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Ohakune
Hello!
I'm planning on being in Ohakune for this coming season. I was just wondering how large the town is. Should I bring a bicycle or does the weather get pretty bad right from the start in June? Is the town small enough to just walk everywhere? Is there a bus system in the town?
How far away is the Tongariro National Park away from Ohakune? How long would it take to get there driving?
(random) are there any good ponds to skate on? Or does it get that cold?
Thanks so much!
Charles Cundall
USA
I have stayed there once and a bicycle would be handy for getting around as all the bars/activities are not in the centre of town. There is no bus service around town but shuttles run to the ski areas and the Tongariro National Park. There can be a lot of heavy rain and the weather for skiing is not as good as the South Island but Ruaphehu does get bigger snow dumps. Others may be able to answer the rest of your questions.
I don't live there - well not for much of the week anyway 
- town is 2-3 km end to end? (and flat)
- Junction end being the "bars" and nightlife end (by the train tracks, bottom of mtn road)
- Town end has supermarket, more bars and cafes
- shuttles at night?
- Bike would be helpful, especially if you end up living a bit far away from supermarket or your mates (although walking is fine, and plenty of people do it)
- Weather in June can range from freakish big dumps right down to town level and warm autumn weather ( a local could fill you in more. Voltaren?)
- Ponds... hmmm none that I know of, and probably not cold enough at that level for that
- Tongariro National park is pretty big....National Park 'Village' is approx 20-30 mins drive from Ohakune? (I forget, it's been too ling since I was there!)
- If working up the mountain, there is staff transport from Ohakune to Turoa field, or National Park to Whakapapa field
Anyway, that's just for starters, a local could confirm the bits I am vague on.
Hey Charles,
'Kune is a small rural town. Pop a few thousand (around 3 I think) A bike would be handy as it's a bit spread out, although you can walk everywhere. Depends what you mean by bad weather. It only snows down in the town a few times each year so no worries with snow cover. Although it gets some wicked frosts.
No bus system as such but the taxis are pretty good. I think a bus runs around town during the season.
Ponds? You mean ice skate? No. Although the swimming pool could be a contender...
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Wait For The Ricochet
it is split into two parts which are about a 30 min walk apart. The town itself is pretty small but gets very busy at weekends. There is a night shuttle and a taxi. A bike would come in handy as it is all pretty much flat and would make getting around much easier.
June normally has terrible weather but generally not to bad from late July to October, but you will still get those week long storms.
It's about half an hour from ohakune to national park.
cool guys. Thanks so much for the info! sounds like a rad little town.
http://www.ohakune.info/ [ohakune.info]
http://www.localknowledgenz.com/ [localknowledgenz.com]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohakune [en.wikipedia.org]
do the ohakune lakes ever ice up?
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I have seen parts of the "dry lake" iced up in the shade/cold, but wouldn't want to attampt to stand on it 
Where in the US are you from Charles (can we call you Chuck???)
In your post you ask how far away is Tongariro National Park. Ohakune actually borders onto the National Park.
The town of National Park is about a half hour drive away.
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Wait For The Ricochet
Originally posted by: charlesincharge89
cool guys. Thanks so much for the info! sounds like a rad little town.
Its more of a farming town than a resort town and its famous for growing carrots. There are 2 large non ski resort towns within a days drive 1 is Rotorua which is famous for thermal activity (Geisers)/ adventure tourism and another is Taupo which is on the bank of Lake Taupo.
i means the lakes off the road to raetihi
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There are 2 large non ski resort towns within a days drive 1 is Rotorua which is famous for thermal activity (Geisers)/ adventure tourism and another is Taupo which is on the bank of Lake Taupo.
within a day? were u on horseback or what?! Taupo is like 1.5 hr max...auckland is a day trip
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horseback....
Speaking of which, that's another good form of transport in the Kune hood. I remember years ago having a drink in Margi's and some dude tethered his horse up outside... the start of a very very funny night mind you
Originally posted by: oldscool
Where in the US are you from Charles (can we call you Chuck???)
Ha yeah you can call me Chuck if ya like. I am from Denton, Texas. And no I don't travel around on horseback everywhere. :P
Originally posted by: cassinaOriginally posted by: charlesincharge89
cool guys. Thanks so much for the info! sounds like a rad little town.
Its more of a farming town than a resort town and its famous for growing carrots. There are 2 large non ski resort towns within a days drive 1 is Rotorua which is famous for thermal activity (Geisers)/ adventure tourism and another is Taupo which is on the bank of Lake Taupo.
I don't know about that, sure in the summer, but in winter it is very much a ski town at weekends. It would have as much accommodation as somewhere like wanaka, and there are other activities not that far away.
Originally posted by: Freshie
There are 2 large non ski resort towns within a days drive 1 is Rotorua which is famous for thermal activity (Geisers)/ adventure tourism and another is Taupo which is on the bank of Lake Taupo.
within a day? were u on horseback or what?! Taupo is like 1.5 hr max...auckland is a day trip
LOL at rotovegas being a town
taupo has a sick concrete skatepark if the bike youre bringing is bmx
Taupo is a long way away if you do not have access to a Car
Wanganui and the surf is closer
there's a sick mountain right there too
what at wanganui?!
theres a skate ramp at kune isnt there?
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I meant Rua, it's right near Ohakune, that big bump with snow on it.
Yeah there's a skate ramp at Kune, not big.
is that what that hump is???
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yeah I'll probably end up bring the bmx for kix. The Kune skatepark looks to be just a tiny ditch.
theres a few mtb trails around if keen on that
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There's also the world's worst mini golf.....
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Wait For The Ricochet
wheres the mini golf OS?
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pretty decent golf course at whakapapa though.
*edited 24 May 2010 00:05
oh look the thread everyone else could have used instead of starting new ones!
bump