Turoa Ski Area – once marketed as “The Giant” sits on the south-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu and has Australasia's longest vertical descent – at 720m – and New Zealand's highest lift, a six-seater high speed detachable that rises from Turoa’s mid-field area to 2322m.

The field starts at 1600m at the Alpine Meadow – a sheltered beginners' area with a 120m long carpet lift – like a conveyer belt or travelator over the snow: just stand on it and it takes you smoothly and easily up the slope. The Alpine Meadow is right next to the Alpine Chalet where you'll find good coffee, meals, snacks or a cold beer or wine after your time on the piste. For the non-skiers or boarders in the family, there's a toboggan area right alongside the Alpine Meadow.

Turoa’s intermediate trails are mostly wide and smooth, with chutes and bowls to keep it interesting. There are 12 groomed intermediate runs, all nice and long with many linked so you can enjoy excellent intermediate skiing and riding from the top of the highest lift to the base area. With 25 black and black diamond runs and two spectacular lift-accessed backcountry areas, you'll find a massive variety of terrain as an advanced skier/rider at Turoa. Head Out West to enjoy the natural half pipes and chutes through the Organ Pipes and the Solitude backcountry area or the amazing wide sweeping terrain of the Triangle and the Mangaehuehu Glacier backcountry area.

If you're into steeps Hamilton's Face offers several options as does the headwall of the Glacier. The budding big mountain skier will find an ever-changing range of natural terrain features to play on.