10 pics that prove spring snow's awesome

Ski school is in. Photo / Alan Gibson

Much of New Zealand will be happy to see the last of the winter weather but not those on Mt Ruapehu. Clear skies and plenty of snow made for a great school holiday outing at Turoa ski field.

WATCH: Snow joy at Turoa ski field

Conditions at Whakapapa and Turoa are expected to be mainly fine today, with cloud moving in from the westthis evening. The weather is expected to deteriorate tomorrow with late rain forecast.

The Mercer family of four were among the crowds around the Alpine Meadow area. Cooper, 2, paired with his mother, Jodie, for some high-speed sledding fun, while older sister Chloe, 6, and father Steve teamed up on another sled.

For the rest of New Zealand the best weather of the school holidays has already passed, with forecasters giving warning of another cold, blustery southerly.

Best to be down in those ski fields then.

Photographs by Alan Gibson

YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU DARE: A snowboarder prepares to hit the slopes

AN ALL TIME HIGH: Taking the chairlift to the higher slopes

DON'T LOOK DOWN: A snowboarder is seemingly suspended above Mt Taranaki

WINTER WONDERLAND IN SPRING: Conditions at the Turoa Ski Area have been fantastic for skiers and boarders

PEAK CONDITION: Up high with Mt Taranaki in the distance

HANG ON MUM: Cooper Mercer, 2, and his mother Jodie speed down the Alpine Meadow

DADDY COOL: Chloe Mercer, 6, and her father Steve navigate the bumps

MAGIC CARPET RIDE: Octavia Bertram, 2, enjoys the carpet lift at the Alpine Meadow

SKI-WHIZZ: Liorah Atkinson shows her one-and-a-half-year-old son Jonah how to ski