The Ultimate 48-Hour Ohakune Family Adventure Itinerary
Planning the perfect mountain escape with the kids? Skip the crowds and base your family on the peaceful south side of Mount Ruapehu. This action-packed 2-day itinerary seamlessly blends world-class free playgrounds, easy biking trails rich in New Zealand history, and cozy lodge comfort. Along with our 3 night special we can do a family deal on our two upstairs Super-King hotel-style studio rooms.
🏡 Your Base: Manuka Lodge B&B
Leave the cramped motel rooms behind. Families love checking into our spacious Super-King Studio Rooms, while the kids can unwind in our massive shared guest lounge by the roaring open fire in winter and expansive deck and lawn in summer. Every morning begins with a delicious, full cooked breakfast fully included in your rate to fuel your team for the trails!
🗓️ Day 1: Giant Carrots, Pirate Ships, and Geothermal Soaks
- 9:00 AM – Fuel Up at the Lodge: Enjoy a hearty cooked breakfast prepared fresh by your hosts. Don't forget to grab your pre-ordered Manuka Lodge Adventure Packed Lunches before you head out the door!
- 10:00 AM – Explore Carrotland Adventure Park: Spend the morning at NZ's best free playground.
- Take a family photo with the 7.5-metre Giant Carrot.
- Let the kids explore the "Treasure Island" Pirate Ship—an incredible multi-level playground crafted from a real salvaged cruise liner lifeboat!
- Race down the flying fox and conquer the bike pump tracks.
- 12:30 PM – Picnic by the Stream: Enjoy your packed lunches at the park’s undercover picnic tables right along the scenic Mangateitei Stream.
- 2:00 PM – Road Trip to Tokaanu Thermal Pools (50 mins north): Take a short, beautiful drive to experience a classic, no-frills Kiwi geothermal wonderland. Walk the free 20-minute track to see steaming boiling mud pools, then hire a private natural mineral hot pool to soak away the afternoon.
- 6:00 PM – Après-Ski Vibe Dinner: Head back to Ohakune Junction for a family dinner at one of our fantastic local cafés or restaurants.
🗓️ Day 2: Native Bushwalks, Hidden History, and Stargazing
- 9:30 AM – Walk the Historic Ohakune Old Coach Road: Rent e-bikes or lace up your walking shoes. This easy, Grade 2 trail follows an old cobblestone route through magnificent native forest. Kids love spotting old iron railway relics and crossing the spectacular, towering Hapuawhenua Viaduct. You can have a family picnic for lunch across the via-duct in the picnic area.
- 1:00 PM – Sample the Brand-New Te Ara Mangawhero Track: Check out the region's newest 9km eco-tourism trail. It is beautifully smooth, highly accessible, and safely connects the mountain trail networks entirely away from vehicle traffic.
- 3:30 PM – The Ultimate Gear Reset: Return to Manuka Lodge. Pop any damp boots, jackets, or ski liners straight into our ambient boiler drying room so they dry naturally and safely overnight.
- 4:30 PM – Native Garden Spa & Stargazing: While the kids play on our spacious summer lawn, parents can unwind in the hot Luxury Hotsprings Spa Pool. Enveloped by our native planted garden, it's the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the rural hills or gaze at the crisp alpine stars.