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Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel

4.0 star property
your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel

Front of property
Full-sized fridge, microwave, stovetop, toaster
Outdoor dining
Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets
Lounge

Reviews

8.8 out of 10

Excellent

Popular amenities

  • 24/7 front desk
  • Kitchen
  • Parking included
  • Laundry
  • Free WiFi
  • Business services

Explore the area

Map
26 Ngawaka Place, Turangi, 3334
  • Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centre
    4 min walk
  • Tongariro National Trout Centre
    3 min drive
  • The Red Crater Cafe 2006
    1 min walk
  • Taupo (TUO)
    32 min drive

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 2 Single Beds, Non Smoking, Ensuite

Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Deluxe Room, 2 Single Beds, Non Smoking, Ensuite

  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Bed in 8 - Bed mix dorm Room 4

Bed in 8 - Bed mix dorm Room 4

Bed in 8 - Bed mix dorm Room 4

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Bed in 4 - Bed Female Only Dorm Room 10

Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Bed in 4 - Bed Female Only Dorm Room 10

  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Bed in 4 - Bed Mix dorm Room 5

Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Bed in 4 - Bed Mix dorm Room 5

  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Standard Double Room, 1 Double Bed, Non Smoking, Shared Bathroom

Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Standard Double Room, 1 Double Bed, Non Smoking, Shared Bathroom

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Premium Double Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Ensuite

Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Premium Double Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking, Ensuite

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Family Room, 1 Bedroom, Non Smoking, Shared Bathroom

Down duvets, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Family Room, 1 Bedroom, Non Smoking, Shared Bathroom

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed and 1 Double Bed

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Property grounds

Turangi Bridge Motel

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Parking included
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The price is NZ$146
for 1 night
includes taxes & fees
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Turangi Bridge Motel

About the area

Turangi

With a stay at Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel, you'll be centrally located in Turangi, within a 10-minute drive of Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupo. .This golf hostel is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centre and 2 mi (3.1 km) from River Vineyard.
View more Hostels in TurangiOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centre - 4 min walk
  • Tokaanu Thermal Pools - 5 min drive
  • River Vineyard - 5 min drive
  • Lake Taupo - 7 min drive
  • Tongariro Alpine Crossing - 18 min drive

Getting around

  • Taupo (TUO) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Bakehouse Cafe and Roasts - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Hydro Eatery - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Licorice Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Thyme For Food - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Turangi Bakery & Coffee Shop - ‬3 min walk

About this property

Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel

Eco-certified hostel in Turangi with free parking
Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel offers 17 accommodations with fireplaces and DVD players. Accommodations offer separate dining areas. Beds feature down comforters. Full-sized refrigerators/freezers, microwaves, and rice cookers are provided.

Bathrooms include showers. 75-inch Smart televisions come with digital channels and Netflix. Additionally, rooms include complimentary weekday newspapers and shared/communal kitchens.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Treat yourself to a stay in one of the 17 guestrooms, featuring fireplaces and Smart televisions. Prepare your meals in the shared/communal kitchen. Digital programming along with DVD players are provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include complimentary weekday newspapers and separate sitting areas.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as bicycles to rent or take in the view from a garden. This hostel also features complimentary wireless internet access, ski storage, and a fireplace in the lobby.
Featured amenities include a computer station, express check-in, and express check-out. Planning an event in Turangi? This hostel has 25 square feet (2 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and 35 meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.

Awards and affiliations

Eco-Certified Property
This property participates in Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Award, a program that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and public transport

  • On-site parking available only on request
  • Free uncovered self-parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available
  • Ski shuttle nearby

Things to do

  • Access to nearby indoor pool
  • Access to nearby outdoor pool
  • Bike rentals
  • Bike tour information
  • Bike parking
  • Bike storage
  • Rock climbing

Family friendly

  • Access to nearby indoor pool
  • Access to nearby outdoor pool
  • Children's games
  • DVD player
  • Full-sized fridge
  • Laundry facilities
  • Microwave
  • Separate dining area

Conveniences

  • Lockers available

Guest services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Golf caddy
  • Golf cart
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Ski storage
  • Tour/ticket assistance

Business services

  • Computer station
  • Conference space (25 square feet)
  • Meeting rooms - 35

Outdoors

  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Garden

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • This property does not have any lifts
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • Fireplace in reception
  • Shared microwave
  • Shared fridge
  • Smoke-free property
  • TV in lobby

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bed sheets
  • Down duvet
  • Heating

Bathroom

  • Hairdryer (on request)
  • Shower
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • 75-inch smart TV
  • Digital channels
  • DVD player
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Food and drink

  • Blender
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Dining room
  • Freezer
  • Microwave
  • Fridge
  • Rice cooker
  • Shared kitchen access
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

More

  • Electrical adapters/chargers
  • Fireplace
  • Free newspapers (weekdays)
  • Guidebooks/recommendations
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Local maps
  • Restaurant dining guide
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 7:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The property charges 1.7 percent for credit card payments
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with check-in instructions and an access code; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
If you are planning to arrive after 10:00 AM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Renovations and closures

This property is closed from January 14 2025 to January 25 2025 (dates subject to change).

