2019 Mt Ruapehu Shuttle Service Starts

A new fleet of four-wheel drive buses to the ski areas on Mt Ruapehu have started running for the season. 

The 2019 public transport shuttle service started on Thursday, 4 July with daily shuttles running on a schedule from Ohakune to Tūroa, National Park Village to Whakapapa, and Taupō and Turangi to Whakapapa. Services from Whakapapa Village are due to launch later in season.

Here are details of the new service:

From National Park & Whakapapa Villages to Whakapapa ski area

Services from National Park Village depart from the Park & Ride on Findlay Street from 8.15am daily. During weekends and school holidays shuttles run hourly until 12.15pm, and again at 3:45pm.

Tickets cost $20 per person, with children 5 and under travelling free with a paying adult. Ticket can be purchased from the cashless self-service kiosk at the Park & Ride centre or from RAL's Customer Relations desk on the mountain.

Services from Whakapapa Village will depart from the bus terminal on an hourly schedule from 8.30am. Tickets will cost $15 per person, with children 5 and under travelling free with a paying adult.

For the full schedule of services to the Whakapapa ski field from National Park and Whakapapa Village visit: https://www.mtruapehu.com/whakapapa/getting-here/info-1g1PUoK9lKKAMiUisUE0Ei

From Ohakune to Tūroa ski area

Services from Ohakune depart from the Ohakune Carrot Park & Ride or the Mt Ruapehu Snow Depot from 7.15am daily. During weekends and school holidays shuttles run hourly until 12.15pm, and again at 3:45pm.

Tickets cost $20 per person, with children 5 and under travelling free with a paying adult. Ticket can be purchased from the cashless self-service kiosk at the Park & Ride centre or from the Mt Ruapehu Customer Relations desk on the mountain.

For the full schedule of services to the Tūroa ski field from Ohakune visit: https://www.mtruapehu.com/turoa/getting-here/info-4OQAQm2o8020UEy0AgkiUQ

From Taupō & Turangi to Whakapapa ski area

Services from Taupō depart from the Mt Ruapehu Snow Depot at 7:30am daily. Tickets cost $39 return for adults and $35 for youths. Children 5 and under travel free with a paying adult. The trip takes 1hr 30min.

Services from Turangi depart from the I-Site at 8:15am daily. Tickets cost $29 return for adults and $35 for youths. Children 5 and under travel free with a paying adult. The trip takes 45min.

For more details on services from Taupō and Turangi visit: https://www.mtruapehu.com/whakapapa/getting-here/info-67WsacyiPeKIrzz6iavjEg

The public transport shuttle services are being operated on behalf of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) by Taumata Ikaroa - a partnership between Te Urungi o Ngāti Kuri Ltd, the commercial arm of Ngāti Kuri Trust Board, and Sand Safaris. The partnership includes a placeholder for Mt Ruapehu iwi/hapu.

The new fleet of four-wheel (4WD) drive buses represents an investment of over $5 million and will offer a more comfortable and safer journey with less emissions, according to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL).