We visited the beautiful area of Mount Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park when the mountain was covered in snow and the ski season was starting. There is a cute little ski village up at Mount Ruapehu called Whakapapa close to one of the three ski areas at this active volcano. In this little village, you can find the highest hotel of New Zealand: Skotel Alpine Resort at an altitude of 1134 meter (3720ft) with views over Mount Ngauruhoe (also known as Mount Doom from LOTR) and Mount Ruapehu. We stayed a couple of nights at this hotel to check it out and visit the beautiful area.
Check-in
There is a big lobby in front of the reception. When we arrived, the friendly staff explained us about all the facilities and checking in went smoothly. They are happy to help you book some activities like skiing or the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
The room
There are plenty of accommodation options in Skotel Alpine Resort, from Superior rooms to cabins and backpackers. We stayed in a Superior room with queen bed. The spacious heated room had a balcony with great views over the area. A plus was that it was super warm inside, a welcome relief after staying in our cold van! We could park the van next to the balcony which was very handy. The queen bed was comfy and it also had a TV in the room and some free wifi with an option to purchase more. Next to that, it had a fridge and coffee making facilities in the room, enough storage room in the cabinets and a little desk with mirror. It also had a large bathroom with a heated towel rack. The wooden interior gives a warm and cosy feeling.
Facilities
Skotel Alpine Resort comes with plenty of facilities. It has two spas and a sauna to relax after an active day on the mountain. We loved to soak in here for a bit! It also has a games room and a lounge. If you are there for winter sport, they have some ski-hire in the building too.
Restaurant
There is a nice restaurant and bar with outdoor terrace where you can enjoy your drinks with the best views in town! From there you’re looking right onto Mount Doom. We went for dinner and the food was really good. There’s enough on the menu to choose from, but we definitely recommend the burgers! You do need to make a reservation since it can get pretty crowded in there.
Book here
Want to stay at this hotel as well? To check the rates for Skotel Alpine Resort or to book your next stay, you can click here.
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We had an amazing stay at Skotel! We enjoyed the great facilities and the beautiful area where it is located. There is so much to see and do in this National Park, and while doing that we can definitely recommend staying at Skotel Alpine Resort.
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