During one of our weeks travelling around the North Island of New Zealand in March, we were unlucky to experience a solid week of rain. However, we didn’t want the rain to stop us from exploring the beautiful nature of Ruapehu, New Zealand. So what do you do when it’s 100% rain all day? Go see a waterfall 💦
Follow our 6 week road trip through New Zealand
This post is just a small chapter of our extended road trip throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Make sure to check out our whole trip and detailed itinerary within the main post!
We’d stayed at The Park Hotel the night before which is only a twenty minute drive away from Whakapapa Village, home to Taranaki Falls (or as I liked to keep calling it, Teriyaki Falls 😬)
The track is an easy two hour return loop walk. But it’s especially great as it’s free and gives you a great opportunity to see the nature of New Zealand 🌲
When it comes to photography, we love taking photos that are dark and moody. So that day, with all the rain and cloud, it created the perfect opportunity for us to create a cinematic foggy vlog. Floggy.
Whilst in Ruapehu, we tested out filming on Fujifilm X-T2 for the first time, so make sure you check the vlog 😬
We took some of our best photos that day, but Joe paid a huge price for it, as we kinda broke two cameras. Oops.
You can watch the drama unfold in the vlog 🙊
Another activity we’d planned that unfortunately got cancelled due to the rain, was the Scenic Chair Lift that takes you up to the Knoll Ridge Cafe. If you’ve clicked the link, then you’d know how disappointed we felt that we weren’t able to go up there, as the views across Ruapehu look unreal!
We got absolutely soaked from the waterfall, so we were extremely glad to check in to our next accommodation at the Powderhorn Chateau. They have an indoor heated pool 🏊♀️ and it was perfect timing to dip in after hiking in the cold! If you’re ever doing a ski season in Ruapehu, I can only imagine how relaxing it must feel to soak in a heated pool after a session on the slopes…
The Powderhorn Chateau is definitely suited for people during the ski season, but it’s also great for travellers all year round with their public restaurant and bar; which I’ve heard can get quite the atmosphere!
There’s so much to do in Mount Ruapehu, so if you’re looking to stay there for a few days, we’d highly recommend it! Of all the places we’ve stayed in New Zealand, the Powderhorn Chateau has easily been one of the best so far!
If you’re looking for something other than skiing or hiking, look no further than the Canoe Safaris as one of the best things you can do 🛶
Their expeditions are highly recommended, giving you a true kiwi experience. Amongst canoeing, you’ll also be jet boating up the Whanganaui river, hiking to the Bridge to Nowhere, camping at a river marae (traditional Maori village) and experiencing a true Maori welcoming, unavailable in any other part of New Zealand.
Unfortunately for us, the river had risen multiple meters within 24 hours of rain, so it was unsuitable to canoe. But we still had an amazing time exploring the river — even if we did break the cameras even further!
Catch our other posts from New Zealand
New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary: 6 Weeks
Follow our 6 week New Zealand road trip itinerary—including accommodation and activities across the North and South Islands—starting with a flight from Brisbane to Auckland with Air New Zealand.
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