As the popularity of skiing grew in the 1960s ski facilities began to be developed outside of those owned by RAL - Happy Valley, National Downhill, Tukino and the south-west slopes. It was not until 1978 at Turoa, however, that another major ski area emerged.

Happy Valley

For more than 20 years John Willems of Happy Ski Valley Ltd operated several rope tows on the beginners slopes of Happy Valley and nearby Mead's Wall. Many thousands of people have had their first taste of skiing on these slopes over the years.

National Downhill

A 1000m rope tow was installed by Jimmy John and Roy Turner of Ski Enterprises Ltd on the National Downhill in 1960. They were responsible for creating a special family atmosphere which made "the Downhill" a favourite place for many skiers. This area, to the west of the Top o' the Bruce, got its name after the national downhill championships were held there in 1932.

Plans by Ski Enterprises in the mid-1960s brought the company into conflict with RAL and the Tongariro National Park Board. In 1965 the park board gave Jimmy John permission to replace his tow with a T-Bar and also permitted RAL to install an access chairlift and a poma lift to the west of the area. In 1975 RAL bought John's National Downhill operation.

Tukino

The first ski club on the eastern side of the mountain, the Waiouru Alpine and Ski Club, was formed in 1952 by enthusiasts from Waiouru Military Camp. A few years later the club transported some old army huts to a site 14km from the Desert Road. The club then built the Nissen Hut, which was the first pernament building at Tukino.

The Aorangi Ski Club was the next to build, and in 1966 installed a rope tow. The Desert Alpine Club and Christiania Ski Club have since built lodges at Tukino. Together the clubs now form the Tukino Mountain Clubs Association and share the cost of running the ski tow facilities and maintaining the road.

The Eastern slopes of Ruapehu are known by many as the wild side of the mountain. After carrying out a survey of mountain users in the mid-1970s, the Tongariro National Park Board decided not to allow commercial ski development at Tukino. this has retained the friendly club-skifield atmoshere and given Ruapehu skiers an alternative type of ski experience.