Forest Lodge is situated in the small village of Owhango on the Central Plateau, in the
center of the North Island of New Zealand. Forest Lodge is halfway between Auckland and Wellington on state highway 4, 30 minutes from Mt. Ruapehu.
A quiet country town, Owhango is
located exactly on latitude 39 South. This small town sprang up at the beginning of the 1900s when a railway was put through and timber milling
became an important industry. The name, Owhango, literally means the 'place of wheezing noises'.
Once you have arrived at the small village of Owhango, you will find us on Omaki Road approximately 200m off State highway 4.
A quiet country town, Owhango is perfectly positioned to explore the beautiful Tongariro Forest and stunning Whanganui National Park. It is the ideal place to experience the diverse range of activities on offer in these pristine natural playgrounds. Mountain biking, trout fishing, rafting, tramping, quad biking, canoeing, skiing and snow boarding are just some of the activities right on Forest Lodge's doorstep.
Forest Lodge is in close proximately to the world class 42 Traverse mountain bike ride, so named because it goes through State Forest 42 (now known as the Tongariro Forest). One of the most popular rides in New Zealand, the Traverse is a mountain biker's dream. The track snakes its way through 46km of awe inspiring native bush as it crosses the Tongariro Forest. The 42 Traverse is just one of many mountain bike rides throughout the Tongariro Forest that offer a variety of terrain to suit all riding abilities. With a vast range of tracks available, the forest is also safely enjoyed by trail bikers, quad bikers and horse trekkers.
Several main rivers are easily accessible from Forest Lodge with rafters, kayakers and canoeists enjoying the Whakapapa and Whanganui Rivers. Trout and other wildlife thrive in the area making hunting and fishing popular pastimes.
Forest Lodge has a huge variety of services available for you to enjoy the area and guides are available for almost all activities.
