Sky Waka Gondola

The Sky Waka Gondola was created in 2019 and travels from the base station of the Whakapapa ski area 1.8km up Mt Ruapehu. It cruises past waterfalls frozen in winter, ancient lava flows and snowy valleys. Up the top is the architecturally designed, award winning restaurant Knoll Ridge Chalet – plus a café and food truck-type shop in winter. In winter you can ski off from here and in summer, there are a range of walks – we recommend you try the Skyline Walk. In the summer when the mountain allows DOC does a guided tour crater lake walk with background on the mountain and its Maori legends and history.