We booked our stay on Friday night and drove up Saturday morning for one of those perfect New Zealand days — bright sunshine, blue skies, and a beautiful dusting of fresh snow on the mighty Mt Ruapehu.

The highlight? An incredible 18km round-trip hike on the Tama Lakes Track via Taranaki Falls. We took in the dramatic Taranaki Falls, hiked all the way to Lower Tama Lake, then pushed on to the stunning Upper Tama Lake with those jaw-dropping views of snow-capped Ruapehu in the background. The contrast of golden sunlight on the tussock and snow on the volcano was absolutely magical!

After the big hike we refuelled with a delicious dinner at Schnapps Bar in National Park Village, then crashed at the super comfortable Park Hotel.

Sunday morning we kicked things off with a hearty breakfast in Ohakune before heading home — the perfect way to end an unforgettable weekend.

This is New Zealand hiking at its absolute best: challenging, rewarding, and packed with those “wow” moments around every corner.