Turoa

Turoa, with Australasia's biggest vertical drop (2,690ft), is the resort on the other side of the mountain (Ruapehu) from North Island's legendary Whakapapa ski area. Although little-known, it enjoys similar volcanic terrain to its neighbour – a mixture of easy cruising and expert skiing, among dramatic pinnacles, gullies, bowls and walls, often encrusted with snow and ice and wind-packed. The only way to reach some of the highest, most exciting skiing around Girdlestone and the Gliding Gladys area is to walk up – but check with the ski patrol first. Turoa and Whakapapa have a tenuous connection – a long traverse round the side of the volcano – but to join them officially would be difficult and costly.