7 Family Friendly Must-Dos in Ruapehu

Surrounded by two national parks, iconic mountain peaks, and majestic rivers, Ruapehu is a region full of otherworldly landscapes with a variety of authentic, off the beaten track experiences for families to discover. From indoor fun to outdoor adventures, here are seven family friendly must-dos to do in Ruapehu.

Ohakune Carrot Adventure Park

Home to a giant 7.5 metre tall carrot, the Ohakune Carrot Adventure Park is a fun place for the young and young at heart. There are plenty of photo opportunities to be had amidst larger than life vegetables as you navigate your way through see saws, swings, a carrot race car, obstacle course, swimming holes, a BMX track, picnic spots, BBQ facilities, and even a fitness area with gym equipment. As the carrot capital of New Zealand, Ohakune grows two-thirds of the North Island’s total crop and were first grown in the area in the 1920s. Further up, on State Highway 4 along the Adventure Highway, make sure to stop by Youngs Honesty Box for a fresh selection of locally grown produce, including the iconic carrots – make sure you have a bit of cash on hand and check opening hours.

Day or night at Ohakune Disc Golf

Grab a disc (Frisbee), get the family together, and find out about the latest craze taking over NZ’s carrot capital. Ohakune Disc Golf is reputed as the greatest progression and gateway disc golf course in the Southern Hemisphere. Rain or shine, day or night, this is a fun new family activity for all ages to enjoy. Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a flying disc sport where players throw a disc at a target with rules similar to golf.

Located at Mangawhero Terrace Domain, this riverside Disc Golf Course has 7 baskets with 4 different 9-hole courses to play and make your own course. Open day and night until around 7.30pm. Disc hire from $15-$20/day is available throughout town from TCB, Powderhorn Chateau, Kings Ohakune, Ohakune Top 10 Holiday Park and The Craft Haus.

Picnic with alpacas at Nevalea Alpacas

Yes you read right, you can picnic with alpacas, feed baby alpacas, walk with alpacas and of course cuddle alpacas. Nevalea’s alpaca farm on the outskirts of Taumarunui is the largest alpaca farm in New Zealand and is home to over 1,000 alpacas with a fantastic retail shop and is conveniently located off the main road on State Highway 4.  Open year-round, you can choose from a range of hands on, immersive alpaca activities the whole family can enjoy amidst the beautiful rolling hills of Taumarunui King Country.

Discover the land before time at The Dinosaur House

Just a 10-minute drive from Ohakune’s giant carrot and other friendly vegetables, the Dinosaur House in Raetihi is something you won’t want to miss. Escape into a fascinating, pre-historic world of dinosaurs at the Dinosaur House – NZ’s largest collection of privately owned dinosaur memorabilia. This one-of-a-kind experience is something the entire family will love with incredible displays of over 100 specimens, captivating fossils, and a life-sized T-Rex. Enjoy the dinosaur arcade, outdoor area and awesome selection of books, toys, mugs, and shirts from their shop.

Indoor rock climbing fun

If the weather doesn’t play ball and you can’t climb the mountains, there is still plenty of rock climbing to be had in Ruapehu. With two locations to choose from, you and the family can enjoy some active indoor adventures rock climbing all-year round.

Vertigo Climbing in Ohakune is an all-weather attraction with a purpose-built Clip ‘N Climb that comprises of 12 uniquely themed challenges and 8 Real Roc climbing walls. You’ll have a team of passionate, experienced climbers on hand for a safety briefing and any assistance to make this an unforgettable climbing adventure for the whole family.

Or if you are in National Park Village, you can access the National Park Backpackers (formerly YHA) indoor rock climbing wall which is open to the general public. Open every day, the 8-metre-high indoor climbing wall offers 55 different climbs for beginners to advanced climbers with gear hire and knowledgeable staff on hand.

Canoeing on the Whanganui River

The spring season is a fantastic time to go for a paddle with the family on the Whanganui River. Warmer days and shorter nights mean more time for immersive, slow travel experiences for everyone to reconnect. Choose from a half day paddle to a full day or multi-day overnight canoe journey – there is nothing like experiencing the magnificence of the Whanganui River for yourself. With a wide reach of river operators along the Whanganui River from Taumarunui, Whakahoro to Pipiriki, you have different access points to choose from, depending on your itinerary.

Doing a guided tour allows you to learn from knowledgeable locals and experienced navigators, about the rich history and culture of the Whanganui River – the first river in the world to be recognised as a living entity and granted personhood in 2017. It is New Zealand’s longest navigable river with a length of 290 km and considered sacred by local Māori. For a truly unique experience, you can choose Māori Rongoa or Maramataka cultural canoe journeys.

One of a kind rail cart journeys

All aboard Forgotten World rail cart adventures to experience kiwi ingenuity at its best. Self-drive your own rail cart through hand built brick tunnels and bridges and into the rich pioneering history of the region as you travel a decommissioned railway line. Half-day tours cover about 40 km as you traverse through 10 tunnels and 25 bridges with options for full-day and overnight tours also available – a package to fit into every holiday with a fantastic fleet of specially modified, motorised rail carts for the whole family.

Find a family friendly deal for accommodation and activities in Ruapehu at  www.visitruapehu.com