Down-home adventure, homestead style

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 3 May 1988, Page 31 (Supplement)

Down-home adventure, homestead style

By

jocelyn

Price

White water rafting, four-wheel drive safaris, horse treks and home cooking are the main ingredients of Ruapehu Outback Adventures of Ohakune. These experiences are organised and run by ROA's owner, Sue Allomes, with the help of her husband Don, and professional guide Dawn Render. She also runs Ruapehu

Homestead - seven ensuited units (i.e. with bathroom facilities) - incorporated in the Allomes' home. The Allomes launched Outback Adventures and the Homestead in 1982 because, says Sue, they saw a demand for homely accommodation and outdoor adventures. "We'd travelled from Auckland to Ohakune many times with school trips and quickly realised the need for outdoor activities in

the area." Visitors can drop into the homestead for a night's accommodation (costing between $10 and $100) and then go on one of the trips, or groups can plan large expeditions with Outback Adventures. Sue also arranges holiday packages for groups. Recently she organised an adventure course for the army, and also arranged three white-water trips for visiting Gurkha soldiers.

"We also work a lot with school groups, giving them physical-fitness programmes as well as the other activities," says Sue. In the future, the Allomes hope to provide more fitness programmes, expand their premises, and increase their equipment. "We have just finished four new units with ensuites and hope to expand our kitchen facility soon," Sue says. At present, Outback Ad-

ventures uses 14 horses, two rafts, and two fourwheel drive vehicles for its activities. "We are looking at buying a new raft for around $5000," she says. Since the Homestead had been open, Sue says, there have been 1500 to 2000 guests. "We've never had anything stolen or vandalised in this time," she says. Sue believes this is due to the homely atmosphere.