Silver Fern Taupo Backpackers

My friends and I had already paid in full for this room, with a booking made months ahead that stated we'd arrive between 10pm and 11pm. Driving up from Wellington in the middle of the night after a very long drive, we were only an hour away when I called the motel to say we were on our way. The man on the phone said it was too late to check in, even though he was still at the motel, and told us we couldn't stay because we hadn't given enough notice. I can't understand why no one had told us earlier that we couldn't check in at the time we'd specified. It was 10pm, and there were four of us in the car with nowhere to go. They made no effort to warn us, despite the booking details and full payment. Don't stay here if you need a place in Taupō. We were lucky to reach the lovely Great Lake Motel, who found us a room at 10.30pm at the last minute. Thank you!

For budget-conscious travellers, this is a good place to stay. The staff were friendly and helpful when needed, and check-in and check-out were easy. The bed was really comfortable and the internet connection was good. I stayed in the fairly large, well-priced eco room, with one double bed, two single beds, and everything I needed. It was centrally located, not far from the lake and other local activities. The shared bathroom was okay for the price, and the bathrooms were clean, though one shower wasn't working and tended to flood. The TV couldn't pick up any stations because of a weak signal. The communal kitchen and other amenities were okay for a mid-range motel.

We left Silver Fern Lodge Taupō that same afternoon, as the room we were given wasn't fit for guests at $240 a night. The property was visibly run-down, and its cleanliness, maintenance, and overall presentation, inside and out, were well below an acceptable standard. The closed “Guest Lounge” had a paper sign saying it was being used as a dorm and was “for special guests only.” That added to the impression of a budget hostel rather than a motel. We're still working through the refund process. We moved to Wairakei Resort Taupō for $280 a night and found it excellent. After this experience, we don't plan to stay at a VR Hotels property again.

The man at reception was polite and helpful, the parking was excellent, and the bed was really firm, which suited me. I was meant to stay a second night but got a refund through Booking.com with reception's approval. I wouldn't stay again. I was in room 207, which badly needs refurbishing. It smelled stale, had lots of poorly repaired damage, and the kitchen bench, cupboards, and walls weren't clean. A plug was hanging out of the wall and the damaged downlights hadn't been fixed. Everything looked worn and dreary. I had a jug and teabags, but no cutlery, plates, tea towel, or milk for a cup of tea. The motel felt more like a backpacker hostel than somewhere worthy of the Silver Fern name. Its hallways were dated and damaged, with pictures half hanging off the walls. Noise echoed from the communal kitchen and bathroom on the same level, with children screaming, people yelling, and a dog barking, apparently from someone's room. Luckily I had earplugs. Net curtains over the ranchslider would help with privacy from the road. There was a heavy curtain, but it blocked all daylight, so it was good for sleeping and not for daytime.