Ohakune National Park Summer Shuttles Transport

Summer Shuttles
to Various Walking and Biking Tracks around the central plateau

We can take you to a variety of Summer Alpine walks including the Togariro Crossing, the scenic 2 hour Blyth Hut walk or you could take an amazing 4 day circumnavigation of Mt Ruapehu.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is described as one of the best one-day hikes in New Zealand. The Tongariro Crossing treck takes you from alpine meadows to mountain summit with stunning volcanic features along the way. On the Tongariro Crossing you will walk across a lunar landscape of craters, scattered pumice, active volcanoes, mountain springs, lava flows, emerald lakes, piles of scoria and statue-like mounds of volcanic desert. It will take about 8-9 hours to allow time for photos and any sidetracks, the summit of Mt Tongariro is 1967 m and Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom, for all the Lord of the Rings fans) at 2287m above sea level. Many who complete the 17 kilometer journey will tell you the climbs can be steep and the weather can be unpredictable. In winter we can arrange the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Transport, guide, crampons and an ice axe, if you want to experience a true alpine adventure.

Duration: 8 hours, Distance 17km’s, Fitness Level: Moderate.
For more info and shuttle times click here

Information on the Walking/Biking Tracks

Waihohnu Traverse

Mount Ruapehu Guided Crater Walk (Whakapapa)

Taranaki Falls and Tama Lakes (Whakapapa)

Blyth Hut and Waitonga Falls (Ohakune)

Central Volcanic Loop Tour

Whanganui River Shuttles

Mangapurura Track (Walking or Biking)

The 42nd Traverse (Biking)

Fishers Track (Biking)

Ohakune Old Coach Road (Walking or Biking)

Whakapapa-- Mount Ruapehu Guided Crater Lake Walk

Take a guided walk to the summit of Mt Ruapehu and see New Zealand’s largest active volcanic Crater Lake, at 2670 metres. This is a 6 hour round trip.
Start: December until April.
To find out the cost for the “Mt Ruapehu Guided Crater Climb”, visit Mt Ruapehu Summer Website: www.mtruapehu.com or www.adriftnz.co.nz.
Duration: 6 hours
Distance: 17km’s
Fitness Level: Moderate - Advanced

Departs	Departure Time	One Way Trip	Return Trip
Ohakune	7.30am	$20.00	$30.00
National Park	8.00am	$15.00	$20.00
Whakapapa	9.00am	$10.00	$15.00

Returns	3.45pm To Whakapapa 4.30pm To Ohakune/National Park

*Weather permitting

Top

Ohakune-- Blyth Hut and Waitonga Falls

This is a stunning 2 hour return walk past the Waitonga Falls and on to the Blyth Hut, with awesome views of Mt Ruapehu. Or you can extend your walk down the old Blyth Track, and on down the Mountain Road though the Rimu Forest finishing at Ohakune (Approx. 6 hours).
Beginning from the Ohakune Mountain Road, 7 kilometers past the Ohakune Ranger Station. Following part of the historic route up Mount Ruapehu, the track climbs gradually through one of the few red beech stands in the park and then passes through kaikawaka and mountain beech until it crosses the Waitonga Falls Track. Allow 4 to 5 hours round trip.
Duration: 2 hours, Distance: km’s, Fitness Level: Easy – Moderate.

Departs	Departure Time	One Way Trip	Return Trip
Ohakune	10.15am	$20	$30
Whakapapa	9.00am	$40	$60
National Park	9.15am	$40	$60

Returns	2.00pm & 4.00pm from Ohakune

Central Volcanic Loop Tour

This is a six hour informative guided tour around the Central Volcanic Plateau Region.
Starting at the base of Mt Ngauruhoe, you will be shuttled to our first stop, the Whakapapa Department of Conservation Visitors Centre, for an informative visit. On the way we will travel to Te Porere Redoubt, then on to Lake Otamangakau, to see some of the Hydro-Power developments in this area. From here we go on to Lake Rotopounamu for a two hour spectacular scenic walk around the lake.

Now relax for an hour at the thermal resort of Tokaanu hot pools, enjoy lunch on the grass areas or go on a short walk around the geothermal area. We then move on to Turangi visitors centre to see how the local area is used to generate power, as we keep heading south we arrive at the Tongariro Trout Hatchery for a 30 minute tour, nearing the end of our journey we travel over the Desert Rd, past the Rangipo Desert to Waiouru, where you’ll find yourself taken back in time as you stroll through New Zealand’s Army Museum. Lastly we will travel to Tangiwai (site of the 1953 Train disaster) and Rangataua before returning you safely to Ohakune.

For those who joined us at National Park or Whakapapa, we continue our tour back to your location.
A cut lunch is available and must be ordered the day before cost $15.
Minimum four persons.
Duration: 6 hours, Distance: 17km’s, Fitness Level: Easy

Matai Shuttles Central Volcanic Tour

Departs	Departure Time	One Way Trip	Return Trip
Ohakune	7.30am	N/A	$100
National Park	8.00am	N/A	$100
Whakapapa	9.00am	N/A	$100

Returns	4.00pm – Ohakune, 4.45pm Whakapapa

Lunch (if required)	$15.00

Top

Other Shuttle Services

Arrangements can be made if you require other shuttles in and around the Central Volcanic Plateau area, including National Park, Whakapapa Village, Turoa Mountain Rd, Jet Boat trips on the Whanganui River. Door to door service for your convenience.

