Mt Ruapehu is New Zealand largest ski area.

The main skiing areas are the Whakapapa ski area (1630m) and the Turoa ski area.

If you get there from Auckland, it will take you 4 hours to Whakapapa and 4.30 hours to Turoa. My advice: if you don't have any skiing gears, at least bring your sunglasses, gloves and winter socks as these are the only items you can't rent at the feet of the station. Although you can buy those items there.

The weather can be cloudy as shown on the following picture:

Anyway, it's a lot of fun to ski in the middle of august.

Posing after a good day of ski at Mt Ruapehu.