Ohakune Feature

*OHAKUNE: HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Ohakune has come of age! Over the last ten years Ohakune has established itself as the North Island’s playground for Skiing, snowboarding and people seek other activities such as mountain biking, walking, and river sports. It has been described as the Queenstown of the North Island.

Skiers and boarders fl ock to Ohakune to take in what the largest ski area in New Zealand has to offer, but Ohakune’s is not just about the snow there is a varitiy of entertainment, restaurants, cafes and some of New Zealand’s best Accommodation.

Turoa Ski Area – also known as “The Giant” sits on the south-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu and has Australasia’s longest vertical descent. Turoa’s intermediate trails are mostly wide and smooth, with chutes and bowls to keep it interesting. There are 12 groomed intermediate runs, all nice and long with many linked so you can enjoy excellent intermediate skiing and riding from the top of the highest lift to the base area. Whakapapa Ski Area is on the north-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu and is New Zealand’s largest ski area, with over 65 trails on 1050 hectares. There are over 30 groomed trails ideal for intermediate skiers and boarders – especially the Rockgarden, which leads down the first chairlifts to the Top o the Bruce. This trail is one that is targeted with snowmaking, so is reliable for riding and is an easy progression up from Happy Valley. The volcanic Mt Ruapehu terrain gives a large variety of trails with bumps, chutes, drops, bowls orwide open runs. So grab your skies, snowboards and hit the powder.