Tāwhiri, Waiouru

02/05/2023

Rotokura - magical, even on a grey day

13/04/2023

https://facebook.com/events/s/anzac-day-2023/156559850340788/

12/11/2022

6.20pm; better than expected 🙂

05/10/2022

Springtime in Waiouru

17/09/2022

11.30am; cloud piercer

11/09/2022

https://www.facebook.com/276946669056595/posts/5936338063117399/?sfnsn=mo

08/09/2022

30/08/2022

https://www.facebook.com/42322565416/posts/10166390296475417/

“Ka mahi te tawa uho ki te riri”

“Well done, you whose courage is like the heart of a tawa tree”

- Whakatauki / Māori proverb

9 days closed
376 hours of grooming
1053 km travelled
510 hectares ground covered

And the result? Tomorrow, the team at Tūroa will open the High Noon Express.

We said we needed 20-30cm - we haven’t had that. But our groomers and snowmakers have made the impossible, possible, pushing snow from everywhere and anywhere, and firing up the snow guns as soon as temperatures cooled.

We expect to see the High Noon open in the morning. The team are aiming for 10am, although acknowledge there is a lot to do in setup, so please bear with them, and keep an eye on the report for latest.

Access is via the Movenpick, with access to Little Bowl, Snowbird, and Upper Freeway. The Alpine Café and Giant Café will also open.

https://www.mtruapehu.com/turoa/report

The dream lives! - what a mighty team you are.

📷 : Bendy

24/08/2022

Sad news from the mountain

It's all about the High Noon from here.

As seen on the webcams, and as noted on our report page, Tūroa has been significantly impacted by the unseasonal weather of the last two weeks, and really, all season. The seasonal influence of La Nina has hit hard, as we've received well below our all-time average in snowfall this season. This has affected our operations, our people, and our community.

As a result of reviewing our operations, and considering our nearing halfway point in the season, a decision has been made at Tūroa to focus our attention on the High Noon Express, and at this stage, the High Noon only. At a higher elevation, the highest of any lift in New Zealand, this terrain has a greater chance of snow accumulation to that of other lifts.

The High Noon is not currently operational, requiring a minimum of 20-30cm to get going again, and when we get that, it will be our focus. Until then, sadly, Tūroa will remain temporarily closed.

With fewer facilities operational, the ski area management teams have had to rationalise their efforts heading into the second half of our winter. This review has, very unfortunately, impacted our people. In the next week, we will say goodbye to around a third of our total team of 405 people, and the largest impact of that will be seen at Tūroa.

In these heart breaking times - both seeing the maunga as it is, and also having to say goodbye to our colleagues - we remain grateful for the empathy and support our off and online community has shown us.

It doesn't end here, not even close. We will await the snow, of which there is some in forecast, and continue to look to opportunities to rebuild. Our operational teams are committed to working tirelessly with that they have.

Kia kaha.

📷 : Sticky, taken this morning.

24/12/2021

Wishing all our guests, past, present and future, a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year

15/11/2021

FINAL DAYS!

As of this morning, we have sold through 90% of our capped 2022 Earlybird Season Passes.

With the cap in place, this now of course means that only 10% of our Earlybird Season Passes are still available for you to purchase.

In a time where dates are ever-changing, we would like to give you some more certainty around your purchase, setting the date of Friday 19 November as the final day to purchase a 2022 Earlybird Season Pass.

After midnight Friday 19 November, our best-priced Earlybird Season Passes, which are a saving of over 30% off our regular Season Pass prices, will be sold out.

Afterpay and ZIP are available online to support your purchase, providing flexible payment options to help you avoid missing out.

To purchase yours, before the weekend, visit: https://www.mtruapehu.com/season-pass.

01/04/2021

A frosty full house for Good Friday.
8am and the temperature has soared to 3 degrees - very autumnal . . .

19/07/2020

An unexpected Sri Lankan meeting at Tāwhiri - and just enough for a cricket team!
Thanks for the memory, Pubba. :-)

18/07/2020

The nicest review one can get.

02/07/2020

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158626135861926&id=131788986925&sfnsn=mo

19/05/2020

Good news for snow lovers.
And . . . we are ready to take bookings; covid-aware and following Ministry of Health guidelines.

Late last week, the ski industry was able to confirm that following their work with government, ski areas can operate for the 2020 season under Covid-19 Alert Level 2.

25/03/2020

Signs of the times. The gates are shut until further notice - but not locked.

31/12/2019

2019 - going out in style!
Happy New Year to all our guests - past, present and future. Here's to bright, prosperous and visionary 2020 for one and all.

29/10/2019

Well done Chef Tyson and Denise. You’ve done yourselves proud, winners of My Restaurant Rules 2019. A big thank you to all the family and friends that have supported them along the way.

04/10/2019

An experience worth staying an extra night for!

OPINION: It's not often that "Waiouru" and "fine dining" are mentioned in the same breath. It's a comfort stop and hot pie town.

26/09/2019

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10162077275960417&id=42322565416

24/09/2019

COUNTING DOWN TO NEXT MONDAY . . .

My Restaurant Rules, featuring Waiouru's own *Rustic Eating House*
and starring Tyson and Denise Burrows (among others).

Not to be missed . . .

A local cooking competition like never before! Five teams from five real restaurants will put their livelihoods at stake in a bid to find out whose Restaurant Rules.

22/09/2019

COUNTING DOWN TO NEXT MONDAY

My Restaurant Rules, featuring Waiouru's own
*RUSTIC EATING HOUSE*
and starring Denise and Tyson Burrows (among others)

Premieres Monday 30 September, TVNZ 2

NOT TO BE MISSED!

A local cooking competition like never before! Five teams from five real restaurants will put their livelihoods at stake in a bid to find out whose Restaurant Rules.

22/09/2019

A calm end to a pretty nice weekend. :-)

17/09/2019

Still plenty of snow up there . . .

16/09/2019

What will your line be? One of these or something else? Registrations close in a few days! Don't miss out on your chance to snag all the GLORY and the PRIZES! Register at https://www.freerideworldtour.com/event/2020-turoa-2-fwq/registration

Prizes include:
Men’s ski. 1st = Blizzard skis & $600
Women’s ski. 1st = Nordica skis & $600
Women’s SB. 1st = Venture Snowboard & $600
Men’s SB. 1st = Venture Snowboard & $600

Days Passes are included in your event registration.
Registrations close September 18th.

Thanks to Ohakune Events Charitable, Nordica, Blizzard Ski and Venture Snowboards.

15/09/2019

Our local, Rustic Eating House, is a contender for New Zealand top restaurant title. Another great reason to stop over in Waiouru.

The heat is about to be turned up in TVNZ 2’s new reality series My Restaurant Rules!

06/09/2019

Desert Defenders. One of the highlights of our year, here in Waiouru.

25/03/2019

Tāwhiri, in Waiouru, is a comfortable distance to or from the Interislander, and the Northern Explorer runs right next to the house.

See what Waiouru has to offer - and we promise you, it's more than you were expecting!

15/03/2019

All people of peace and tolerance are always welcome at Tāwhiri - no matter what their race or creed.