Chateau Tongariro

Iconic Ruapehu hotel the Chateau Tongariro has confirmed it will be closing for good in a move Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton​ said has left him “reeling”.

“Bayview International Hotels and Resorts has destinations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and without a doubt Chateau Tongariro Hotel is a flagship hotel and has been an iconic destination for international and local visitors.” He said the hotel has a proud history and “people from not only New Zealand but around the world visited”. * “To ensure the safety of everyone at the hotel the decision was made to close the property,” a statement issued by a PR company for the hotel said. He said they were aware of the fact the hotel had earlier announced it would not take new bookings for this or next year, but news of a permanent closure left him feeling “gutted”. Iconic Ruapehu hotel the Chateau Tongariro has confirmed it will be closing for good in a move Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton said has left him “reeling”.

It iswith regret that the Chateau Tongariro Hotel management announces the property's permanent closure effective Sunday, 5 February 2023.

“Surrounded by the Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, and its history in Aotearoa New Zealand,it isdisappointing for our hotel communitythat the Chateau Tongariro Hotel chapter will come to an end in February, despite initial plans to invest in its long-term future. The hotel has been in consultation with the Department of Conservation (DoC) regarding the renewal of its 30-yearlease, which expired in April 2020. Chateau Tongariro Hotel To Close

The hotel was preparing the renewal of its 30-year lease but after a seismic assessment, the place was found to be unsafe for people to stay in. "Unfortunately, ...

A seismic survey was the final nail in the coffin say the historic hotel owners.

Despite brief stints as a hospital and even an asylum, it remained New Zealand’s publicly run hotel and boomed with the uptake of ski holidays on the Whakapapa snowfields. There are 36 staff employed by the hotel in the National Park. The Chateau will be handed over to the Department of Conservation, with which the historic hotel operates as a concessionary.

The 93-year-old mountainside accommodation had to close as necessary seismic upgrades were deemed too expensive. Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton says it was an ...