Grand old lady of a hotel and wonderful to see many of the original features retained. The ground…read morefloor lobby/bar and ante rooms are the jewels. We spent a lovely evening sunken in deep couches in front of the fire. Had friends with us and met some nice people we chose to have drinks there and eat as well. Drink service very slow and erratic. Had to double sign when we got a second round with good so were concerned we'd been double charged ( we weren't but that wasn't explained well). Had chicken pizza which tasted and looked microwaved - blah at $26. Club sandwich with fries much better for friends. Rooms varied. In heritage block the bathrooms are dated but clean. Good beds but mattress protector under the topper pad so not so hygienic. Clean and comfortable though. Changed first room as was musty and only had double not king bed. Newer block at back have better bathrooms but less views. Had dinner 2nd night in Ruapehu Room. Very grand. Excellent food - we had lamb for two - delicious. Overall good value. Historic venue. Stunning views of mountain. Snowed overnight do that was a plus. Staff service could be a lot better.

I just absolutely adored this historical hotel: its old, quirky, vintage, has a few creaks, but you…read morestill got love how they've kept up this place to maintain the nostalgic charm of this "built in 1927" hotel...that's right, its a 92 year old building! It has the look and feel of the old grand hotels you'd see in a 1930s movie, like a all the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. I paid for the "Bed and Breakfast" package which cost me a reasonable $170US/night for Friday and Saturday. The luxurious and elegant room was spacious and romantic, and even came with a complimentary bottle of champagne from the manager to help us celebrate our 20th anniversary. Everything seemed new and pristine, but still had a touch of its classic heritage. The vast breakfast buffet in the mornings had a great variety of food selections and drinks. At night the main lobby and lounge area becomes a lovely social setting complete with a live pianist, classic pool table, and cocktails. Downstairs is a small but free cinema that plays six movies a day. The main restaurant serves good food with great service, and the side cafe is cheaper and just as good since it all comes from the same kitchen. Some folks will complain about the prices, but relative to America I'd say its a bit cheaper for level, especially for the wine! Not sure when I'll ever make it back to New Zealand, but I'd definitely love to stay here again!

Jimmy is an excellent host. He helped arrange our transportation logistics for the Tongariro…read moreCrossing and when we returned he had ice cold beers in hand to greet us. Jimmy even arranged for our dinner reservations that night at a great restaurant ~ letting them know we had just completed the crossing. It was quite the adventure. The lodge was beautifully maintained and inviting. I look forward to staying here again one day.

From the owner: With uniquely spacious suites, superb personal attention and a tranquil garden setting, Tongariro…read moreCrossing Lodge is the only place of its kind in National Park Village. A family-run boutique lodge, we cater for travellers seeking personal attention in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Our large rooms, offer all the space and comfort you need to relax and recharge after a hard day's trekking, biking, skiing or travelling. We strive to offer a retreat where guests can feel rested, at home and taken care of from the moment they arrive.

Clean hotel with decent dinner. Breakfast buffet is a little bland. We visited the area with no…read morereservations and the Chateau in the national park was fully booked, so we were able to get walk-in reservations at this place. We stayed on the second floor in a duplex unit with three beds. The bathroom was small. The dinner was yummy. We had an exceptional salad, lamb and salmon. The buffet breakfast they serve is on the expensive side and not that great. They have a coffee shop where you canprder decent hot chocolates and flat whites.

Tiny rooms, bathroom has not one shelf, breakfast buffet excruciatingly bad with INSTANT COFFEE for…read morethe love of god almighty, what is WRONG WITH THEM and $$$ to boot. Hosts are friendly but it costs $35 R/T be shuttled to the National Park which is what you came here for.

I thoroughly enjoyed this hotel and amenities. I was upgraded as a diamond member and welcomed when…read moreI arrived. The staff were all very friendly and helpful answering all of my questions. My room was spacious and very comfortable. I loved the heated towel rack and and heated floor in the bathroom. The heated swimming pool was refreshing. The hot tub was very relaxing. They also had a sauna and steam room for your enjoyment. I ate dinner at the restaurant and breakfast two mornings. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend staying at this hotel when in Lake Taupo.

