Ruapehu looking forward to influx of domestic tourists for winter ski season

Ruapehu tourism is not experiencing the impacts felt by southern ski fields due to the pausing of the transtasman bubble. Photo / Mount Ruapehu

While South Island skifields are lamenting the impact of the loss of bookings from Australian visitors due to Covid travel restrictions, Ruapehu is focused on the domestic market.

"We have had some cancellations from Australian visitors but we are not as impacted as the South Island skifields," Visit Ruapehu's Jo Kennedy said.

"The majority of our winter visitors are domestic travellers and we're expecting to see plenty of them this year."

While the skifields at Ruapehu were closed on Monday, snow was forecast for next Saturday and Kennedy said the community was hoping for a "good dump" to get things going.

"There is always plenty to do here anyway - plenty of good cycling and hiking opportunities as well as great food on offer."

Kennedy said the winter had got off to a great start in the region and more than 3000 people flocked to Ruapehu for the Fresh Direct Ohakune Carrot Carnival on June 7.

Ruapehu District Council destination development manager Warren Furner said he, too, didn't expect a lack of Australian visitors would have much negative impact on the region.

"Domestic visitors make up around 95 per cent of our winter tourist numbers and we're anticipating that conditions will be ideal for them.

"It is clear and cold here so conditions are ideal for snow coming our way."

Furner said skifield staff had been training in readiness for a busy season this year and season passes had been selling fast.

Happy Valley ski area, which opened for the season on June 5, was closed due to poor weather conditions on Monday.

Whakapapa and Tūroa skifields are scheduled to open on July 5 in time for the school holidays, which start on Saturday, July 12.

Minister for Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins announced a 72-hour pause in the transtasman quarantine free travel bubble on Saturday night.

South Island skifields have reported "mass cancellations" by Australian visitors.

Many were planning to spend their school holidays, which started this week, at the resorts.

Before Covid-19, Australian visitors made up around a third of winter visitors at the Cardrona Alpine Resort and the Treble Cone Ski Area near Wānaka and operators were hoping to see a return of some of those numbers this year.