Mt Ruapehu skifields are experiencing traffic management problems because of record numbers of skiers.
Mt Ruapehu Alpine Lifts marketing manager Mike Smith said snowboarders and skiers had to be shuttled in and out of Whakapapa skifield two weekends ago because there wasn't enough parking space for cars.
"Everyone came to Whakapapa becausewe couldn't open Turoa," he said.
"We had 2700 cars parked, and were shuttling people from Whakapapa village."
A car-pooling promotion giving $10 vouchers to cars carrying four or more people was used last weekend at Turoa to control traffic numbers. Turoa had space only for 1600 cars, and the skifields' operator was working on a resource consent application for another 400 parks.
"It's been a real logistical experience packing everyone in," said Mr Smith.
"We had more people on the mountain during the school holidays but that was mum, dad and the kids in one car, not just singles or couples."
People needed to think about how many people they were bringing, he said.
The skifields had attracted about 150,000 skiers (including those making more than one visit) since they opened about a month ago.
Mr Smith said that was up 40 per cent on numbers experienced in the past five years.
Hamilton snowboarder Jason Spitzer said the skifields had been the busiest he had seen in years.
There was a 15-20 minute wait at Turoa's chairlifts at the weekend, he said.
"I've already had five days at the mountain. Last year I didn't get down until the end of August."
