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.

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.

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.

The eggs Benedict was quite good here and the vanilla latte was just as good! Nice quaint place…read morewhere you can sit inside or outside. It was decorated with Christmas decorations which made it nice! The woman at the front counter was very nice and helpful!

Really enjoyed the whole dining experience at the Rutland Arms. The service was very good and the…read morefood was excellent. We had the stock house burger and the Pork spareribs, impressed with the serving size is and the taste of the food. We just happened to sit where we could see the food coming out of the kitchen and it all looked great. Very nice seating with the choice of a pub experience or outside in the courtyard.