| 3 Talk to us today, the feature profile experts Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz PROFILE YOUR PROJECT... Enjoying the alpine trails in comfort Richard Loader Sky Waka’s fully enclosed gondolas take passengers through one of the North Island’s most rugged and spectacular landscapes in Whakapapa, Mount Ruapehu. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Journeying into clouds and traversing some of New Zealand’s most ancient and dramatically alluring volcanic landscape, the Sky Waka Gondola has provided almost half a million skiers and sightseers with a truly magical experience since commencing operation in July 2019. Located within the UNESCO dual world heritage Tongariro National Park, Sky Waka’s fully enclosed gondolas take passengers through one of the North Island’s most rugged and spectacular landscapes in Whakapapa, Mount Ruapehu. From the Whakapapa base area sitting 1637 metres above sea level, fifty European designed gondola cars transport their guests 1.8 kilometres to Knoll Ridge Chalet, taking pride of place 2020 metres above sea level. Sky Waka was developed to replace the Waterfall Express chairlift that had been in operation for the last 30 years, and to provide a year round visitor experience. “In our environment the infrastructure is subject to extreme weather from icing to some of the most phenomenal wind condition that New Zealand has — we have recorded winds up to 280 kilometres an hour at the top of the gondola in recent years,” says Jono Dean, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts’ (RAL) CEO, the organisation charged with operating the lift. “It’s an incredibly exposed part of the country so we needed to ensure we protected people while they were there. “Sky Waka is now our main arterial lift providing all transport from the Whakapapa base area of the ski resort in weather protected cabins that can seat up to ten people.” Designed and built by Italian company Leitner, high-end and robust gondolas were selected for the rigors of winter use, along with comfort for summer tourists. “The gondolas have to cope with skis, snow boards and skiers who just want to get where they’re going as quickly as possible in the winter, but then have the ability to convert the cabin into summer sight-seeing experience where the trip is a lot slower and people want that refined luxury and know they’re safe and protected.” Enhancements to the cars include leather seats that provide a sense of luxury while also being a hardwearing product. Protective Perspex skins inside the cabin protect glass from damage, while easily removed for summer time use by non-skiing tourists. For ride comfort and mitigating against extreme wind conditions, 150 kilo weights have been added to the gondola’s bottom to prevent swaying. The ropeway itself operates at six metres a second — the equivalent of 25-30kmh in a car — transporting passengers from the Whakapapa base area to Knoll Ridge in about five minutes. “Previously, that journey on two separate ropeways with potential for queuing in between would take anything from 18 to 25 minutes, riding in an open chairlift. “So there’s a quantum difference in terms of the ski experience, while also providing sightseers with a really safe and practical way to get up to New Zealand’s highest café on Knoll Ridge where the views are pretty spectacular,” says Jono. En-route to the café the gentle ascension encompasses topographical diversity with spectacular views including waterfalls and 360-degree panoramic views of volcanic landscapes. to page 4 “The gondolas have to cope with skis, snow boards and skiers who just want to get where they’re going as quickly as possible in the winter, but then have the ability to convert the cabin into summer sight-seeing experience where the trip is a lot slower....”
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