Forest and Bird's Ruapehu Lodge is ideally situated only 600m above the Department
of Conservation’s Whakapapa Village. It overlooks the Whakapapanui River
and is surrounded by native beech forest with a wonderful view of the top of
Mt Ruapehu.
The lodge is an ideal base for summer activities like walking, botanising, trekking,
golfing or riding the chairlifts. Hot Pools, glow worms, horseriding, canoeing
and indoor climbing are all within ½ hour’s drive.
General Information
Generally the lodge is for use by Forest and Bird members and guests of members;
however, group bookings may be made by special arrangement, particularly in
the low season. All school and non-member groups will be levied $120 bond, $100
of which will be refunded following a satisfactory inspection after the visit.
Facilities
The building accommodates a maximum of 32 people in four bunkrooms of eight
beds. Mattresses are supplied. Kitchen, living areas and drying room are located
downstairs and bunkrooms, bathrooms and drying room upstairs. The kitchen has
an electric stove, three fridge-freezers, and a microwave. Cooking utensils,
cutlery and crockery are supplied.
The building is electrically heated and has a large woodburner in the living
area. It is equipped with drying rooms, hot water, showers and toilets. All
cleaning supplies and toilet paper are provided.
There is a telephone for local calls only (toll bar in place). Phone (07) 892-3883.
Fees (including GST)
Members
Guests of Members
LOW SEASON October - June
Adults $18 Students $12
Adults $22 Students $16
HIGH SEASON July - September
Adults $22 Students $16
Adults $26 Students $20
Notes
Students are defined as all persons enrolled in full-time educational institutions.
Children under 5 will not be accommodated during the high season. At other
times preschool children are at the discretion of the General Manager depending
on how many other people are booked. Fee = 50% of adult rate.
Guests of members may stay at the lodge as long as they are accompanied
by a member.
A deposit of 20% is required to confirm bookings.
Full payment is required two weeks prior to occupation (otherwise bookings
may be forfeited).
Refunds for cancellations are at the discretion of the General Manager.
There is no key at the lodge. A key will be posted one week before occupancy.
Please advise Central Office if you have not received the key 4 days prior
to your booking date.
The lodge has no full-time custodian but is looked after by Society members
acting as wardens. If no warden is present, please report any urgent repairs
or cleaning materials that may be required to the Central Office when returning
the key.
Guests are requested to ensure that the lodge is locked at all times when
not occupied.
So the lodge remains happy and healthy, you are required to leave the lodge
in a clean and tidy condition at all times.
On departure you are required to clean the bunkroom you have used and contribute
to cleaning of the communal living, cooking and bathroom areas. If you are
the last one out then you must ensure that all fridges and freezers are emptied
and cleaned, bathrooms and bedrooms are left clean and firewood stacked next
to the fireplace.
What you need to take
Suitable equipment and clothing for mountain and snow conditions, matches, newspaper
(for fire lighting), tea towels, blankets/sleeping bags, pillows, light shoes
for inside the lodge and adequate food. A limited range of food supplies can
be purchased at the Whakapapa Motor Camp Store but they are generally expensive.
The nearest supermarkets are Turangi and Taumarunui.
Location
Ruapehu Lodge is situated at 1260m above sea level at Whakapapa Village, Tongariro
National Park. It is 0.8km above the Chateau in Rehua Place. A road closure
barrier and guard house are situated on the Bruce Road immediately before the
road turns sharply right and up the hill. Rehua Place is immediately before
the closure barrier, on the left-hand side. Two groups of lodges are situated
on Rehua Place about 500m past the turnoff. Ignore the first set of lodges and
continue on to the last lodge on the left, standing slightly back from the road.
A Forest and Bird sign is outside.
For your own safety: Please check out all walks and weather conditions
with the Department of Conservation Whakapapa Visitor Centre located just above
the Grand Chateau.
Make a booking
To make a booking either email
us or phone 04 385 7374 during office hours.
Location 
