Oruanui: Equestrian Activities, Animal Encounters and Tukutuku

In Oruanui, the focus ranges from equestrian activities and animal encounters to woven Tukutuku panels in a church dating from 1911. The local examples appeal to different interests: the Pony Club is for horse riding, visitors can hand-feed animals at Lilliput Farm, and St Matthew’s Church features a distinctive architectural detail. For travel planning, Oruanui can thus be distinguished from the broader landscape and trail themes across the Taupo District.

Horses and animals in Oruanui

The Oruanui Pony Club is located at the corner of Poihipi Road and Oruanui Road. The grounds include a sand arena, two showjumping courses, games equipment and a cross-country course with jumps ranging from Pre-Intro to Pre-Novice/Open level. These facilities were part of the grounds on 22 July 2016. Please confirm before using them whether the facilities listed as of 22 July 2016 are still available.

Adult riders and people who are not members of a pony club can also use the facilities as external users. Make arrangements with the club before you arrive. On 22 July 2016, the Pony Club provided young riders with a safe learning environment where they learned to ride and care for their ponies. If this learning opportunity is important to your plans, ask about the current programme.

Lilliput Farm offers a different kind of animal encounter: visitors can hand-feed almost all the animals there. Those who want to experience animals rather than focus on equestrian activities will find a distinctly different holiday theme here.

Church and marae

St Matthew’s Church in Oruanui was built in 1911 and is entirely decorated with woven Tukutuku panels. This specific design feature makes the church a distinctive cultural point of interest in the area. Te Kapa o Te Rangiita Marae is on the west side of the road in Oruanui.

In the Taupo District: trails, water and World Heritage

Tongariro National Park is one of New Zealand’s three World Heritage Sites. Its dual World Heritage status recognises significant Māori cultural and spiritual associations. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing lies within the park’s dual World Heritage area. This places both cultural connections and a well-known route at the heart of the Taupo District.

The trails also differ in their described features. The full Tongariro River Trail loop is 13.2 kilometres long and can be started at the Tūrangi isite. The shared-use trail is intended for anglers, dog walkers and mountain bikers; cyclists must give way to pedestrians. The Great Lake Pathway starts at Taupo Boat Harbour, is mostly flat and offers a family-friendly outdoor experience. The Tongariro River Trail’s length and uses, on the one hand, and the Great Lake Pathway’s mostly flat character, on the other, offer different points of reference for planning.

The Great Lake Trails pass through native forest, past waterfalls and across deep gorges to the waters of Lake Taupō. A boat shuttle connects different sections and offers pick-ups and drop-offs at several scenic bays along the route. Check booking options in advance if you plan to use the shuttle.

Lake Taupō, Australasia’s largest freshwater lake, reveals another dimension of the landscape. At Huka Falls, almost a quarter of a million litres of water per second plunge eleven metres through a natural gorge into the Waikato River; walking trails run along both sides of the falls. The Tongariro National Trout Centre in Tūrangi brings several themes together in one place: it includes a museum, a freshwater aquarium with native species, a historic trout hatchery and an underwater viewing chamber.

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on. Oruanui’s local themes include equestrian activities, animal encounters and cultural details; the Taupo District also offers trails, waterscapes and other cultural destinations.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mokai, Kuratau, Iwitahi, Turangi, Tokaanu, Taupo, Kinloch, Waihaha.

For the main travel overview: Taupo District.