Early Snow And Cheap Mt Ruapehu Season Passes

Early Snow And Cheap Mt Ruapehu Season Passes -- Roll On Winter 2004

This year's ski season's shaping up to be a winner with cold autumn temperatures bringing early snow -- just in time for Mt Ruapehu's season pass offer.

On sale from today (1 April) until the end of the month, Mt Ruapehu season passes will cost only $299 for adults, $259 for students and $169 for youths aged 16 years and under. For those who miss out, from 1 May passes for adults will be $639, students $549 and youths $349.

Mike Smith, Mt Ruapehu Marketing Manager, says cool autumn conditions like these haven't been seen for a number of years, and with a calendar full of events planned for the season, now's the time to make the most of the season pass offer.

"The season pass offer has attracted great interest in previous years because it's cost effective, especially for those who visit the mountain several times. This year, with the early snow and cold autumn conditions setting up the coming season, there hasn't been a better time to get a season pass," says Mr Smith.

This year an Adult All--Lifts Day Pass at Mt Ruapehu will cost $68, so adults who purchase a season pass in April will cover its entire cost after less than five days on the mountain, or just a little over two weekends on the slopes.

After spending more than $6 million redeveloping facilities on the mountain in the last three years, including extending snowmaking facilities on Turoa to the Winter Garden this year, Mr Smith says the Ski Area is looking forward to the upcoming season.

"Over the years we've invested heavily in making the mountain easily accessible to all by improving our facilities and services, especially snowmaking," says Mr Smith. "This year we also have an exciting round—up of events, both on and off the slopes -- there's the Ohakune Mardi—Gras and the Mt Ruapehu Spring Festival, and we're also holding the Ski Nationals this year, kicking off in the beginning of September at Turoa."

With the season pass on sale from today, it is expected that most passes will be sold online, at Mt Ruapehu's website. During last year's ski season, www.mtruapehu.com had almost 1.5 million user sessions from June to October, a 21 per cent growth on 2002.

To order season passes visit www.mtruapehu.com, or phone 0508 RUAPEHU (782 734) from 8am -- 5pm, Monday -- Friday throughout April 2004. The website can also be used to check out more information on the Ruapehu region and upcoming events at the mountain this year.

© Scoop Media