Skotel Alpine Resort

There is a very nice kitchen. The overall condition of the accommodation is also very good. But the Spa is very poor, The room was cold, the water was cold and cloudy, I paid for it but didn't use it. not feeling good

Unique with plenty of accomodation options, close to ski field, on site was a rental gear shop, restaurant, bar, spa, sauna, games room & large guest kitchen for self catering. Staff were really friendly.

Chef, reception staff and owner went out of their way to make our stay exceptional. Generous size ensuite room with fabulous outlook and balcony. Warm and cosy and totally appropriate to prepare for and then recover from the Tongariro crossing (hot tub) and to explore Ruapehu. We'll be back for a week next time.

Exterior looked in need of some TLC. We stayed in a Backpacker Queen with Ensuite. Room was well worn and dated though cleverly decorated, clean, comfortable and warm. It had everything we needed and was room enough for both of us. We spent time in the Bar Lounge, a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the views after a day of travelling. And we enjoyed pizza ordered through the bar - it was delicious and arrived much quicker than expected. Staff were friendly and willing, and the hotel definitely has the alpine village vibe. We enjoyed our stay and would have given more stars had the superficial aspects of the hotel been of a higher standard - if you are like us and those things don't bother you, then you won't be disappointed.

It is on the mountain tours and excellent opportunity for a low budget stay. We were there in the summer and it was all very nice and clean. We loved the spa, didn't got to the gym and sauna, but if you stay longer it will is worth it.

Friendly staff. Great location. Good option for food and drinks with a bar/restaurant in the venue. Sauna and gym Included, gym was a bit dilapidated with the weights being welded onto the bars and unchangeable, and with most machines broken. Cleanliness and other amenities not an issue. Well stocked kitchen

The room kept making loud creeking sound, kept waking me up. Bathroom has no vent/fan. Spa was unavailable. Otherwise, convinenent place to stay and family friendly.

Unbelievable views, sunsets, sunrises. While the interior is (like most ski resorts) somewhat worn in appearance, everything was comfortable. And by far, one of the highlights of this resort is the playroom loft, where our 7 year old played happily for hours!

Old but very well maintained, staff hours at the front desk is limited, but they are very helpful even with the daily Niwa weather updates! Restaurant and bar are very good especially the view. If you travel in the high season, make sure to book it early as the park has limited accommodations. Close to hiking tracks and they can even arrange the shuttle to drop off and pick up for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing!

We loved this place so much we stayed longer!! The facilities for the kids were amazing - it gave us parents time to unwind and enjoy the peace and scenery from the lodge lounge whilst the kids played safely and happily. The hosts Kaz & Sam were impeccable - friendly, helpful and happy to have a chat but not intrusive in the least. The lodge had books about the area to borrow which we enjoyed as we sipped wine in front of the fire and watched the sunset. We enjoyed the hot tub spa. The room was comfortable and the views amazing. A lovely menu for breakfast and dinner and bar menu in the afternoon. So glad we stumbled across this little peaceful gem!

Like the old ski lodge feel. Staff was welcoming, rooms were clean and location was lovely!

Stayed two nights. Average to poor stay. Pros: Food at restaurant was good, location is great, staff are friendly, shared kitchen is useful. Most water pressure/flow I've ever had in a shower. Cons: Very dated and run down. Our bathroom smelled so bad of sewer, and the large windows in the room were screwed shut - only the small top windows could be opened to air the room out. We had to leave the bathroom light/fan on with the door closed at all times. The lights over the bed didn't work. The mattress was so worn out and had large sunken spots on both sides - made for a very uncomfortable sleep.

Perfect location for hiking in the park. The outdoor patio at the bar has a great view and great staff, however our room smelled disgusting. We visited in the summer but the room still smelled like sweaty ski gear. Would recommend for the location, but the resort could use a major refresh.

The soaps and shampoo provided were very small. Tha bathtub was extremely slippery. The bed had an indent on one side. Room was musty and eventhough there is no ac in the rooms, they should at least offer some portable fans. We opened the sliding door but there was no screen to stop the bugs from entering.

Clean

Zimmer abgewohnt und nicht sauber, überall kleben Reste erschlagener Insekten, Bad alt und mit seltsamen Gerüchen. Das Hotel ruht sich offenbar sehr auf seiner Lage aus, es müsste an allen Ecken und Enden etwas getan werden. Personal super freundlich, top Service beim Abendessen, essen auch sehr gut.

Stayed here before our hike on Tongariro Crossing. The staff were very polite and the room had the most spectacular view of the mountains. The hotel is a bit tired but clean

Good starting point for trekking to tama lakes. Hotel is a bit outdated and in our room we had a lot of dust.

The room smelled like urine. The window hinges were broken so we couldn’t get any air unless we opened the door but then bugs would fly in.

