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Great place to stay for large groups or families

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David Fisken Lodge
View from driveway
Kitchen view 1
Kitchen view 2
All top bunks have been fitted with safety bars

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 20

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub on site
  • Kitchenette
  • Barbecue grill
  • Refrigerator
  • Onsite parking available
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Horopito, Central Plateau
  • Place, Old Coach Road Bike Trail
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Place, Tongariro National Park
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Whakapapa Ski Area
    ‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

Bedroom 1

+5
9 Single Beds

Bedroom 2

+3
1 Single Bed and 6 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Kitchenette
Outdoor play area

About this property

Great place to stay for large groups or families

This property is perfect for large groups or multiple families.

The David Fisken Lodge is situated between, but slightly closer, to Ohakune (10 mins) and National Park (20 mins).

It is also close to the Horopito end of the Old Coach Road cycle route.

Set on a large property so there's plenty of space for the kids to run around outside; set on roughly 1.5 acres.

Drying room - which could be used for bike storage during summer.

Beautiful views of Mt Ruapehu from driveway (see the photo).

Perfect place to use as a base to explore the area.

* Mobile coverage is variable inside, fairly consistent outside!

Keywords:
Lodge Skiing Ruapehu Turoa Group Tramping Cycling Spacious
Special conditions:
This Lodge does not have a housekeeper to clean up after you, please do
a thorough job and leave it in a clean and tidy state. The money
generated goes back into the upkeep and management of the Lodge and
surrounding property by volunteers and any surplus goes towards a youth
group. Your help and support is appreciated.

NOTE: Under Kiwi bach tradition you are expected to: Clean the house and do the dishes before you leave; Bring your own linen (towels/sheets/tea towels);

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 20026937
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Horopito

Located in Horopito, this cottage is in a rural area and in the mountains. Old Coach Road Bike Trail and Ohakune Disc Golf are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Tongariro National Park and Raetihi Show Ground. Explore all the area has to offer with hiking/biking trails, mountain biking and horse riding.
View more Cottages in HoropitoOpens in a new window
Map
Horopito, Central Plateau

What's nearby

  • Old Coach Road Bike Trail - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Big Carrot - 13 min drive - 19.6 km
  • Tongariro National Park - 14 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Turoa Ski Area - 28 min drive - 42.5 km
  • Whakapapa Ski Area - 32 min drive - 49.0 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Utopia Cafe - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Kings Bar - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Mountain Kebabs - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Powderkeg - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Tiger Palace - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Great place to stay for large groups or families pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Great place to stay for large groups or families?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Great place to stay for large groups or families?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Great place to stay for large groups or families?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Great place to stay for large groups or families located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from Old Coach Road Bike Trail and 1.9 mi (3 km) from Tongariro National Park. The Dinosaur House and Ratana Church are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 33 out of 95 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 34 out of 95 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 19 out of 95 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 6 out of 95 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 95 reviews

7.0/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

8.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lucas H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice place to stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Janine W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Easy to find as it was our 4th time visiting.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

sidharth p.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good for friend groups
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mohamed M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Good place

Nice place for group of families. Needs to be clean befor stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Janine W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Third year in a row returning

Fit for purpose for us as per usual. Relaxing stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janine W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Repeat visit

Second year in a row that we've stayed here for Labour Weekend. Was peaceful and quiet, ideally located for a range of activities nearby. Kids enjoyed gathering dead wood for the outdoor firepit, played boardgames into the evening, enjoyed the view of Ruapehu while sitting outside. Gorgeous location.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Wynand B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
The fireplace was great to keep the house warm. The water pump in the back room was a little noisy at night. The previous renters did not leave the property particularly clean but nothing that we could not clean. We will defenitely stay again next year. The kids enjoyed the outdoors even with the low temperatures over the weekend
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

J C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Whaanau time

Second time staying here. A really great lodge for large groups and to get back to basics. Was nice and clean when we arrived. plenty of wood. Some new couches since last time we stayed.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Angela Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Big property for everyone

Great for big groups, convenient location, property can fit all cars which is a bonus. Property manager gives a very clear instruction so no issue encountered.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice

We will comeback again
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Stephen R.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Old school scout lodge.

