Reviews of Manowhenua Lodge
50 Carroll St, 3948 National Park, New Zealand
#4 of 24 hotels in National Park
Guests' ChoiceReview score
Based on 160 hostel reviews
8.4Score breakdown
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Cleanliness
9.0
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Comfort
8.9
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Location
9.0
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Facilities
8.8
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Staff
9.2
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Value for money
8.9
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Free WiFi
6.5
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Reviewed: 24 April 2025
Estelle
France29 reviews9.0“Nice stay”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Very strict rules Just one laundry machine No towel
Clean, confortable beds, well equiped kitchen
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 21 April 2025
Macke
New Zealand2 reviews8.0“Ideal for friends and families with more than 15 pax, even with kids.”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
The lodge is only a few minutes from Taranaki Falls and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 24 February 2025
Felicity
Australia24 reviews2 helpful votes8.0“Typical Backpacker Lodgings”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Standard Double Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Reasonably typical lodge type of accommodation very well located for walks around Ruapehu. It was good to have own room rather than dormitory room and it was fine for those that don't mind the shared bathroom set up. Facilities were clean and comfortable and staff were helpful and friendly.
Stayed in February 2025
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Reviewed: 28 January 2025
Marcus
New Zealand20 reviews9.0“Booked last minute and couldn't have gone better”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
Comfortable lounge with table tennis which was a highlight
Stayed in January 2025
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Reviewed: 26 January 2025
Anna
New Zealand22 reviews1 helpful vote8.0“Good experience, location and facilities are excellent! Value for money!”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
The lounge was available only till 10pm, just chilling on the sofas wouldn't harm anyone.
Great value for money, safe and clean facilities, nice well equipped kitchen area.
Stayed in December 2024
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Reviewed: 24 January 2025
Laura
New Zealand10 reviews9.0Superb- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
The staff were very welcoming and thoughtful. Our kids would have been happy to stay longer!
Stayed in January 2025
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Reviewed: 24 January 2025
Rachel
Denmark6 reviews8.0“Great activities room and lounge.”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Lovely staff. Clean, affordable and family friendly. We had a great stay!
Stayed in January 2025
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Reviewed: 13 January 2025
John
United Kingdom37 reviews7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Standard Double Room
- • Stayed 3 nights
Key entry not clear and no-one there initially. Room too small for two.
Big kitchen. Friendly staff. Parking outside. Nice lounge. 'Schnapps' eatery an easy walk.
Stayed in November 2024
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Reviewed: 10 January 2025
Mccabe
United States4 reviews7.0“Overall, it was a good stay. Clean, safe place near togariro”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Standard Double Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
Location. There are only couple places to eat around that area and not very good food. The owners made sure the place was kept very clean and tidy but sometimes we felt overly supervised
Very clean Great kitchen for cooking
Stayed in January 2025
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Reviewed: 14 April 2024
Giacomo
Italy21 reviews5 helpful votes8.0Very good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The check out is at 10.00 but, at that time, everything is close in the village. Considering how trains and busses leave around 13.00, and how much space there is at the structure, I think they could leave the option to wait there a few hours instead of having the guests leave.
The place is very clean and the staff friendly
Stayed in April 2024
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Reviewed: 31 March 2024
Hee
South Korea18 reviews9.0Superb- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Standard Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The kitchen didn't have scissors
Friendly staff and nice location to the shuttle.
Stayed in March 2024
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Reviewed: 7 March 2024
Gabriele
Brazil20 reviews6 helpful votes9.0“Great experience!”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
The kitchen is a little bit small but we tried to manage to go when it wasn't so crowded.
The owner is really friendly and the structure is really good. They even have shuttles to the crossing. The shower was amazing!
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: 29 February 2024
Damiain
New Zealand1 review8.0“Nice and close to restaurant and close to National park”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
Nothing was bad about the place
Nice showers and bunks
Stayed in February 2024
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Reviewed: 13 February 2024
Jessica
Australia15 reviews2 helpful votes9.0“Perfect night in.”- • Leisure trip
- • People with friends
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Things where a bit dated, but all still functional
It was set out really nicely! The kitchen was excellent. Tracey was very welcoming.
Stayed in February 2024
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Reviewed: 4 February 2024
Michael
Germany8 reviews1 helpful vote9.0Superb- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Very nice and helpfull staff! Good facilities.
Stayed in February 2024
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Reviewed: 8 January 2024
Steffan
New Zealand1 review9.0Superb- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
Friendly, cosy, clean and affordable
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: 8 January 2024
Mblonkers
United States15 reviews1 helpful vote7.0“Friendly staff, reasonably decent facilities and a good price. Decent place to stay.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 3 nights
The wifi was basically non-existent in the rooms at the farther side of the hostel from the lounge. We were warned about this on arrival but it was absolutely the case that if you need wifi in your room, then be advised it is quite likely that you will not get any.
The property was pretty much as described and as the photos showed. The room was a 6-bed dorm and was fairly spacious and well-lit. Each person had a locker and the beds were comfortable, and there was a small shelf which allowed you to leave some valuables fairly close to your person as you are sleeping. The only downside of the room I stayed in was that there were limited charging ports and only located in one part of the room on a shelf. This is not ideal if staying with strangers. The kitchen was well-stocked but I suspect it would be a little bit on the cramped side if the hostel was at full occupancy.
Stayed in October 2023
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Reviewed: 18 December 2023
Katie
Canada83 reviews10 helpful votes8.0“Very clean and comfortable backpackers.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
A lovely backpackers in National Park, they organised a return shuttle to Whakapapa for the northern circuit tramp which was why I visited. Very clean, beautiful big lounge with lots of comfy sofas and Netflix which was perfect after 4 days walking! Great big kitchen too. Dorms were big and beds comfy. National Park is very limited for food/shops so definitely take everything you need with you. Reception do have some soap and shampoo sachets for sale if you forget them. Towels cost $5 to rent so remember that too!
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: 6 December 2023
Thomas
France24 reviews8 helpful votes9.0“Nice place to stay for Tongariro”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
The common living room is awesome, and the room was clean and tidy
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: 3 December 2023
Jay
Germany105 reviews15 helpful votes9.0Superb- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The limitation to 10GB internet is not a deal breaker but could be improved
Great place to prepare for an alpine crossing or to recharge your batteries. The hostess is super friendly and helps me with great tips and information. The beds are comfortable and everything is very clean. Great value for the money
Stayed in November 2023
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Reviewed: 2 November 2023
Tiffany
United Kingdom9 reviews2 helpful votes9.0Superb- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Standard Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Nothing
Staff was nice, room was clean and spacious
Stayed in October 2023
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Reviewed: 10 October 2023
Craig
New Zealand14 reviews9.0“A great place to stay!”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Standard Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Awesome greeting, nice & clean facilities, modern room.
Stayed in October 2023
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Reviewed: 1 October 2023
Chin
Taiwan92 reviews7 helpful votes8.0“Will b back”- • Leisure trip
- • People with friends
- • Standard Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
The smell of kitchen is too strong to fulfill the air of hallway .
The staff is very hospitality and helpful
Stayed in September 2023
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Reviewed: 28 September 2023
Kathryn
New Zealand13 reviews1 helpful vote8.0“Awesome otherwise.”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Standard Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
The next day, the common room was shut till lunch time. Would have loved it if we could have used facilities, especially the grandkids.
Awesome, family enjoyed the shared common room, lounge, facilities very much, especially when weather not so good outside.
Stayed in September 2023
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