Bespoke Ruapehu Holiday Home in the heart of the Tongariro National Park region, accommodating from 1 to 18 guests.
The Old Post Office Holiday Home in quaint Ōwhango Village, offers gorgeous heritage-rich 5-star accommodation located in the heart of the extraordinary Tongariro National Park region – the outdoors capital of the North Island.
This is the ideal Ruapehu base accommodation for extraordinary outdoor adventures throughout the endlessly stunning region of the Mount Ruapehu District.
Opulent, Sumptuous, Elegant, Lavish and a truly unique piece of genuine history.
Named as one of the Top 13 Best Historic & Heritage Hotels in NZ, this iconic century-old Ōwhango Post Office underwent an extensive 8-month renovation transforming it into what is now one of the most distinctive accommodation Lodges in the entire Ruapehu District!
A world where 1920s Art Deco style meets 2020s quality amenities!
With multiple self-contained booking configuration options (from reserving the stunning West-Wing on a 1-bedroom basis for a honeymoon, to reserving the entire 7-bedroom bungalow for groups of singles/couples or a multi-generational extended family) this unique Old Post Office can accommodate 1-18 guests.
Ideal for self-drive travellers wanting to stay in authentically unique accommodation, while exploring many of Aotearoa NZ’s top hiking and most popular cycle trails in and around the Tongariro National Park (including the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Pureora Timber Trail), plus world-class trout fly-fishing, skiing/snowboarding Ruapehu in the winter (NZ’s largest ski-field Whakapapa is just a half-hour drive), and also visiting the incredible Forgotten Highway and the extraordinary Bridge to Nowhere.
Up to seven Bedrooms (6 x Queen/Doubles, and 1 x Dorm Room of Single Beds), plus Lounge, two Kitchen-Dining rooms, two Bathrooms, a Drying Room cupboard, Gun Vault for hunters, Hot-tub spa pool, Finnish sauna cabin, Outdoor fire-pit, and adjacent Garage to store guest outdoor gear (eg bikes, fishing-rods, skis, snowboards, kayaks etc).
Ruapehu holiday home facilities include:
- Exquisite 4-poster Master Bedroom (Queen), West-Wing
- Gorgeous “Peacock” Bedroom (Double), West-Wing
- Elegant Triple Bedroom (double-single Bunk bed), West-Wing
- Interconnecting Dormitory Bedroom (4 x Single beds)
- Ruapehu Bedroom (Queen), East-Wing
- Tongariro Bedroom (Double), East-Wing
- Ngauruhoe Bedroom (Double), East-Wing
- Art-deco West-Wing Lounge 3-Seater Couch (for potential 18th person)
- Lavish spacious Gatsby-style Lounge
- Outside deck with Finnish sauna cabin, hot-tub jacuzzi, fire-pit & seating
- Stunning West-Wing Kitchen-Dining-Laundry
- Uber cool West-Wing toilet-bathroom, with separate Shower (converted phonebooth)
- Drying Room cupboard
- Gun vault (with ammunition safe)
- A second fully-equipped Kitchen-Dining-Laundry in the East-Wing
- A second Bathroom in the East-Wing with shower and toilet
If just going for the weekend, we suggest on the Friday night you sip mulled-wine and toast marshmallows over the fire-pit to make s’mores, then on the Saturday night maybe enjoy your own Great Gatsby dinner party or 1920s Agatha Christie Cluedo-style Murder Mystery evening – heck it’s like staying in the Cluedo House!
Guests can enjoy
- Drying Room cupboard
- Finnish-style Sauna Cabin
- Alpine-style Spa Pool
- Fire-pit with Cape Cod style seating
- Gun Vault with Ammunition Safe
- 2 x Washing-Machines & 2 x Tumble-Driers
- Lockable Garage (ideal for storing your outdoor gear, including bike racks, workbench, power-points & garden hose)
- The popular “42-Traverse Selfie-Wall” is located at the Old Post Office Lodge, right next door to the garage
Located near the Tongariro National Park
- 2-mins walk to an excellent local Cafe
- A few mins drive to the end of our road for excellent fishing, plus walking the loop track through Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve (2-3 hours of beautiful views and even a good swimming hole)
- 5-10 mins drive to world-class rainbow & brown Trout Fly-Fishing (and many other outstanding locations for anglers all around the region)
- 15 mins drive to the Pubs and Restaurants at National Park Village
- 15mins drive to beginning of the Forgotten Highway, and nearest Supermarket, in Taumarunui town
- Half-hour to NZ’s largest ski-field Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu (& 1-hour to Mt Ruapehu’s Turoa ski-field)
- 40 mins drive to the picturesque mountain town of Ohakune with its specialty and gift shops, and extensive array of excellent restaurants
Walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing 1-day track is one of the most popular “great walks” of NZ, which passes over Mt Tongariro, and around Mt Ngaruahoe.
Other local walking tracks include: 1-day Tama Lakes trail, 2-day 42nd Traverse trail, and even the amazing Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake trail.
Half-hour to Mt Ruapehu skiing. We’re about half-hour drive to the Whakapapa ski-field carpark (and on another side of Mt Ruapehu is the Turoa ski-field). These are NZ’s two largest ski areas.
Cycling – Many cycle trails including the National Cycleway, Mountains to Sea cycleway, The Timber Trail, Fishers Track and more.
World-class wilderness fishing – Fly fishing trips plus jet-boat shuttles available for walkers and mountain bikers. Ruapehu and surrounding areas boast world class wilderness fishing, with Whakapapa River, the largest tributary of the Whanganui River and one of NZ’s finest trout fisheries, just minutes from the accommodation.
Red deer hunting – Tongariro National Park and Rangataua Forest offers great hunting primarily for Red Deer with localised Sika populations. There is also pig and goat hunting year round.
Fun at the iconic Post Office Lodge! – If getting away for just a couple of nights, we recommend chillaxing the first night, maybe toasting s’mores around the fire-pit. Then on the second night get your glam on, to enjoy your own Great Gatsby evening or Murder Mystery night.
