Central to all Local Events in Ohakune

Winter:

Turoa opened.......Tuesday 28th June

Whakapapa opens..........Saturday 2 July

Mountain Events

Details on 2011 events are posted on www.mtruapehu.com

• Nitro Elan Jib Nats Freestyle Series: 23rd July, 2011
• Smith Sessions Slopestyle: 14 August, 2011
• Nixon Von Zipper Boarder/Skier X: 20th August 2011
• The Export 33 Xtreme:  2011's Registration Night is the 4th of September, with the main action set to go down on the first 3 good weather days between the 5th and 11th of September at Whakapapa Ski Area.
• Peak 2 Powderkeg Challenge: is set for the 8th of October. Ski, run and bike race from Turoa to Ohakune. Individual and team events.
• The Export 33 Pond Skim: October 15th (contingency day October 16th). Contestant costumes range from Scuba Steve to Bikini Man to the Grim Reaper.
• Secondary School Ski racing competition
• Secondary School Snow boarding competition

Waimarino Art Awards

13 – 23rd July: Open to artists and photographers living within the central North Island. Held in Raetihi, artists get the chance to win up to $2000 and there are prizes in junior categories as well. The quality of the work is outstanding.

The Fallout Festival is a three-week long agenda of comedy, music and outright fun in Ohakune. You can catch a range of entertainers and activities at various bars, cafes and restaurant venues in the main township and at the Junction. The festival kicks off towards the end of August. And includes the Winter Art Exhibition.

Cold Kiwi Motorcycle Rally

2nd – 4th September. Hosted by the Ruapehu Motor Cycle Club, and centred at Tangiwai, approximately 20km from Ohakune.

It’s a unique event for motorcycle enthusiasts who travel from all over New Zealand to enjoy the music, food, competitions, spot prizes and more.

Summer:

The Central Plateau area is full of delights and is a magical, unique place.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) runs a Summer Nature Programme. These guided activities cover Tongariro through to Taupo.

There are tons of things to choose from throughout January including climbs to the Crater Lake, mountain biking, discovering kiwis, fishing, kayaking, and exploring the wetlands.

There are also many kids’ activities and family events like the New Year’s Day kite flying at the Chateau Tongariro and the Okupata Caves Adventure.

Trail Rides

There a number of fantastic 2 day Motorcycle Trail Rides that are held in the area including the Desert Storm – 8th & 9th Oct ’11, Raetihi Ripper – 19th & 20th Nov 2011, and Tussock Buster at Waiouru in March.

The Goat Alpine Adventure Run

Saturday 3rd December 2011. ‘The Goat’ is an exhilarating adventure run from Whakapapa to Turoa Ski Fields on the Round the Mountain track.

The 21 kilometre course has over 1000 metres of vertical ascent and covers a whole bunch of amazing terrain.

Bianchi Ruapehu Cycle Classic

Held February. On the NZ Cycling event calendar.

Day One features the TCB Criterium event - a circuit course, graded competition..

Day Two features the Bianchi Ruapehu Cycle Classic event  A 160km ride that circumnavigates Mount Ruapehu.

Day Three features the Kune Climber. A grueling 17 kilometre road climb from the base of the Ohakune Mountain road to the car park of Turoa ski field.

Ohakune Giant 1000

An annual event where the Ohakune Mountain Road becomes a race track.

The Tarmac Hill Climb with 113 corners, and a 1000m climb through native bush and mountain desert is an annual challenge.

Held over a weekend in early April.

Waimarino Agricultural & Pastoral (A&P) Show

Held in February in Raetihi. A fun family weekend that includes livestock competitions, agricultural demonstrations and displays, sideshows, and stalls.

Also during February there is the Karioi Country Sports Day, a real kiwi rural family day out. 

Waimarino Rodeo

Held in March. Events include bare back, bull ride, saddle bronc, rope & tie, barrel race, steer wrestling, team roping & barrel racing. One of the most exciting action packed weekends of the season.

The Waimarino Shears, event takes place in February and has New Zealand’s finest shearers competing against each other as well as shearers from overseas.

Raetihi Gutbuster bike ride

The first ever ride (& pickled pork sandwich fest) happened in Raetihi on 24th April 2011.

The event involves an 18km bike ride, with a 160m vertical down the Pipiriki road and back again.

Challengers come from all over the country to compete in this annual event.

Waimarino Easter Hunt

A three-day hunt competition with categories for best pig, deer and trout. The big weigh-in takes place on Easter Sunday at the local Ohakune Club.

As well as the many farms in the area, the national parklands and many rivers offer some superb hunting grounds and fishing sites.

T42 Mountain Bike & Trail Run

Held early May. Based around the famous and iconic 42 Traverse track, the T42 offers the following event options:

• 45km mountain bike
• 42.2km trail marathon run
• 24km trail adventure run / walk
• 11km trail run / walk
• 6.5km trail run / walk