Ohakune Archives - Wander Wonder Wonton

I’ve never seen so many onesies before in my life!

Kim and I headed to Ohakune with my brothers Daniel and Luke for the Ohakune Mardi Gras. Basically it’s a big party under a mountain (yep it’s freezing) hosted by ZM (radio station) featuring some international artists such as Peking Duck.

They shut off an entire street, the stage is in the middle and the pubs span out around them. Of course the bars charge around $20 to get in, on top of the $45 you pay just to get in.

We stayed in Tongariro National Park as Ohakune was sold out. We had the entire Adventure Lodge to ourselves as four of Dans mates also joined us. We had pre drinks around a fire then took the bus (another $30 return) to Ohakune.

Of course we all lost each other as soon as we got there! I didn’t loose Kim though thank goodness and we danced the night away until we had to catch our bus at 1.30am.

Today we got up and headed to the snow after breakfast. There was just a light coating which meant it was a great time to watch everyone falling over in the car park!

Great times.

Things I learnt:
1. Stay in Ohakune if you’re going to the Mardi Gras. Buses stink when people spew in them.
2. Take the early bus home – around 1am. The 3am means you spend a lot of time hanging around outside.
3. Onesies are a totally acceptable form of dress at the Mardi Gras. In fact you look weird if you’re not wearing one.

My good friend, Emma asked me to join her and some friends in Ohakune for the weekend as they were there doing a half marathon.

Lets be honest, I can’t run. So I skipped that bit and headed down sat arvo with a mutual friend.

Two hours later we arrived in Ohakune, right under Mt Ruapehu. Driving there reminded me how beautiful NZ is, I spent most of the time just gazing out the window at the landscape. Being away so long definitely had given me a newfound appreciation for our beautiful country.

The group had a hired a huge house that slept 12 people and we spent the afternoon on the deck sipping wine. At only $115 a night it was a great place. Snow tops the mountain already so it’s a little fresh out there but with 11 of us in the house it was toasty.

One of the guys cooked a delish dinner and the drinking continued as we attempted to play Jenga & Cranium then four kings.

Having polished off my 6pack of cider & 8% KGB’s I was well and truly ready for a nap in the bunk room! That was a bit of a joke as the four cops were in there telling stories from their training at Police College. Fast forward to 2am and I finally got to sleep.

Everyone was up (to my disgust) at 8.30am so we packed up and made for the road home. Arriving just in time for the Mayweather boxing fight which I couldn’t wait to see! Great fight and although there wasn’t a KO it was good entertainment.

We passed time during the undercards with target practice by the hay shed with the 22. I suck. I manage to hit the pumpkin once however the boys have had a fair bit more practice than I had and were blowing up lemons left, right and centre!

Only 3 weeks left in New Zealand, time is flying.