YHA National Park

The kitchen had everything we needed, the rooms were clean, and the staff were friendly and hard-working. There are nice views, and the shop and restaurant are within walking distance. Great value, and we'll definitely stay again.

The kitchen was clean, though it got crowded, so go early if you want to use it. We stayed in a private en-suite room. It was clean, the bed was comfy, and the shower had good pressure. It's basic but had what we needed for a short visit. The place is handy for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, with the shuttle leaving and arriving right outside. Reception also rents hiking gear, including walking poles for $5 each. After the hike, it was nice to be next to a pub and mini golf. My only complaint is that the en-suite had shampoo and body wash but no hand soap, which I would have liked.

No-frills, cheap and easy, close to the mountain. We got in late and they made room for us, which I appreciated. The indoor rock climbing, laundry, drying room and communal kitchen were nice extras.

It's a character building and the staff were nice, but our trip was soured by the creaky floorboards above our downstairs room. People were moving around all morning, and we couldn't sleep past 6.00am.