Adventure Lodge & Motel

Gillian emailed all the details I needed to find my room and get ready for the hike because I thought we might arrive late. We made it earlier than expected, so I got to talk with her about local restaurants and the spa. The lodge was warm and comfortable, with everything we needed. The Tongariro crossing package covered two nights, an early breakfast, a packed lunch, transport to and from the hike, and another lovely homemade breakfast before we left. Breakfasts were great, and the lunch sandwich came with enough snacks for the day. The shuttle ran on time and was well organized. John explained the return shuttle arrangements when we met in the morning, and he knows the area well and has some great stories. The place feels more like a home than a hotel. I’d recommend it to anyone doing the crossing.

We booked a seat on the Adventure Lodge shuttle for the Tongariro Crossing on Christmas Day the day before. Even though we were staying elsewhere, the owners were lovely and helpful. My girlfriend was offered hiking boots to borrow at no charge, and they let us store our touring bikes somewhere safe since we had to cycle there early. Her husband kept us entertained and shared information about the park. 10/10, I wish we’d had time to stay the night too.

The family room in the lodge wasn't spacious, but it worked well for our needs. Having access to shared bathrooms was actually handy because we could all shower at once. Dutchy’s shuttles for the Tongariro crossing operate from here, with a good rate for guests, and hiking boots are available to hire at the office. You can also book a free 30-minute spa session. There's a kitchen, laundry and drying room for guests to use. Great lodge and motel accommodation :)

The hosts were kind and seemed genuinely passionate about their work. They gave us honest advice about trail conditions, adjusted our stay dates at no charge, and helped change things with the shuttle service too. Communication and service were above and beyond the usual. They stayed committed to giving us a good experience even with outside factors being unpredictable.