[1] The village is located on the western slopes of Mount Ruapehu,[2] in the Whakapapanui Stream valley.

[4] In 1887 the paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Heuheu Tūkino IV, permitted use of the tribe's land including the sacred mountain peaks of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro – to the people of New Zealand.

[6] They realised the Whakapapa Valley was "much better than any other area of Ruapehu for skiing as well as for summer parties, if it could only be given road access and huts.

"[6] In 1919 Bill Mead persuaded the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts to pay for an access road to Whakapapa.

The Ruapehu Ski Club built a collection of huts, which became Whakapapa Village.