Staff (sorry I dont have his name) was very friendly when we arrived and very kindly linked us up to another traveller who also planned to do the Alphine Crossing the next day so we could save on the shuttle costs. Rooms and toilets are basic - can get quite cold though there is a heater in the room. There's a kitchen on site for simple cooking and some food shops nearby if you need to stock up before/after hikes. Property is a less than 5 mins drive to the Tongariro River trail/lookout. Plenty of on site parking.

Rooms are rather old (still clean!) but the site has a campy old school feel to it - no complaints for me :)

I loved the vibe and atmosphere that was created at the hostel. There is plenty of space for comfortable relaxing and socialising, the kitchen is well equipped, theres some open grass in the center with a BBQ and chairs that promote connectivity. The owner is one of the nicest people I've met, funny, kind, helpful, generous, and an incredible ability to build a small new family in just 5 days. I stayed 5 nights over Christmas, and was dreading the thought of Christmas day in isolated, unfamiliar circumstances, but I was made to feel very much at home and ended up having a wonderful festive time. The location also has easy access to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and River Crossing, as well as Lake Taupo, so you're never short of activities.

The beds in the shared dorms are basic at best, but its a small price to pay.

it's all easy going and uncomplicated here. love that! the manager is quite a character... very open, talkative, helpful and adviseful. you will have a good chat with him. the place is quiet and you easily get in contact with the other guests here. i've met interesting people. the interiors of the common-hang-out-areas make you feel you are at the fleamarket but its actually kinda nice looking around and discover little things and wonder. kitchen is spacious and has lots of tools. fridges are clean. sometimes Ian (the manager) offers tomatoes, milk, tea, coffee or such for free :) he even took a bunch of us with his van to the national park to see the moon eclipse (for free, too). amazing! there is a trampoline in the yard!! would come back anytime.

Some things in the kitchen could get a proper sort/clean out. all in all not a big deal. some more plugs in the actual room would be nice. and a little bit more space for the luggage (it was ok though, because we were just three people in the 8-bed-dorm)

The Owner was a really nice genuine guy, who really wanted you to enjoy your stay. The value was excellent, and if you come with an open mind there was everything you needed for the price. The showers were washed every day, and the kitchen was kept clean. As I said for the money this was exactly what I was looking for. Basic accommodation, hot showers, a clean kitchen, and a friendly owner. Great value for money!

Nothing, my expectations were met and exceeded. For the price I was not expecting 5 star accomadation. It hit the mark on all levels.

Amazing place, authentic new zealand, all about the people and very social. Clean & warm rooms in winter, loved to stay there. Ian was my favourite hostel-host in all New Zealand! Cozy TV room, a lot of space in community areas, fully equipped kitchen. Lovely cat Jerry & dachshund Candy who are always keen for a cuddle. Ask Ian for some colours if you are into painting. There is still space on the walls for some more paintings. 😉

Bunkbeds without curtains and a little shaky - typical hostelroom (I was in a 4 bed dorm). Was still comfy and I had a great sleep. The big bathroom floods while showering. Not a big deal, but clothes etc. should be put on the hangers to keep them from getting wet.

Two months later and I still remember this retreat as my favorite place I stayed in NZ. The owner, Ian, is exceptionally kind and friendly. He really tries to facilitate friendships between the guests, and gives great advice for the Tongariro crossing as well as other activities in the area. Overall the place has a genuine, easygoing, and social atmosphere that (imo) is not commonly found. I extended my stay here and could have stayed longer!

No the facilities might not be as nice as what you might find in other hostels in NZ, but the place is spacious, relatively clean, and well-maintained. For the price I don’t think you could complain, and the friendly and relaxed vibe is the real draw of this retreat anyway.

As many other reviews mentioned, amazing hospitality by the owner. He stays awake to greet everyone, so you can see that this is not just a business for him. While it doesn't have the most modern facilities, you can feel that there's so much love he put into this place, and he keeps it very clean. Excellent location when you're travelling through the North Island (or if you're hiking Tongariro), I'll most likely use it again. Excellent value for money!

The bed was a little bit uncomfortable, I'd have preferred some harder mattresses. Nevertheless, once I was asleep, I had a good night :)

Our host drove us to the Alpine Crossing extra early so we could still do it before having to catch a bus. It's also very close to the Intercity bus stop. Lots of useful stuff in the kitchen, like an airfryer and rice cooker.

The shower in our room was perfectly fine, but the shared shower is in less good state. May need an upgrade or at least a deep clean/touch up. Generally the building is a bit rough on the edges, although it also adds to the vibe.

I really enjoyed the stay at the retreat and the atmosphere there. From arrival til departure Ian made it an unforgetable experience for all of us. I traveled on my own but it felt like a family for short-term. My personal highlight was the old dachshound.It was a pleasure to end up in the retreat and I recommended the retreat already to my friends and people traveling north. Even if u don’t Travel by car Ian would provide u a lift and suggest u adventures and trails around.

It's an amazing no-stress kind of place. It has everything you need and in the middle is a nice garden with hammocks where you can relax. The staff is very friendly and Ian is an amazing guy who really cares about the visitors and wants to help you in every way possible. Planned going there for only 1 night but it became 3 nights because it's hard to leave that place (in a positive way 😉)