Icon towns: Ohakune

Dave Scott says Ohakune chose the carrot as its symbol after pine trees. Photo / Christine Cornege

We look at spots made famous by some classic Kiwi landmarks. Today: Ohakune.

It is known as the carrot capital of the country, but things could have been different for Ohakune.

The central North Island town, "Kune" to the locals, prides itself on its carrots that are reputably the sweetest in the country. The town marks this with a 7.5m monument on its outskirts as you head to Waiouru.

Originally the idea of having a giant root vegetable was considered too phallic by some while having a carrot on a triangle of bush-clad ground caused angst that led to suggestions the town adopt two swedes instead.

These days the townsfolk don't appear too bothered and some, like Dave Scott of Ohakune 2000 Incorporated, embrace it.

"We looked at pine trees as an icon but that was being done in Tokoroa, we couldn't do trout because of Turangi and we couldn't do potatoes because of Pukekohe ... Then someone came up with the idea of carrots."

Mr Scott said it was the late 1970s and the town was looking for a way to promote itself as many of its traditional industries - timber milling, railways, the post office and Ministry of Works - started to wane.

With the help of local growers a bag of carrots was sent to every mayor in the country to show what Ohakune was about.

Among those who have spent decades tilling the earth in Ohakune is Cyril Sue, whose family history goes back 70 years after his father, a Guangzhou native, moved his whanau up from Otaki.

The Sue family did it tough back then with months of back-breaking work as they cleared swathes of tree stumps from the land once covered in dense stands of rimu and totara.

"I always tell my kids 'You have never worked as hard as I did'."

Mr Sue says the area's even climate means carrots can stay in the ground for longer, making them sweeter.

Given its carrot-producing reputation we're keen to try some at local eateries but we're left disappointed. At one cafe we ask what carrot items are on the menu and are told there's just one - "carrot cake, made with love" says a woman at the counter.

Louetta Henry, 51, who was born and raised in Ohakune, says there's much more to the town. Visitors come during the winter for skiing, and in the warmer months for canoeing, cycling and hiking.

Ben Wiggins, who runs the TCB store, says Ohakune is changing as more visitors discover attractions including the birthplace of bungy jumping, the bridge to nowhere, the Whanganui River and Mt Ruapehu.

"People used to think this was a town where tumbleweeds would go rolling down the main street when the last skiers left - they don't think that now."

Planning a visit to Ohakune? Check out our Travel archive for more ideas on what to see and do.

Five things about Ohakune

1. Icon - 7.5m tall carrot Population

2. Population - 1101

3. Distance from Auckland - 359.1km

4. Famous locals - Former All Black Andrew Donald came from round here and lots of celebs have passed through, including Kiefer Sutherland, Orlando Bloom and Burt Reynolds.

5. Interesting fact - The town's market gardeners say their carrots are the sweetest in the country because of the temperate climate and the fact that they generally stay in the ground longer.