The Travelling Nutmeg: Christmas in July @ Whakapapa Ski Resort

Nothing is more charming that someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously. New Zealand exemplifies this through their wintery July by hosting Christmas parties and playing holiday tunes while the Northern Hemisphere is busy chasing after the summer sun in a well toned beach bod.

If you want to enjoy a winter wonderland, you have one of two choices: Take a ferry or plane and travel several hours to one of the few snow drenched cities in South Island or drive to the center of North Island to Mt. Ruapehu.

Mt. Ruapehu is one of many scenic sites within the 307.32 sq mi of the UNESCO World Heritage Site,  Tongariro National Park. This park includes Taranaki Falls, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Lake Rotoaira and many other volcanic influenced features which many persons visit year round. It is also heavily protected and preserved by the Maori tribes responsible for the area.

But if you really wanted a day in the snow, then your destination should be Whakapapa Ski Resort (pronounced "Fakapapa"). Once you make it pass the winding hill, lower temperature and oxygen levels, there is enough snow and ice to make you forget how long the journey took.

Of course as a beginner, scratch that, clueless participant, I started on the basic slopes known as "Happy Valley". Which is true if you choose sledding or you are knowledgeable in ice travel. Otherwise, it's quite the set up as I figured out my first ski trip down the slope. 

Not only did it take 1 hour, but three quarters of that time was spent playing the poster child for the "I've fallen and I can't get up" team. Contorted between boulders, falling backwards, crashing into caution crates with 5 second intervals of standing (not skiing) was extremely discouraging. 

Even though everyone else seem to be crashing around us as well, we couldn't help but feel some envy towards the little ones who moved in confidence. Especially the mothers who effortlessly jockey strapped their babies for the journey downhill.

After a quick lunch to recenter our spirits, we tackled the hill again and to our surprise, experienced minimal crashes and got to the point where we could complete the slope without falling. What do you do with such new found skill? Climb to a steeper slope, naturally. 

With mountain goat proficiency, I took several complete trips down this slope, falling only when I ascended and descended the lift that brought us to the top (see right of photo above). Yes the flattest areas of the entire course. 

By this time, I was torn between riding the Gondola to enjoy the amazing bird's eye view and practicing on a now very clear slope (either people stopped falling like we did or gave up and went home by lunch time). 

I made up for the missed ride by making a mass in the snow. Which proved to be just enough time to forget how to ski all over again. But I promise you, my muscles and ankles did not forget. In fact, every twinge I make in my bed right now is proof they have not forgotten.

It was honestly an awesome, heady experience or as my Dad, the big G put it "better than any substance high." And he was totally correct, there is something very satisfying about being able to learn a simple skill within a couple hours by observing other humans and having the support of great friends.