Access methods

Access code, staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 1.7 percent

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve onsite parking
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Long-term renters welcome
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

National rating

Rating provided by Qualmark®, source of official star ratings for accommodation in New Zealand.

Property is also known as

Extreme Backpackers Hostel Turangi
Extreme Backpackers Hostel
Extreme Backpackers Turangi
Extreme Backpackers
Tongariro River Retreat
Golden Fern Backpackers
Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel Turangi
Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation

Tongariro River Retreat - Hostel Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 76 out of 118 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 118 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 118 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 118 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 118 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Brett

Business traveller
Room was appropriate for the price, I would normally expect tea, coffee and milk but supplies were very low
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well people was helpful and it was nice place to stay
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Chris

I used Expedia to book the advertised price. Sometime later I was contacted by Tongariro River Retreat to say that the advertised price was a mistake and was not available. I cancelled by booking
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Classic kiwi hostel, has everything you'd need. Friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness
お宿のおじさんはフレンドリーでとても親切でした。到着が遅れたのですが、心配しつつ待っていてくれました。部屋がおっさん臭かったです（笑）タオルもなく、共同シャワールームに置いてあったのですが、使っていいのか？誰かが使った後か？全くわからなかったです。安い宿と割り切って泊まるにはいいかと思います。
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lina Christina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly and helpful host, nice and clean accommodation and a lot to do nearby
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Tony

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Parking is an issue other wise it’s a great place
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

windy

Travelled with partner
Was here few years ago and it's not what i remembered. Run down and cluttery.

8/10 Good

Nganeko

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
The owner mananger person was friendly and keeping an eye on things daily
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great Hostel experience. Lots of food and shopping options available very close. Friendly staff and guests.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

6/10 Okay

Kelly

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
It was adequate but everything was old and tired. The doors to the bathroom and my dorm room would not stay closed unless it was locked.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

6/10 Okay

paul

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
bit untidy and messy but staff were nice
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nina Gia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The attendant is so good, I think his the owner,sorry I did not get his name,he is very accomodating and granted us with our request.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Aylin

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Hostel Manager was very friendly, would have picked us up if we would have been stuck at the Tongariro crossing (we were without a car) close to the intercity bus stop
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hanz

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Donald

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

2/10 Terrible

Frederik

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

2/10 Terrible

Priten

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Dirty beds, creepy owner, cobwebbed rooms.
Highly disturbing, unclean, uncomfortable and somewhat strange. The entrance is locked/not easily findable after dark. There was a man sitting in the shadows that saw us lost and advised us to use a back entrance to ‘get in’. The owner suggested he called us as we were late (expedia check in says until 10pm, we arrived at 9pm and didnt receive a call either). The kitchen was nothing like the pictures - it was cluttered and filthy with empty food cans all over the place when we arrived. Our room was even worse - it was cluttered with a folding bed, the sheets had body hairs all over them, we saw spider webs along the ceiling and the window looked like it hadn't been washed in its life - it was disgusting. The room had a stuffy undesirable stench to it too. There are no sockets near the beds to charge your devices either, just one on the opposite side (for our private room was the case anyway). The creepiest thing was, on our 2nd morning, the owner let himself into our private room whilst my female partner was in bed, without seeking permission or with any reason. She could have been changing or asleep, it was 8:30am and checkout wasn't until 10am. We decided to leave straight after this final straw, and having read other reviews by females, its happened to others to. Wish we’d spent whatever it cost to stay elsewhere as this was an eye opening disturbing few nights. No working heater in the cold room either.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
OK, but not great
It was OK, but not the best experience I have had with this type of backpackers-style accommodation. Manager is quite nice and helpful. But I agree with the review below pointing out that the photos are very misleading. They seem to have all been taken on a day when the place was empty and all tidied up. In reality, the common areas are very cluttered and cramped, and not terrifically clean. Kitchen is very well equipped, but kind of a mess most of the time, because quests are not all considerate about cleaning up after themselves. I saw people come in and just leave dirty dishes on the counter. One morning I found a stove burner on, apparently overnight. WiFi is OK. Parking lot is usually full, but the street parking is no problem. Great location close to shops, restuarants and some nice walks. My room was dark and somewhat bleak, but this is not a place to stay if you are going to hang out in your room.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Ross, Paraparaumu

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is a lodge not really a motel. There's a lovely welcoming atmosphere.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

4/10 Poor

Justine

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
The photo’s on the backpackers website which are the same on wotif must have been taken in better times. Suggest they update their photo’s to be a truer representation of what to expect when booking nowadays. Sheets had hair ball in them, new towel was damp on arrival, room didn’t seem entirely clean. Host was the best part as he was nice, friendly, chatty and welcoming. I feel a bit bad complaining as the man was so nice. The office was locked the morn I left therefore couldn’t address these things at the time. I think some maintenance & removing of clutter would spruce it up a lot. Should throw away the trampoline that has no mat in it. I bet the bird would like its cage cleaned/scrubbed as the bottom was filthy and mustn’t have been done in a while.

10/10 Excellent

Adam

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

6/10 Okay

Laurence

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022