The Luxury Travel Guide to Ohakune

© Visit Ruapehu

Luxury Adventure Activities

It’s all about outdoor adventures in Ohakune, so let’s get straight into it. A highlight is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a full-day adventure traversing volcanic peaks, seeing vibrant lakes, steaming vents and more. For an enhanced experience, join Adrift Tongariro for their private guided hike of the crossing or their sunrise hike to experience this popular attraction with fewer people under a different light. Or, get well and truly off the beaten track and hike to extreme environments of extreme beauty like the Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake or to the summit of Mt Ngauruhoe. Find out more about Adrift Tongariro’s tours on Viator or Tripadvisor.

Speaking of Mt Ruapehu, the mountain is home to two of the largest ski fields open in New Zealand. Turoa is the closest ski field to Ohakune, boasting New Zealand’s longest vertical drop at 722m (2,369ft) and lifts taking you to the highest lift point in the country. On the other side of the mountain is the Whakapapa ski field, which is the largest ski field of the two ski fields and features attractive mountain cafes and views of Mt Ngauruhoe. Learn more in the Ski Season in New Zealand: North Island or South Island?

Swap alpine volcanoes for lush river landscapes in the Whanganui National Park. Either enjoy a day tour of the Whanganui River in a jet boat or a multi-day canoeing adventure known as the Whanganui Journey. Jet boat tours with Bridge to Nowhere Lodge and Whanganui River Adventures provide an effortless way to enjoy the scenery of New Zealand’s historic and longest navigatable river, while guided canoe trips of the Whanganui Journey is a unique New Zealand Great Walk.

For more information and the locations of each experience, see the 9 Luxury Activities in Ohakune.

© Martyn Davies - Visit Ruapehu

Luxury All-weather Activities

Like we said, Ohakune is mostly about the great outdoors. However, we understand that many of the activities here are very weather dependent, so if the mountain is closed, the Tongariro Crossing is cancelled or whatever it is, then is a good excuse to hit the boutique shops of Ohakune.

Remember your time on the mountains of Tongariro and Ruapehu with some modern NZ-made apparel from Strange Dog Print and Design (19a Goldfinch Street). Alternatively, pick up something local from Cornercopia (33 Clyde Street) and The Craft Haus (31 Thames Road) at the railway station like premium merino wool clothing, luxury homewares, artwork and more. The latter even has an espresso bar in-store so you can warm up before heading out.

For more rainy day ideas, check out the 10 Things to Do in Ohakune on a Rainy Day.

© Visit Ruapehu

Fine Dining in Ohakune

Ohakune is more of an apres-ski town with plenty of bars, street food and takeaways rather than fine dining. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for someplace special for a dine-in experience, you’ll find a few worthy restaurants.

Boasting one of the largest craft beer menus in town along with their speciality, New Zealand lamb and venison, The Cyprus Tree (77 Clyde Street) is well worth booking a table for. Relax by the cosy fire with a mulled wine in winter or bask in the sun with a cocktail in hand on the deck in summer.

A great place to relax with friends and family, Industry Bar and Grill (55 Clyde Street) provides affordable luxury with beautifully presented plates of grilled merino lamb, salmon, steak and more.

Finally, whether you’re staying in their luxury accommodation or not, don’t miss a trip to the Powderkeg Restaurant (194 Mangawhero Terrace) at The Junction. They offer an international menu of gourmet scotch fillet to confit duck to burgers to housemade pizzas.