Downhill Ski Club

Welcome

The ski club´s membership is a mixture of family and single members who enjoy skiing or snowboarding while doing so at the cheapest possible cost. The Downhill Ski club provides members with a choice of staying at Ruapehu lodge on Whakapapa ski field, Mount Ruapehu or in National Park township.

Facilities

Both lodges have comfortable amenities including bedrooms rather than dormitories, large drying rooms, ski work benches, cosy lounges, modern efficient Jayline fire places rated at 24kw, in both lodges.

National Park Lodge

The National Park lodge at 52 Carroll St gives members the choice of skiing/boarding Whakapapa (22Km) or Turoa (54Km, 50 min). From $17 per day, it operates as a bed and breakfast with members self catering or dining out nearby.

The lodge is available all year round for other activities. There is a lockup mountain bike shed at National Park.

Google map of lodge location and directions from Auckland to the lodge.
GPS coordinates: latatude = -39.1716, longatude = 175.3952 (or use the address, 52 Carroll St, National Park.

Map of location of National Park Lodge.

Ruapehu Lodge

The mountain lodge approximately 1800m above sea level is very comfortable with its 24Kw wood burner, tiled hearth, carpet and comfortable couches. There's also a games room with darts, table tennis and a pool table. A workshop for filing and waxing skis and a large drying room.

The mountain accommodation provides true ski in, ski out, alpine living. A cook in the high season and school holidays provides three cooked meals a day. All for $28 a day! . It's only a 6 minute walk to the West Ridge Quad chairlift!

The lodge opens once there is enough snow to open the West Ridge Quad chairlift; mid to late July. It stays open until the end of the school holidays in October. You can take the National Chair and drop your pack as you pass the lodge (do not jump off!). Otherwise you can ski from the Waterfall T Bar or walk the "Home Run" from Top O the Bruce. You need a pack and proper ski or tramping boots for this walk. It is not well marked. Study the map - take it with you.

Google map of lodge location.
GPS coordinates: latatude = -39.2454, longatude = 175.5530

How to get there

Take the National Chair. If not running Take the Centenial and Waterfall Chair then the Waterfall T bar. Ski across and down to the lodge. If visibility is bad near the bottom of the West Ridge Quad go to the top of the National Double chair and follow that.

Map of location of Ruapehu Ski Lodge.

Why join us?

The club caters for all abilities. It gives you the choice of skiing Whakapapa or Turoa. You can drive to the door and use day parks alternatively ski or snow board to and out from the mountain lodge. The facilities are available all year round.

Fill out our application form and print our summary page.