Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.schnappsbarruapehu.com
; Findlay St; meals $14-28; noon-late)
This popular pub has a
meat-fest menu, open fire, big screen, pool table and a handy ATM. Things crank up on
wintry weekends.
Information
There's no i-SITE in the village, so visit
www.nationalpark.co.nz
and
www.visitruapehu.com
for info.
Getting There & Away
(
Click here
)
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ohakune
POP 1000
Expect to see carrots crop up all over Ohakune, for this is indisputably the country's car-
rot capital. Carrots were first grown in the area during the 1920s by Chinese settlers, who
cleared the land by hand and explosives. Today, the venerable vegetable is celebrated
side tribute - the impossible-to-miss
Big Carrot
(Rangataua Rd)
, erected in 1984.
But locals needn't mention liver cleansing and eyesight improvement to win us over to
the charms of this little town. A pretty retreat in the summer offering outdoor adventure
galore, Ohakune springs to life in winter when the snow drifts down on Turoa Ski Area
and the snow bunnies invade.
There are two distinct parts to the town: the commercial hub is strung along the high-
way, but in winter the northern end around the train station, known as the Junction, is the
epicentre of the action. The two are linked by the
Mangawhero River Walkway
, a leafy
amble taking around 25 minutes on foot.
Activities
There are several scenic walks near the town, many starting from the Ohakune Mountain
Rd, which stretches 17km from Ohakune to the Turoa Ski Area (
Click here
)
on Mt
