Story: Hotels and motels

The Chateau Hotel in Tongariro National Park was built in 1929 as one of the government’s flagship tourist hotels. It provided luxury accommodation for skiers and trampers, and those who enjoyed relaxing amidst the spectacular mountain scenery. The large plate-glass picture windows in the lounge, seen here framing a snow-clad Mt Ngāuruhoe, were often included in promotional brochures. The hotel closed in 2023 after it was found to need expensive strengthening work because of seismic risk.