Childhood memories, growing up in Ohakune and tastes of summer.

I grew up in Ohakune. I no longer live there, but Ohakune still has a special place in my heart and I have many childhood memories of the town. Ohakune, a small town in the central North Island of New Zealand was where I lived from the age of around 2 to 16 years of age is now quite a thriving little town (the gateway to Mt Ruapehu). It was quieter then.

Thinking about Ohakune reminds me of exploring, adventures and freedom. It was a carefree childhood for the most part and included many outdoor activities. Swimming in the many waterholes located in the Managwhero river, the town pool and the pool on Mangateitei Road (off Dreadnought Road).

Mt Ruapehu and Carrots

Riding bikes around the streets, out to the lake at the Lakes Reserve and one time to nearby Raetihi! Exploring the trails alongside the rivers, staying overnight at the Managwhero lodge for Girl Guides. Other memories include working in my early teens sorting carrots for one of the local market gardeners, help deliver the local newspaper and the Wanganui Chronicle.

Not to forget visiting Raetihi, eeling and eating peppery horopito leaves.

Smash Palace, the site of the Tangawai disaster, earthquakes, mountain eruptions, school camp, hiking, skiing, Sunday drives, youth group.

All these childhood memories where resurrected recently when I was given a sample of Rhayne Horipito Wild Herb Seasoning produced by Dean Fountain of www.Rhayne.co.nz . Dean produces and harvests Horipito trees at his property in Erua.

To me, the sounds and tastes of summer include the sizzling of steak on the barbeque and I couldn’t think of a better way to test the horopito seasoning. After sprinkling it on the steak, I cooked it on the barbeque along with some mushrooms. The Horopito Wild Herb Seasoning makes a wonderful addition to my collection of herbs and spices, it has a mild peppery bite and Dean says it can be a good alternative to pepper or chilli.

Rhayne Horoptio Seasoning

Speaking of food has got me thinking of Nations Dairy and bakery where as a family we would go on Sundays and get a hot loaf of bread freshly baked. I believe it’s an éclair shop now only open in Winter if memories are anything to go by you can be sure they would be the best around. Then there was the good old Rendezvous dairy, great for ice creams and a bag of mixed lollies right next to the Picture theatre. Lets not forget the takeaway shops, where you got the crispy bits for free, ahh the memories of the good old days. Happy to be making new ones too.

The photo on this blog is one of my own artist’s renditions of the memories I hold dear in my heart of growing up in a classic New Zealand town as a pre-internet kid – one of the lucky ones – Jenny.