Ohakune is primarily a base ski resort for the Mount Rapehau area. In the summer months there are walking (tramping in NZ speak) routes including the 4 to 6 day 'round the mountain' which we didn't attempt! We did manage a 2 hour tricky walk to a waterfall and then a fascinating 2 hour round trek to an old viaduct. The route was on an old coach road laid 200 years ago and used until the railway arrived in 1909. The original cobbled road is still visible through the grass that is now growing in top of it showing how uncomfortable horse drawn coaches must have been.
Ohakune's other claim to fame is that it is the carrot capital of NZ. More veg is grown around here than anywhere else in NZ. For some reason the locals are proud of this, hence the huge carrot!
14/2 David visited the army museum nearby while I ate carrot cake ( of course) and drank coffee. We then headed off for our next destination via the National Trout Fishery at Tongarriro. Here trout are bred and eventually released into Lake Taupo for fishing. We stayed overnight at a B&B in an odd little town called Te Kuiti, which calls itself the sheep shearing capital of NZ.