Experience The Forgotten World

Hiking & walking

Explore Tongariro National Park, including the most popular day walk in New Zealand: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This walk over a volcano offers spectacular other-worldly scenery, steaming craters, old lava flows, thermal lakes and more.

• Omaka Lodge – Wander around the beautiful grounds and garden where you are staying at Omaka Lodge set in an elevated rural faming environment.
  
• Cherry Grove – the meeting of the Whanganui and Ongarue Rivers.
  
• River Bank Walk – along the banks of the Whanganui River from Cherry Grove to the Taumarunui Camping Ground.
  
• Te Peka Lookout – a 15 minute climb through bush on a good track to the lookout (or for an easier experience you can drive to it!).
  
• Sunshine Scenic Reserve – a 40 minute uphill walk offering a panoramic view of Taumarunui.
  
• Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve – a highly enjoyable walk along tracks and a boardwalk across a lagoon.
  
• Kakahi Glow Worms – wander down a pathway with glow worms all around.
  
• Taranaki Falls – a 2-hour loop near the Chateau Tongariro and one of our favourites!
  
• Silica Rapids – a 7km loop.

Skiing & Snowboarding

Perfectly located for access to Mount Ruapehu’s Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields. Whakapapa offers the Sky Waka, New Zealand’s longest gondola ride, taking visitors to the Knoll Ridge Chalet, New Zealand’s highest-altitude eatery at over 2km above sea level.