National Park Village is little more than a cluster of hostels and a gas station at the junction of SH4 and SH47 established to service the hordes flocking to the nearby Tongariro Crossing, Whakapapa ski fields, and Whanganui River Journey.
Transportation. The train station is on Railway Rd. at the end of Findlay St. TranzScenic (☎0800 872 467) runs daily to: Auckland (5hr., $70-85); Hamilton (3hr., $35-50); Palmerston North (3hr., $30-52); Wellington (5hr., $55-84). Buses depart from the dairy near Carroll and Ward St. at the “Ski Hire” sign. InterCity (☎386 8919) heads daily north to Auckland (5hr., $39-49) via Hamilton (3hr., $26-32) and south to Wellington (5hr., $55) via Ohakune (30min., $18) and Wanganui (2hr., $30). Ski Haus and Howard’s Lodge handle bookings. Alpine Scenic Tours (☎0800 872 258 or 021 563 1093; www.alpinescenictours.co.nz) runs pre-booked trips to Turangi (1hr., 4:30pm, $25).
Practical Information. National Park Village has no visitors center or ATM. For ski and snowboard rental, head to Roy Turner Ski and Board Shop (☎892 2757; www.snowzone.co.nz) or Ski Biz (☎892 2717). Both charge $30-60 for ski, boot, and pole rental and $40 for snowboard and boot rental. The small police station (☎892 2869) is on Buddo St., parallel to SH4. The nearest hospital is in Taumarunui (☎896 0020). Internet access and gear rental are available at most accommodations. The BP station/4 Square at the highway junction stocks basic groceries and provides postal services. (Open daily 7:30am-7pm.)
Accommodations And Camping. The quality lodges of National Park Village are packed with hordes of winter skiers and summer trampers. Near the corner of Findlay St. and SH4, the eye-catching National Park Backpackers and Climbing Hall (YHA, BBH) 2 has a two-story climbing wall, a spacious kitchen, hot tub, and several concrete kiwis on the grounds. Shuttle services to the Crossing ($20 round-trip) and glowworm (1hr., $9) and Lord of the Rings (3hr., $65) tours. (☎892 2870; www.npbp.co.nz. Climbing wall $9 per day for guests. Internet. 8-bed dorms $18-20; 4-bed dorms $21-23; shared twins and doubles $27; private twins and doubles $42, with bath $61. Tent sites $12. MC/V.) Clean and hospitable, Howard’s Lodge (BBH) 2, 11-13 Carroll St., pleases travelers with a variety of shuttle services, a free spa, and rentable ski clothing. (☎892 2827; www.howardslodge.co.nz. Mountain bikes $20 per 2hr., full day $40. Ski, boot and, pole rental package $30 per day. Snowboard $40 per day. Ski jackets from $10. Linen $3. Laundry. Internet. Book 3 weeks ahead in winter. Dorms $22; twins and doubles $60, with bath $80-120. In winter dorms $25; twins and doubles $80, with bath $90-150. MC/V.) Pukenui Lodge (BBH) 2, at SH4 and Millar St., attracts an older crowd with utilitarian rooms, a serene common space, and free Internet. (☎892 2882 or 0800 785 368; www.tongariro.cc. In summer dorms $23; twins and doubles $60, with bath $70. In winter rooms $45-90 per day. MC/V.) For summer visitors who require few amenities, the DOC Mangahuia Campsite 1, 4km from National Park Village on SH47, has a streamside location with pit toilets. (Tent and caravan sites $4.)
Food. Due to restricted hours and limited options, the best bet is to stock up on groceries before reaching this isolated outpost. Eivins Cafe Bar 3, on Carroll St. at SH4, serves hefty mains at equally hefty prices ($16-27). The view, however, is choice. (☎892 2844. Open daily 4pm-late. MC/V.) The unassuming spot at Schnapps Hotel 3, at Findlay St. and SH4, rocks the ski season with occasional bands and a bizarre grab-bag of drinking games. Unwind with one of the mains ($12-25) and a tall $9 shot of Jäger. (☎892 2788. Open daily 11am-2am. In summer M-Sa noon-2am, Su noon-10pm. Closes earlier when slow. MC/V.) Otherwise, the National Park Hotel 2, up Carroll St., close to the rails, is a popular choice for affordable pub fare and takeaways. (☎892 2805. Open daily 11am-late. MC/V.)
Outdoor Activities. The Tongariro Forest Conservation Area, just north of town, is home to the 42nd Traverse, one of the country’s most satisfying mountain bike trails. Not for the faint of heart, the organ-jiggling 4-7hr. ride follows 46km of well-maintained old logging trails, with a stream crossing and a 570m descent. It is not pleasant in inclement weather. The eastern trailhead begins 18km north of the National Park on SH47; take a left on Kapoors Rd. Howard’s Lodge (see above) runs an on-demand shuttle service to the start and end points ($25 per person, min. 4 people). For a warm-up on bike or foot, follow the 21km Fisher’s Track (2-3hr. round-trip) from the end of Carroll St. on the other side of the tracks. The wooded path leads to a forested summit 4km from town with views of Taranaki. The descent on the opposite side makes for great coasting, but bikers should keep the return climb in mind. For those too tired to backtrack uphill, Howard’s Lodge also provides shuttle services from the end point ($20 per person, min. 4 people.)
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