Dates: Tuesday 30 August – Friday 2 September 2016
Location: Tukino Ski Field, Mt Ruapehu
Providers: Tukino Ski Club
Accommodation: Tukino Alpine Sports Club
Who: Places for 24 children (Open to Year 4-6 children)
Parents: Spaces for 6 parents
Teachers: Angela and Dan
Transport: Adult cars – preferably 4WD
Expression of interest form (By Wednesday 1 June)
Skiing, skiing and more skiing, tobogganing, snow fun, snow fights, movie nights and lodge games. An optional extra depending on snow conditions: a scenic, panoramic mountain trip on the snow groomer. If the weather prevents skiing we may go to the Tokaanu Hot Pools.
4WD vehicles can drive right up to the front door of the lodge. A priority may be given to parents with 4WDs. Entrance to the mountain is a small off-road, just off state highway one, ten minutes north of Waiouru.
Parents and children prepare and cook our own meals. We pay a set price to have our meal time food provided and we cook it ourselves. Children will be in cooking groups with an adult and have a designated meal that they are in charge of.
We will be skiing for 3 days (weather permitting), with time to also have fun in the snow. Snowball fights, snowman making, tobogganing, snow angels, optional scenic mountain tour on the snow groomer which takes you to a high magical place where only very experienced skiers can access (an additional cost but one of my highlights). Parents can join in any or all of the activities and pay the same price as the children. If you decide on the day you would like to join in you can make that last minute decision. However, if parents are not joining in the paid part of the activity, we still require you to be nearby at these activities.
Children — $389
Adults — $294 (cheaper if not skiing)
Adults will be reimbursed petrol money for their vehicle.
The snow groomer has an additional cost ($20 ). As this depends largely on the weather and snow conditions we will send a separate invoice for this after the camp - if the snow groomer trip goes ahead.
Skiing is the main part of the trip so this will be a definite for all children. The ski package includes 3 days of ski hire, rope tow tickets, ski lesson and access to the ski field. The overall cost also includes accommodation, food, transport and hiring of skis.
We hire skis, boots and poles from Turangi Ski hire. This is included in the total cost of the camp. Children definitely require appropriate clothing including waterproof pants and windproof jacket. These can be hired as well at an additional cost if needed.
There are limited spaces for this camp due to the amount of people we can sleep in the lodge. We are opening our ski camp up to Year 4-6 children initially. We often have more people interested in coming on camp than spaces available. We place priority for children who are in Year 6, then children who haven't been before and after this oldest to youngest. If there are still spaces available it will be opened up for children in Year 3.
We will have an information and planning meeting with parents who are coming and we will also work out our transport vehicles.
The Tukino area is truly magic. From its position on a ridge, the lodge offers stunning views of Mt Ruapehu to the west and the Kaimanawa Ranges and Lake Taupo to the east and north. Being on the eastern side of Mt Ruapehu, Tukino enjoys relatively calm conditions, sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds. The lodge was built in 1976 and it’s a bit of a design classic with its funky lines and super solid timber construction. Comfortable ‘on mountain’ lodge accommodation, avoids having to drive up the mountain each day and eliminates bad weather problems. Hot showers, flush toilets, full kitchens, roaring fires, drying rooms, bunk rooms, comfy lounge and open plan kitchen for night time entertainment. Plenty to do inside in bad weather, including big screen movies.
Tukino is a professionally managed and staffed club field providing affordable mountain experiences. It specialises in school groups and the terrain is suited to beginners. Tukino is great for schools as it is cheaper than commercial ski fields, is a more gentle learning ski slope but still has all the qualified ski instructors, avalanche control and safety patrollers. Nestled on the eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu, Tukino Ski Field offers the rare combination of adventure and lack of crowds, coupled with friendliness and camaraderie that is only found on club operated fields. This is what skiing used to be like – before hectic lifestyles and commercial interest took over.
If you would like your child (and yourself) to go to this amazing winter wonderland and ski down the spectacular slopes, please complete this expression of interest form by Wednesday 1 June. After this date I will confirm with you who is attending camp. Payment for this trip will need to be made in full prior to departure.
See you on the mountain!
Angela and Dan
