Sitting at the foot of the North Island’s biggest mountain, we found Luca’s Chalet - warm, inviting, and ready for our arrival. The little A-frame cabin welcomed us in from the cold evening air with heaters and cozy blankets and we spent our first evening snuggled up on the sofa with a warm meal and hot drinks.

We woke the following morning to the atmosphere and colours of autumn all around us, as we enjoyed some time reading and relaxing in the beautiful log cabin. Later that afternoon, we made our way into Ohakune to grab coffee and treats to fuel us for our first outing up Mount Ruapehu.
We parked our car at Whakapapa village and walked the short trail to Meads Wall. This unique spot proved to be a stunning location to enjoy the sunset before we made our way back to Ohakune, where we detoured up to Turoa ski field to admire the bright stars and Milky Way, far away from the light pollution of a big city.

On our final morning at the little chalet, we watched the sunrise while cooking breakfast and preparing to finish off our weekend with another hike up on Ruapehu. Whether it’s summer, winter, or anywhere in-between, Luca’s Chalet is the perfect base both for endless adventures or cozy relaxation in the shadow of the mountains and we couldn’t have been happier to enjoy the best of both worlds.