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.

Pros. Beautiful…read moreexterior. Nice Bathrooms. Great service. Plenty of parking. Cons. Rooms could use some updating. Could hear all rooms above and beside you as well as the halls. No Lobby to speak of.

Your 1 stop stay & shop for Tongariro National Park!…read more I stayed here for 2 nights in the Fall (off season) to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to be surprised to find I had the place to myself. At first I was unsettled, but after one conversation with the operator I knew I was in for a unique experience. 1st, the $10 breakfast is well worth it. Coffee/Tea, fruit juice, local cereal and toast are all included as well as local advice from the operator (his advice made me change the 2nd half of the itinerary for the better). 2nd, the packed lunch for the hike was overly generous. HUGE water, 2 sandwiches, 2 apples, a granola bar, and brick of chocolate was more than enough for the hike. 3rd, he has everything you need. I got boots, recommended a rain coat to be brought just in case, and figured out a van to drop off/pick me up at either end of the trail. Only complaint (in general with NZ) no free internet, and the paid option gives you very little data. Since this is not unique to Howard's Lodge, I am not counting it against them and thus they get the full 5 star rating. Would stay there again in a heart beat.

Best stay so far during our trip in North New Zealand, hands down. Amazing service, modern…read morefacility, and great views. You absolutely have to stay longer than one night. The couple that runs the place are so accommodating and sweet. The only con is finding the place, which is completely out of the owners control as they are forbidden from placing additional signage on the road. With only 4 suites available, it's no wonder why they're so booked months in advanced.

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.