A review for their restaurant only: The staff is friendly and welcoming as you'd expect from…read moreHilton. It has a beautiful scenery perfect for a sunset on Lake Taupo. The quality of their dishes is excellent as expected, but even as a light eater I found their portions to be too small. I enjoy this location as it's on a hill secluded from the rest of the town, with the spa resort next door. It's definitely a family-oriented area.

Don't hesitate to stay here. Also number 1 on trip advisor for a reason. Super cute, clean, sweet…read moreowners. Small town but great location for fishing and hiking.

Staying 5 nights in the glorious 1 bedroom adult only units. these 4 executive units were built in…read more2007 and are definitely the nicest place we've stayed in Turangi. They are a marvel of double glazed, well insulated comfort and fitted out in luxury. The grounds are extensive and a path leads to the river trail.

Comfortable room. Good size with nice large bed, good pillows and blankets. Bathrobes provided…read morewhich is a nice touch. Two comfortable chairs in the room and balcony looking into park across the street. We arrived late and they had turned on the heater so room was cosy. Bathroom a bit weird - large deep spa pool - but shower is over it so have to be agile to climb up into and out of it.

Great experience. This hotel/motel provided an excellent center point for our North Island…read moreadventures. Centrally located Easy to find Super friendly staff willing to answer any and all questions. Exceptional room quality with endless hot water ( thank you hot springs ). The bed was magnificently cozy. Parking was a non-issue and close to the room (free too). What else to say .... STAY HERE !!!

This hostel accepts BBH and YHA cards which give you a discount for your stay here. It's one of a…read morehandful of hostels in NZ that accept both cards. If you don't have either of the cards you can purchase them here and apply the discount immediately. I found the staff to be friendly and helpful. They had good advice on where to go and details about logistics. This is a good base for doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the staff can arrange for a shuttle pickup. The hostel has everything you'll probably need including a couple of cool bonuses. There's a large kitchen with lots of refrigerator space for food (which you'll need to label). They have private rooms with or without bathrooms as well as dormitories for budget travelers. The bonuses include an excellent climbing gym, rental gear in case you didn't come prepared for some of the outdoor adventures and a TV lounge (which is decent). I had two bikes with me and I was able to keep them in the garage during my stay.

In all our worldwide travels, this is the most serene and beautiful setting with upscale…read moreaccommodations that we have ever visited. Do not let the cost scare you off. It's worth every penny. The only problem is you won't want to leave. The rooms are perfectly designed cottages with everything you need, unless a television is something you think you need. There are only 20 river front cottages on the property. Each has a deck with comfortable chairs and steps that lead to a manicured lawn with cushioned chaise lounges at the water's edge. The culinary experience will also impress you. Breakfast and dinner are included and the staff will quickly learn and address you by name. 'Pampered' throughly describes how the management and services teams will make you feel. If you have an opening on your bucket list, fill it with this New Zealand gem. Bravo Huka !!

This lodge is very special. Romantic. Classy. Don't miss…read moreit!! The setting is unbelievable, our room was darling, the food was very good and the staff is perfection! Before you commit to where you want to have dinner, please be sure you explore all possibilities. You can eat in the main dining room or outside on the porch. Those are obvious. After you're there a day you will find out that there are special little places where you can eat as well. Across the way in the winery? Upstairs and outside? Down the lawn across the bridge? So many special places! If you don't want to take the longer 8 hour hike, there is a short one hour hike nearby where you can check out the falls. There's also a Hot Spring nearby so take your bathing suit! We'll definitely go back!!

Cute Art Deco hotel across from the Napier Library and Art Museum. Walk across the street to enjoy…read morethe beach. Napier is filled with so many historic Art Deco gems. After the earthquake of 1931 that destroyed downtown Napier. The city was rebuilt in the style that was fashionable at the time, Art Deco. Today, these buildings are preserved leading to a large collection of beautiful buildings in a relatively compact area.

The room was comfortable. It cost $269 to stay here, which is reasonable. The customer service was…read moreimpressive. Parking is free after 5 p.m. which is great! Very close to the beach, which is lovely. Stores close at 5 p.m., which was unexpected - so if you want to explore the shops, you'll need to do that early. Would recommend staying here!