Tell me about Mt. Ruapehu 

Mt. Ruapehu is situated in the centre of the North Island, New Zealand in the beautiful Tongariro National Park and offers some of the best natural ski terrain in New Zealand.

Mt. Ruapehu is home to two world-class ski resorts,  Whakapapa and Turoa making it New Zealand's largest winter playground. EA Ski & Snowboard interns live in the National Park Village only 92 kilometres away from Lake Taupo or a short train ride Ohakune, home of the famous New Zealand Mardi Gras.

Here you'll find big bowls, loads of cliff drops, and epic powder stashes for the avid powder hunters. The mountain is made up of 67 named runs, 25% are classified advanced, 50% intermediate, 25%. The skiable area is an impressive 550 hectares. 

Becoming a Ski Instructor at Mt. Ruapehu 

EA offer both ski and snowboard instructor internship programs at Whakapapa ski field. A training consultant will help you pick the right program for you based on your goals, interests and experience. Check out what's included in our internship programs below.

Living and working at Mt. Ruapehu 

Mt. Ruapehu is home to two world-class ski field areas, Whakapapa and Turoa making it New Zealand's largest winter playground. On an EA Ski & Snowboard internship at Mt. Ruapehu you will train and work at Whakapapa ski field. Whakapapa is a 25-minute bus trip from your accommodation at National Park Village. The ski season in New Zealand runs from June until October.

The work position at Whakapapa ski field begins after the training and exam portion of the course. This is generally in late June/early July time. The contract runs until October but there is flexibility to leave earlier if needed. 

Once you arrive in the National Park Village, you will meet your EA Program Manager who will help you settle into your new home and introduce you to your fellow interns. You will then get straight into an intense training and exam period, which finishes up before the start of the busy school holiday period, when you will begin your employment on one of New Zealand's busiest learning facilities.

There will also be further structured training opportunities available to take you on towards the level 2 standard, and these will be available as part of employee internal training sessions, usually scheduled around busy times for work

What about accommodation? 

Accommodation will be provided for the first four weeks of your instructor internship program at Pukenui Lodge.

You will share a four-bed dorm room with your fellow EA interns. Pukenui Lodge itself is centrally located and the manager is the "ex-fastest skier in the whole of NZ," so he's bound to have a few tips for you. In National Park Village there is an excellent climbing wall, small gym, shop (mini-mart style with the majority of things you need to get by), alongside one main bar/restaurant and a number of ski lodges. As Mt. Ruapehu is located within the Tongariro National Park, National Park Village itself is not large, being fairly remote in the central North Island, but there is a very tight-knit community there that will make you feel very welcome. Mt. Ruapehu regularly put on staff buses to enable local staff to go to the larger towns of Taupo and Taumarunui for day trips and visits to the large supermarkets there (Taupo is a great town to explore with a lot of fun activities).

Accommodation facilities:

• Waxing and tuning set up and drying room. 
• Large common lounge complete with table tennis table
• Communal kitchen
• Views of Mordor
• Linen-included

There is flexibility to continue your stay at the end of the training period for the remainder of the program and beyond.

Certification Overview 

Our Ski and Snowboard Internship at Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu allows you 
to obtain a globally recognised qualification with the NZSIA (New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance).

The NZSIA has a long-standing history and has been training and qualifying ski instructors in its system since 1971. It is internationally recognised as a well-established, professional provider and has a reputation for high-quality and knowledge. This means that NZSIA instructors are able to competently perform and teach on snow in many cultures and conditions. This qualification can truly take you anywhere.

Program Manager 

EA Ski & Snowboard want you to have the best season possible at Mt. Ruapehu. This means that we have someone on the ground, who is easily contacted and there to offer advice and support at all times. Not only are they familiar with Whakapapa and Turoa, but they also work for the ski school and will be a familiar face to make your gap year and first winter season that much easier.