The previous guests hadn’t least the place in the tidiest condition which didn’t give the best initial impression. After a vacuum and air-out we had an enjoyable stay. The fire kept the place very warm.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Tracey K.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyed our stay! The fireplace kept the house nice and warm. Plenty of space outside for the kids and adults to play. The house could do with a deep clean and the previous guests didn’t leave it very clean but that’s the risk for a self clean service. Overall we found it comfortable once we settled in. Worth noting there’s no tv or wifi, limited cell reception depending on your network. I’ve added photos of the bedrooms as it was a little hard to tell from the listing what the bedroom set ups were like.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Arama H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great Whanau getaway

Great Communication There were 18 of us so well worth it for the price of just a little over $20 a night each. Fireplace is awesome but down it the bathroom was very cold! If you like the basics then you will be fine. Be prepared to give it a little bit of a clean wipe down when you arrive as there was evidence of rodents. Other then that great place.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

4/10 Poor

Thomas H.

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in

Lack of power and unfortunately given the wrong address

Power consistently cut out for multiple hours each day. We were given an address 5 km from the actual accomodation. Other then that beautiful little spot.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janine W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for a varied group

A group of 7 people wanted to do the Crossing, so we decided to make a long weekend of it. Partners, kids, the kitchen sinks, all packed away. As a Scouting family we were prepared for basic but functional, and it didn't disappoint in any way. We put the kids in one bunk room, and then adults bunked everywhere else. Those not doing the crossing prepared food, played games and popped in to Ohakune. Others went for shorter walks nearby. Was great and everyone wants to make it an annual thing.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Petrina D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Awesome stay

We loved our time here, we loved the property and the space. Fun places to explore nearby. We would love to go back, next time we go prepared to give a bit of a vacuum and scrub down before we start our holiday.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Nathan S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

It was good

Was quite expensive but would of been ok if we were able to fill up the lodge
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jay D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

Value, location and utilities. excellent stay
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Sophie C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Warm and cozy

Warm and cozy. The fire is excellent. Plenty of room!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Fahimi A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Above expectation

We stayed for just one night but the experience made us wanted to come back. The good firewood supply made us warm the whole night. The house is very clean. Late checkout is very convenient. Overall our experience is above expectation.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Matt V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Whanau time

Easy comms, easy to find. Great base to go explore central Mtns. We took an extra stove top to ease the pressure of cooking, worked well. Heaps of fridge space and oodles of fire wood!! Enjoyable time away.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Caleb H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great value for large groups

A characterful old lodge in a large grassy meadow surrounded by native bush. The lodge is rustic but comfortable enough, and unbeatable value at this price. Close to the mountains, Ohakune and National Park townships for supermarket, playgrounds, bushwalks etc. Fire pit was great and log burner works well, lots of good firewood supplied. Kitchen well equipped, lounge is basic but comfy, bathrooms and bunk rooms adequate. Worked well for our extended family’s Christmas gathering. Thank you.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rhema T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful

We enjoy staying at The David Frisken Lodge, we have stayed before. And both times it was comfortable and easy because notices were placed on walls to help us enjoy the facilities. Well equipped in the kitchen. Remote and restful.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Chris M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

It is what It Is

Good bunk house, needs some TLC, but for the price it is good.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2021
Verified

6/10 Okay

David M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Be prepared

The place was really good value for a big group, with all the necessary amenities. Only issue was that our group found the house to be quite cold. The fire heats the lounge area somewhat, but not the bedrooms. It’s a great place but if going in winter, I’d suggest bringing your own heaters and extra blankets.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

About the host

Hosted by PhillipDi3

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Boys andamp; girls separate toilet andamp; shower areas
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