Ohakune is typically regarded as a winter mecca for skiers, snowboarders and serious climbers ready to scale the slopes of Ruapehu but it has a lot to offer the summertime visitor too; not least because the crowds that make it so popular in the snowier months are conspicuously (and peacefully) absent.
The last time I travelled there I went with my brother who was here visiting from Spain; he’d blown most of his budget on the long haul flight so we were on the lookout for cheap places to stay. We found a fantastic little place called Rimu Park Lodge that has an incredible view of the mountain which is even more spectacular at sunset.
We had hoped to stay in the inviting rooms of a converted railway carriage nestled in the lodge’s garden on an old siding but it was closed for the quieter summer period. However the shared room in the main house was spacious, if a little cold in late summer, and perfectly comfortable considering the very reasonable tariff.
Ohakune is an ideal spot for a summer retreat from the city madness; it’s calm and quiet and even the famous hikes across Ruapehu can be made without seeing a soul.
What better time to explore some of the most rugged and starkly beautiful landscape of the North Island, more famous amongst the thrill seekers than rat-race escapees like me.
Tempted? Book your accommodation
now!
Editorial by Jooles Clements