We spent two pleasant nights in the DOC site on the Mangawhero River, a couple of miles up the slope from Ohakune. There were lots of morepork (NZ owls) in the woods, giving their distinctive cry all through the night. On Wednesday we drove to the top of the road, which is the base for the To Turoa ski-field. It's not that big; the western fields above Whakapapa are much larger, but these are popular too. At this time of year, they are pretty much deserted, with lots of work being done as Autumn begins to draw in.
This is the view from just below the ski fields, looking South towards the central area of the North Island. It makes it look deceptively flat, but actually there seems to be nowhere in NZ from which you cannot see mountains. It's just that we're so high up, above the trees.