Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Whakapapa Village
07
This tiny resort town is the trailhead for many Tongariro National Park tramps, and home to
the national park visitor centre. It has limited accommodation and eating options, with Na-
tional Park Village and Ohakune offering a greater range. That said, outside of winter this
hillside village is sleepy and a bit leafy and a good spot for quiet contemplation.
4
Sleeping & Eating
HOLIDAY PARK$
Whakapapa Holiday Park
( 07-892 3897;
www.whakapapa.net.nz;
sites from $19, dm $25, units $69-149; )
This popular
DOC-associated park has a wide range of accommodation options, including bushy camp-
sites and a backpackers lodge. The camp store stocks basic groceries.
HOSTEL$
Skotel Alpine Resort
( 07-892 3719, 0800 756 835;
www.skotel.co.nz;
Ngauruhoe Pl; s/tw/tr without bathroom $40/55/
75, r with bathroom $110-185, cabin $185; )
If you think of it more as a hostel than a hotel,
you'll excuse the odd bit of stained carpet or cheap lino, and enjoy the timber-lined alpine
ambience and hotelesque facilities such as a sauna, spa pool, restaurant and bar.
HOTEL, RESTAURANT$$$
$$$
Chateau Tongariro
( 07-892 3809, 0800 242 832;
www.chateau.co.nz;
r from $155; )
With its sublime setting and
manor-house grandeur, the Chateau promises much but delivers just enough. Of most in-
terest to trampers is the elegant onsite restaurant (mains $36 to $38), Pihanga Cafe (mains
$20 to $27, serves lunch and dinner) and bar.
CAFE$
Fergusson's Cafe
( breakfast & lunch; )
This is your classic tiny-town tearoom, with lashings of home-bak-
ing, decent espresso, and tables in the sun.
8
Getting There & Away
The national park area is well serviced by shuttle operators, including Taupo-based Tongari-
ro Expeditions (
Click here
)
and Turangi-based Turangi Alpine Shuttles (
Click here
)
, both
good options if you're coming from the north. Other than local shuttle operators, your best
