From Volcanic Soil to Award-Winning Gin: The Journey Behind Straight Up Carrot Gin
September 8, 2026
A carrot grown in the volcanic soils beneath Mt Ruapehu helped us take home two trophies at the New Zealand Spirits Awards.When you put it like that, it sounds a little unbelievable.But that's exactly where the story of Straight Up Carrot Gin begins. Not in the distillery, n...
The snow is here, Tūroa and Whakapapa are well underway and winter in Ohakune is well and truly magical.For plenty of people, an Ohakune winter weekend means an early start, skis or boards in the car and a day on Mt Ruapehu. But there are plenty of things to do in Oha...
Winter is one of the best times to visit Ohakune. Sitting at the foot of Mt Ruapehu and surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of Tongariro National Park, the town offers much more than just skiing and snowboarding.Whether you're planning a weekend escape or a longer winter h...
From Carrot Paddocks to Straight Up Carrot Gin
March 22, 2026
From Carrot Paddocks to Straight Up Carrot Gin -Ohakune's most famous crop
Anyone who has driven through Ohakune has probably seen the giant carrot standing proudly beside the road at Carrot Park. It’s a quirky landmark, but it represents something very real about the town’s history.Why carrots grow so well in OhakuneFor decades the fertile vol...
What Happens Inside a Working Distillery in Ohakune?
March 12, 2026
What Happens Inside a Working Distillery in Ohakune?
Most people walk into a distillery thinking it’s just about tasting a few spirits. But behind the scenes there’s far more going on. Distilling is a mix of science, maths, raw ingredients, botanicals, careful measuring, and a fair bit of patience.It’s also full of stori...
Ruapehu Bulletin
March 5, 2026
Ruapehu Distillery features in Ruapehu Bulletin
Recently we invited a group of local Ohakune businesses in for a behind-the-scenes visit to say thank you and to share a taste of Straight Up Carrot Gin. The visit was covered in the Ruapehu Bulletin, and we’ve shared the article below....
Small Town. Big Build
February 27, 2026
Building a distillery in Ohakune,
New Zealand
Building a distillery in Ohakune, New Zealand wasn’t the romantic lifestyle dream people imagine. It was paperwork, concrete dust, compliance meetings, and learning the language of fire ratings, flow rates, and hazardous atmosphere plans required under New Zealand regulati...
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