Whakapapa skifield

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Whakapapa Skifield
Location:	Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Top elevation:	2,300 m (7,546 ft)
Base elevation:	1,630 m (5,348 ft)
Skiable area:	1360 acres (550.4 ha)
Runs:	30 named
Lift system:	11 lifts: 7 chairs, 4 T-Bars (1 High-Speed Quad, 1 Quad, 5 Double)
Web site:	Mount Ruapehu

Whakapapa, on the northern side of Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand's Tongariro National Park, is one of the mountain's two commercial skifields. The other is Turoa, located on the mountain's south-western slopes. The ski season is generally from late June to mid November, depending on snow and weather conditions. The terrain at Whakapapa Skifield is divided up as 25% beginner, 50% intermediate and 25% advanced. Access to the skifield is by Bruce Road, a 2-lane, 6 km sealed road. Limited accommodation and refreshments are available at 'Top o' the Bruce', at the entry to the skifield, and elsewhere on the mountain. Alpine huts are provided for trampers and climbers.

Mount Ruapehu's two skifields, Whakapapa and Turoa, are considered to be the largest ski resort in New Zealand and possibly the southern hemisphere. Both are owned and operated by the company Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Chateau Tongariro, which has appeared on several New Zealand stamps, is a feature of Whakapapa village.

In Maori "wh" is usually pronounced "f", so Whakapapa (also meaning "genealogy") is pronounced "Fakapapa".