I stayed at Skotel for 5 nights in August 2024. The condition is average with the understanding that renovations cannot be done without extensive consent. I stayed in a Queen Room, it is small for modern day standard, it only fitted a queen size bed, two night stands and a small bar area. The sink is inside the actual bedroom rather than in the bathroom. The overall cleanliness is acceptable, but not hotel standard and is generally comfortable. The price paid is reasonable considering the proximity to Whakapapa ski field. My biggest concerns were the noises that came through. The walls are thin, I could hear every single conversation and phone calls my neighbour made. Sound proving is poor and I didn't get much rest as the noise kept up in the evenings until at least 10pm with neighbours talking and kids walking up at 6am running in the corridor. I loved the short commute to the ski fields which is the main purpose of this trip, however, I would most likely sacrifice a little commute time with better accommodation next time.

Room was a little small but for the amount of time we spent in it there wasn’t a problem.

Excellent location for hiking. Nice common room and kitchen. Rooms very small with dim lighting.

Simple accommodations that met my needs. Loved the towel warmer in the bathroom. Thin walls and noisy guests made for sleeping interruptions. Perhaps reinforce quiet hours to guests.

The hotel was in an amazing location, although it was very dated and needed a great deal of TLC. My room was tiny (I should have read the details better) but the bed was comfortable. The wall was backing onto the restaurant and the noise was quite loud, that said most people had left by 10pm. We had dinner which was ok, didn’t stay for breakfast. Overall the stay was fine, it was only a stop over on a longer trip down to Wellington.

Great location for hiking. Loved the 70s ski vibe! Very comfortable beds!

The walls are kind of thin so if you are a light sleeper it might be hard

Amazing location . Jaw dropping view from bedroom.

Great location, tiny rooms. Very lucky the have bar and full service restaraunt. Staff very friendly. Balcony room worth it!

Highest hotel in NZ. Definitely that ski/snowboard vibe. Room a bit small, and had issues with outlets, but managed. Trail right outside front of hotel was lovely

Very nice hotel with a good view of Tongariro National park. There’s no AC in the rooms so it can get pretty stuffy unless you open the windows. But it gets chilly in the night so kinda evens out. And if you step outside in the night you get a very good view of the stars.

Great location and great stay. Tyson at the front desk was so helpful. Close to the mountain and waterfall hikes.

Rustic, national park lodge. Perfect for outdoor orriented travelers looking for a clean room, friendly staff and quality food in an ideal location.

Overall a pleasant stay. Location is amazing, food in restaurant was good and price was reasonable. Had a horrible checkout experience. Went to check my kids room 15 minutes before checkout time and the room was already stripped even though I hadn’t checked out yet. The guy (who turned out to be the owner) said that he knocked on the door and when no one answered he went outside and looked in the windows and when he couldn’t see anyone he let himself in to clean the room! I was not happy with this as kids could have been in the bathroom or getting changed and had headphones in. His wife said he’s not a pervert looking in the windows and that people leave their keys In the room and leave. They knew that I was still in my room as I had asked for a late checkout that was declined so could have asked me if the kids still needed their room. Both the owner and his wife tried to make out like this was normal practice and I was the one who had a problem which was not a nice way to end our stay. He did begrudgingly apologise in the end but I wouldn’t stay again. I felt they didn’t take the personal security of their guests seriously and understand how this made me feel and tried to make out like I was being unreasonable. Never stayed at any hotel anywhere in the world that strips your room while you still have the keys and haven’t checked out.

It was fine for a short hiking trip. The property is a bit run down and could use some maintenance but it also had some charm. We booked one of the smaller rooms and there was really not even enough floor space to open our suitcases without having to step in them. The bar and dining space were comfortable and clean. The woman at the reception desk was not very welcoming.

Never ended up staying at this property as was unable to confirm after hours booking despite multiple attempts to contact Skotel. Wotif attempted to get a refund but the hotel refused. Poor customer service. Very unlikely to ever stay again or recommend. TBH the location is good, but there’s better places to stay in National Park

Chef, reception staff and owner went out of their way to make our stay exceptional. Generous size ensuite room with fabulous outlook and balcony. Warm and cosy and totally appropriate to prepare for and then recover from the Tongariro crossing (hot tub) and to explore Ruapehu. We'll be back for a week next time.

Check in was easy.

Dining staff was incredibly supportive to learn about dietary restrictions.

Old but very well maintained, staff hours at the front desk is limited, but they are very helpful even with the daily Niwa weather updates! Restaurant and bar are very good especially the view. If you travel in the high season, make sure to book it early as the park has limited accommodations. Close to hiking tracks and they can even arrange the shuttle to drop off and pick up for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing!

The staff were most helpful at the front desk and restaurant.

A decent place with great views of the mountains.

Probably the best you’re going to find in or near Tongariro National Park. Located right at the trail head of popular hikes, its location can’t be beat. Just keep in mind it’s an alpine motel geared toward backpackers. It’s great if you want to be near the park, but don’t have high expectations. Restaurant was very good for dinner.