Our shuttle fleet includes five vans and three buses. Also available, are rental cars for those who want to self drive, from $65 per day.

Mt Ruapehu

Whanganui
River Shuttles

From	To	2 Persons	Extra Person	6+ Persons
Ohakune	Ohinepane	150.00	25.00pp	40.00pp
Ohakune	Whakahoro	150.00	25.00pp	40.00pp
Pipiriki	Ohakune	50.00	20.00pp	20.00pp
Ohakune	Pipiriki	50.00	20.00pp	20.00pp
Ohakune Return Trip	Pipiriki	80.00	35.00pp	35.00pp
Ohakune For hikers one way	Maungapurua	100.00	30.00pp	30.00pp

Top

Mangapurua Track

This track can be walked or cycled from either direction and when combined with a jet boat ride via the "Bridge to Nowhere" Jet Boat creates a unique tramping/ boating circuit.
Crossing the world famous “Bridge to Nowhere” you enter into the Mangapurua Valley, now know as the “Valley of Abandoned Dreams”. This was the heart of the rehabilitation settlement where land was offered to returning soldiers following WW1. Pioneering settlers cleared the land of much of its virgin native forest and transformed it into farmland. Today all that remains of this once thriving settlement are chimneys, exotic trees and old fence lines which mark the remains of the old house sights. This valley is now fast regenerating back into native bush.
There are no DOC huts on this walkway.
Duration: 3 Days (14-18 hours), Distance: 42km’s, Fitness Level: Moderate, Cycle: 5-7 hours

Trampers & Bikers

One Way: From		To		2 Persons		Extra Person		6+ Persons
Ohakune		Maungapurua		100.00		30.00pp		30.00pp
Return:					2 Persons		Extra Person		6+ Persons
Drop off	Ohakune		Maungapurua		$200.00		$50.00pp		$50.00pp
Pick Up	Pipiriki		Ohakune

The 42nd Traverse

Considered one of the best mountain bike rides in the North Island, the 42 Traverse follows old logging trails through State Forest 42 in the Tongariro Forest. There are challenging downhills and muscle-testing uphills. Expect to be distracted by the lush native forest and sweeping views of the volcanic mountains. Highlights include the stunning Canyon Valley, several river crossings and a pub for a cooling beer at the end.

Starting at Kapoors Road, Taurewa on Highway 47, the trail is around 46 kilometres long with an overall descent of 570 metres. It takes four to seven hours to complete depending on fitness and experience. The ground varies from gravel to mud. For around 60 per cent of the time you'll be on 4WD tracks. This is a remote trail with no easy exits along the way. The weather can change quickly so riders should equip themselves with appropriate clothing, spare brake pads, tyre mending kits, map, compass, food and drink.

The small town of National Park makes a good base for this adventure and mountain bikes can be hired locally. A Tongariro Forest Adventure Map will help keep you on track and let you know about the points of interest along the way.
Duration: 4-7 hours, Distance: 46 km’s, Fitness Level: Moderate to Advanced

Departs	Departure Time	One Way Trip	Return Trip
Ohakune	7.30am	N/A	$40
National Park	8.00am	N/A	$30
Whakapapa	8.30am	N/A	$30

Returns	2.30pm Owhango

Top

Fishers Track

From the northwestern corner of National Park township a gravel road then 4WD track called Fishers Track heads down, down, down to a war memorial in a large valley.
A short, easy climb leaves you with breathtaking views of Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe, Mt Tongariro and out over the Retaruke Valley and beyond. The track winds through spectacular native bush before descending down through farmland
Duration: 2-3 hours, Distance: 17 km’s, Fitness Level: Easy

Departs	Departure Time	One Way Trip	Return Trip
Ohakune (min 2 people)	7.30am	N/A	$50

Returns	11.30am from bottom of the track

Top

Ohakune Old Coach Road

Background

The Ohakune Old Coach Road provided an all-weather road link for coaches carrying passengers and goods between the two railheads of the North Island main trunk line.With progress on completing the North Island main trunk rail slow, the road provided a way to allow through traffic, until the railheads were finally linked in 1908.

The awesome Hapuawhenua Viaduct was built in 1907-1908 as part of the final works to finish the North Island main trunk railway. The Hapuawhenua Viaduct was in use until 1987 when the line was realigned for the electrification of the main trunk railway line, and a new viaduct was built. It has been restored by DOC and Tongariro Natural History Society to allow visitors to agian enjoy this spectacular piece of railway engineering heritage.

As well as its significant railway engineering history, the Hapuawhenua Viaduct is connected with the birth of commercial bungy jumping. 'Mr Bungy', AJ Hackett, started his first commercial bungy jumping in the world at the Hapuawhenua Viaduct, with his then-partner Chris Allum, in1988.

Today

The Old Coach Road has been restored as a historic walking and biking track with information points about its interesting history along the road.
More Information on the track
More information on the history