

[Tobi]

I would like to do the north island one day but for me this season it's the south again.

[Princess]

When you going to be there Tobi?

[Tobi]

Umm sometime in August, 13th - 22nd or something like that I think.

[Princess]

Will probably pass at the airport. We're the first 2 weeks.

[chunky]

Donza thank you thank you for your offer but I don't want you to go to all that trouble when we are still deciding if we want to **** the funds out or the excitement is overriding what we should be doing and saving. I must admit I have never been to the North Island.

[skichic]

f ork?

[chunky]

yeah!

[Donza]

Originally posted by chunky:
Donza thank you thank you for your offer but I don't want you to go to all that trouble when we are still deciding if we want to **** the funds out or the excitement is overriding what we should be doing and saving. I must admit I have never been to the North Island. Its no probs.
Its a great place. More diverse than the south.

[tambo]

we have stayed at the Pukanui lodge at the bottom of Mt Ruapehu. With the kids. From memory it was a pretty reasonable lodge, with shared facilities and some meals. Kids had a great time though. I think from memory we needed 2 rooms for the 5 of us then, back in 2000. It was a pretty easy drive up to the resort. Must have been, because i didn't freak.. and that was before I became a snowlover. Indeed, it was the first time the kids had seen snow ever.
what I did not enjoy with the little munchkins as they were then, was the drive up to Coro Peak, Mt Hutt or the Remarks on those wicked roads.. then once there, really stuck there for the day. Give me my on resort accom with kids please! Or wait till they grow enough to be semi self reliant.

That said, we have one child BUSTING to get to SNOW PARK.


Here's something sad... Snow Park is scaling back it's operations this year in light of the economy, and isn't selling season passes!

[Donza]

The road to Turoa and whakapapa is a highway compared to south islands.
Its such a huge mountain rising up.

[chunky]

Lots of kiddie activities if we didn't go to the snow for a long time? The volcanic region looks spectacular. How much of the drive up is above the snowline? Is it like heading up to Thredbo where you only ususally get snow near the village or is there some nice scenics along the way where you can pull off and have some snowplay?

[Donza]

Originally posted by chunky:
Lots of kiddie activities if we didn't go to the snow for a long time? The volcanic region looks spectacular. How much of the drive up is above the snowline? Is it like heading up to Thredbo where you only ususally get snow near the village or is there some nice scenics along the way where you can pull off and have some snowplay? Its heaps different to driving up any mountain anyhwere else.
Ruapehu is conical. Not in a valley. So it just rises out of a massive plateau.
The road winds up going through massive lava fields. Round and round and up. Its not steep though.
There is uaually snow on the ground from quite low. With carparks and the like.
Around that region there is a fair bit to do.
With a little driving. trout farms, army tanks to play on @ Waiorou war musuem.
One thing in August it can be bitterly cold in Waiorou.
Seriously it is a cold like no other. Maybe its because of the grim houses and army base.
Though I love it there. Maybe beacause I was born just down the road?
Ohakune is the place to stay.
If you could i'd fly in to Auckland and out of Wellington. Spend some time there @ te papa.

[tambo]

Yep, It's different...

View from the lodge we stayed at.. Pukenui, view of Ruapehue.

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee347/Tambazz-Productions/MtRuhapehu.jpg

Here's some pics from the olden days... kids first time on snow.
This is Rainey at Ruapehue.... this was mid-late July. Catch the lift down to the snow. Well it was ice. Iceplay was fun, though broken bones a distinct possibility
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee347/Tambazz-Productions/NZ14.jpg

This is now at Coronet Peak, the kids "Skiwi Club". Yes, that's the edge of the mountain, and yes there is only a haybale or little fence to stop them going over. Back in the day....
Here's Fischmunga... before he was Fishmunga.
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee347/Tambazz-Productions/coronetfischer3.jpg
and Rainey
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee347/Tambazz-Productions/CoronetRainey1.jpg

here's Wildman.. first time on skis. Oops! No Helmet on him or Rainey! What was I thinking??
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee347/Tambazz-Productions/CoronetWilding2.jpg

[SA]

I'd check how the lahar is going before deciding on North.

[Donza]

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Kids/NZDisasters/Tangiwai.asp

Yep. Its a interesting place.
Warnings everywhere nowadays.

[chunky]

Lahar?

[tambo]

Originally posted by chunky:
Lahar? an avalanche of volcanic water and mud down the slopes of a volcano

[chunky]

Yeah that's what I thought but I thought the big mtn in the north was playing nice again. Haven't heard about any eruptions.