Serac Ski Club

The Lodges

Serac Ski Club has two lodges, one at Whakapapa above the snowline at the top of the Bruce Road, and another in the Ohakune township in the Alpine Village. Both offer comfortable bunk-style accomodation. Whakapapa lodge sleeps 24 and Ohakune lodge sleeps 18.

Trip Leader duties
Whakapapa lodge
Ohakune lodge
What to bring to the lodge
Motoring tips
Parking precautions for the mountain

Trip Leader duties

A Trip Leader is appointed by the Administration Officer whenever there are people staying in the lodge. Trip Leaders are responsible for certain duties, set out in the documents below.
Whakapapa Trip Leader duties (Word document)
Ohakune Trip Leader duties (Word document)

The Whakapapa lodge

This was the first lodge built by the club. It's situated on the Whakapapa ski field, on the northern side of Mount Ruapehu. The lodge is located in the Iwikau Village at the top of the Bruce Road (State Highway 48).

The ski lifts are a few minutes walk from the Whakapapa lodge door and the lodge is easily accessible from the car park.

During most seasons you can ski to and from the lodge. Members can ski home at night, enjoy a hot shower, and share a pre-dinner drink while the car parks are still emptying.

Travelling time from both Wellington and Auckland is approximately 4 hours.

The Whakapapa lodge phone number is (07) 892 3831.

The Whakapapa lodge in winter.

The Whakapapa lodge in summer (before the external refurbishment was done).

The Ohakune lodge

The Ohakune lodge is ideal for those who prefer to be closer to town. The lodge is near to Ohakune's shops, restaurants, and ski rentals.

The lodge has easy access to tennis courts and other facilities that make Ohakune ideal for non-ski days or summer breaks.

Travelling time from Wellington is approximately 3.5 hours, and from Auckland it's 4.5 hours.

The lodge is located at 4 Karo Street in the Alpine Village, off State Highway 49, just to the east of Ohakune.

The Ohakune lodge phone number is (06) 385 8712.

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The Ohakune lodge.

What to bring to the lodge

Make sure you have:

• torch
• pillowslip
• light sleeping bag or light duvet and sheet (extra blankets are available)
• toiletries and a towel
• light clothing for wearing inside the lodge
• for outside, wear many thin insulating layers with a wind and waterproof outer layer
• a pair of sturdy boots (not ski boots), suitable for walking in snow
• hat, gloves, sunglasses, and sunscreen
• ski gear
• BYO refreshments (breakfast and dinner is provided)
• CDs, tapes, and a good book (there is no TV)

When visiting Whakapapa lodge it is best to use a pack for your gear as the lodge is approximately 100m from the road.

Each lodge has a cot which can be set up in the bunkrooms.

Motoring tips

• Be sure your cooling system contains at least 50% anti-freeze.
• Always carry chains, make sure they fit properly and practise putting them on before you have to do it in the dark, rain, snow, etc. There is a chain hiring/fitting service operating during daylight hours on both access roads.
• Top up your fuel at the last 24 hour service station in case roads are closed and you have to drive on/back to somewhere else. Depending on which direction you're coming from this will be Waiouru, Turangi, or Taumarunui.
• There is limited overnight parking at Whakapapa. You may have to drop off gear and passengers and park further down the mountain. Vehicles left in the day parks after 5pm are towed to allow snow clearing to be carried out.

Parking precautions for the mountain

• Park in gear with the handbrake off. If your brakes freeze "on", you will be stuck.
• Flip your windscreen wipers away from the glass, they will damage themselves or the wiper motor if operated when frozen to the windscreen.
• Take care de-icing your windscreen, they break easily. A can or two of de-icing spray (obtainable from some garages) and a domestic freezer scraper are good thing to have. But, keep them in your pack as they are no good frozen inside your car when you need them to de-ice the door locks and weather strips.
• If your engine starts, runs properly then stops after 20 – 30 seconds, then does the same thing again; check the exhaust pipe, it may be plugged with snow.
• Make sure your aerial is retracted, they do not like excessive snow and ice loading.

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