Desert Road Travel Guide
Tourist Guide
Visit Desert Road
Skotel Alpine Resort
Whakapapa Village, SH 48 Tongariro National Park
The price is NZ$88 per night from 8 Apr to 9 Apr
NZ$88
8 Apr - 9 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this family-friendly hotel in Whakapapa. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (829 reviews)
Was there in March, so no snow but a good deal of rain. Rooms are wood framed with an OK bed; but the lights are dim, parking is bad (old asphalt, huge amount of craps in the back where you park: old washer, wood scraps, work shop stuffs, and the whole exterior needs repairs and painting. Nice view ...
Reviewed on 18 Mar 2026
Mountain Heights Lodge
4576 SH 4 National Park Village Manawatu-Wanganui
The price is NZ$153 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
NZ$153
24 Mar - 25 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in National Park Village. Enjoy free parking, on-site spa services and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (206 reviews)
Very clean and quiet on the lake shoreline.
Reviewed on 11 Mar 2026
The Park Hotel Ruapehu
6 Millar Street National Park Village
The price is NZ$160 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
NZ$160
24 Mar - 25 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in National Park Village. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 hot tubs. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
The room was clean, bathroom tiny, couldn't fill the jug in the bathroom basin. My room was downstairs and the guests in the room above, you could hear walking around and ceiling creaked every time they moved around.
Reviewed on 13 Mar 2026
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Motuoapa Bay Chalets
16 Tangitu St Motuoapa Waikato
Stay at this cottage in Motuoapa. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attraction River Vineyard is located nearby.
9/10 Wonderful! (91 reviews)
More than comfortable. Will stay again.
Reviewed on 9 Mar 2026
Rocky Mountain Chalets
20 Rangataua Road (State Highway 49) Ohakune NZ3
Stay at this golf chalet in Ohakune. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 3 hot tubs. Popular attractions Big Carrot and Ohakune Disc Golf are located nearby.
9.8/10 Exceptional! (99 reviews)
Clean and cosy rooms. Central to the mountain and town. Very nice room layout! Washer/ dryer available in the villa. Check in process could be improved. We arrived earlier in the day and no one around to help us check in. We left and returned hours later and still no one to check us in. Another person ...
Reviewed on 15 Mar 2026
Pukawa Villas (Formerly Oreti Village Resort)
88 Pukawa Road Pukawa
Stay at this aparthotel in Pukawa. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Tokaanu Thermal Pools and River Vineyard are ...
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Popular places to visit
Tree Trunk Gorge
Explore the great outdoors at Tree Trunk Gorge, a lovely green space in Desert Road. Wander the lakeside or discover the area's volcano viewpoints.
- Lake Taupō
- Mount Ruapehu
- Tongariro National Park
- Whakapapa Ski Area
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Mount Tongariro
- Turoa Ski Area
- Tongariro National Park Whakapapa Visitor Centre
- Tokaanu Thermal Pools
- Taranaki Falls
- Ohakune Old Coach Road
- Mangatepopo Trail Head
- Big Carrot
- Te Porere Redoubt
- Mount Ngauruhoe
- Turangi i-SITE Visitor Centre
- Lake Rotopounamu
- Kuratau Jetty
- Mountain Bike Station
- Lower Tama Lake
- Waitonga Falls Walk Trailhead
- Waterfall Express Chair
- Tongariro National Trout Centre
- West Ridge Quad
- River Vineyard
- Hut Flat Rope Tow
- Centennial Chair
