Ohakune

Ohakune is well regarded as a winter destination within New Zealand. It is at the base of Ruapehu mountain and is known as the ski capital of the North Island. Winters are the busy season for Ohakune, attracting skiers from all over New Zealand, Australia and beyond. The town makes a delightful stopover in the summertime too, when visitors are fewer and the walks and hikes around town are inviting.
The town is divided into two parts. The "upper" part, also called the Junction, is around the train station and its vicinity. It is home to a number of lodges, inns and cafes, and is also closest to Tongariro National Park. The lower part of town is larger and contains shops, restaurants, an i center, as well as a riverside park.

By car

Ohakune is on State Highway 49.

By train

Tranzscenic has trains three times per week from Auckland or Wellington. The train station is within easy walking distance to lodges and hotels in the upper part of the town.

By bus

• Intercity has a daily service from Auckland and from Palmerston North

You can walk from the upper to the lower part of town in a 45 minutes or so. During the winter, a bus service runs every half hour until the bars close. Other car and taxi services are available during the winter months. Ask at your lodge.
While you can walk along the sidewalks to get from one part of town to another, for better views take scenic walkway along the riverside also connects the two. From the upper part of town, cross the river over the old bridge, then walk 100 meters or so to the trail opening on the left side of Old River Road. Enjoy the swinging pedestrian bridge.

• The World's Largest CarrotA 7.5m tall model carrot, originally used in an advert for a bank, then donated to Ohakune in 1984.

• Ruapehu Mountain

• Ohakune Railway Museum

  address: 52 Thames Street
  A small volunteer run exhibition, with a slightly random collection of railway equipment and a display on the Tangiwai Disaster (a nearby railway bridge collapsed in 1953 killing 151).

• National Army Museum

  phone: +64 06 387 6911
  address: State Highway 1, Waiouru 4861

• Ski
• Walk or hike in Tongariro National Park. The park's entrance and Ranger Station is located on Mountain Road, just north of the train station. The Rimu and Mangawhero Forest are short walks and easily accessible for those staying in Ohakune.
• Skateboard on the half pipe, located along Clyde Street in the lower part of town.

• New World

  address: 12 Goldfinch St
  Supermarket

• The Bearing Point Restaurant & Bar

  phone: +64 6-385 9006
  address: 55 Clyde Street

• Powderhorn Chateau

  phone: +64 6 385 8888
  address: 194 Mangawhero Tce
  The Powderkeg Restaurant – Open from 4.00pm until late.

• OCR Cafe (Old Coach Road Ohakune)

  address: 2 Tyne Street
  Dine at OCR cafe Ohakune. Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner/ Bar.

• The Suitcase

  address: 5 Rimu Street

• Powder Keg Bar and Cafe

• LKNZ Backpackers

  phone: +64 6 385 9169
  address: 1 Rata St

• YHA Ohakune

  phone: +64 6 385 8797
  address: 60 Thames St
  46 bed hostel in a building built in 1906.

• National Park Village
• Raetihi
• Tongariro National Park
• Turangi