Een betere plek voor een hotel vind je haast niet. Direct aan de mooiste trails. Het is een soort ski chalet-achtig motel.

9月の中旬に伺いましたが、暖房設備もきちんとしており部屋も清潔で暖かく快適でした。 アメニティも揃っていますが、シャンプーやコンディショナーは固形なので手持ちのものを持ってきてもいいかもしれません。 チェックイン時間が19時までと早いので注意が必要です。締切時間を確認せずに21時に到着してしまい、宿自体に鍵がかかって入れませんでした。運良く別の宿泊者の方に助けていただき、宿に電話し鍵も受け取れましたが、周辺に他の宿もないので早めにチェックインすることをおすすめします。

I understand the appeal of Skotel - a quaint, Kiwi escape in the middle of Tongariro National Park - and while both the meal at their restaurant and the gym/sauna/spa facilities pleasantly surprised me, the resort does have a couple let downs holding it back. Firstly, and importantly, the hotel is extremely isolated - in the summer months there is NOTHING happening in Whakapapa, and the nearest ‘town’ is at least a 20 minute drive away, even if you just want groceries and the like. Also, the room and en-suite bathroom were definitely smaller than we expected. However, I must admit I did have a comfortable sleep there and the stay is certainly more than suitable for a night after a day of exploring the park.

Great location to National park. Very convenient

Great location for hiking. Loved the 70s ski vibe! Very comfortable beds!

Great location for exploring the hikes.

Location, location! Not much else around.

Great location to the National park trails.

The views are spectacular! The receptionist, Tyson, was friendly and helpful, as was the bartender. We enjoyed our pizza in the bar. The breakfast buffet was pretty bad. Stick to the bread, meat and cheese, and fruit, and skip the “hot” food, and you’ll be ok. Book early if you, like us, are elderly and appreciate an en-suite bathroom. We had to go down the hall and around the corner from our tiny room to relieve ourselves. Overall it was enjoyable.

We stayed in Chalet 1 and it has big enough space for our family, our two big bags and four carry ons. This cabin has a deck and a dedicated parking for our vehicle. There’s a towel warmer in the shower area and the entry hall. Entry to the accommodation was just wide enough to lug a bag. It was a bit tricky going to the shower area coming from the inside as the doors both swing outwards but we found a way to make it work. My children loved that the Wifi still works in the public carpark at the bottom of Ngauruhoe Terrace. Breakfast buffet is $25 and feels expensive for what’s on offer. Not sure if it was the weather or poor lighting in the restaurant but somehow it affected the palatability of the food. For dinner it was a hit for my my husband and myself (we ordered the salmon and vegan lasagna), but a miss for my two children (they ordered the pasta of the day and the fish and chips). Pasta was too creamy and the fish batter was not that crispy. The clouds parted on our last day and Mount Ngauruhoe showed itself. We love that we have a good view of it from the deck. Overall it was a good stay. This accommodation is positioned well for exploring the national park.

Place is run down but was nice and warm , food was yummy but expensive

Lovely old style hotel lodge. Really nice and friendly staff. The restaurant food was also really good, and big portion sizes.

Skotel is conveniently located and our second stay for the ski fields. Check-in is unmanned before 3pm with earlier arrivals invited to wait in the bar, which is also unmanned at that time. Dinner seems to be limited to 2 hours between 6-8pm but the food is quite good when available. The hotel was noisy with the late hour conversation from a neighbouring room resonating through the walls. Guests children seemed to use the corridors as a playground, running, yelling and screaming into the evening. Seems a very casual hotel with very casual standards

A única opção de refeição era jantar e a comida de péssimo sabor. Tivemos que dirigir 14 km para poder almoçar ou tomar café.

The location is great for people who plan to go hiking in this national park. There is a restaurant serving decent Western food. We ordered pasta carbonara which was quite tasty. But the fish and chips were not up to the standard. Check-in was easy and handled by a friendly chap. The room was decent-sized for a big Q bed and a single bed for my teenage son. The water pressure is good, but the bathroom didn't have proper ventilation which is always one of my pet peeves whenever I stay at any hotel.

Exterior looked in need of some TLC. We stayed in a Backpacker Queen with Ensuite. Room was well worn and dated though cleverly decorated, clean, comfortable and warm. It had everything we needed and was room enough for both of us. We spent time in the Bar Lounge, a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the views after a day of travelling. And we enjoyed pizza ordered through the bar - it was delicious and arrived much quicker than expected. Staff were friendly and willing, and the hotel definitely has the alpine village vibe. We enjoyed our stay and would have given more stars had the superficial aspects of the hotel been of a higher standard - if you are like us and those things don't bother you, then you won't be disappointed.

A very nice hotel, in a beautiful environment. Everything very clean and relax. We enjoyed very much the area around the fire place. The food was excellent. Overall a nice atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend it.

Quite old. But really good food. The staff was young and really friendly