Chateau Tongariro to close

[pritch]

On central North Island rides I'd often seen the Chateau in the distance, it's some way back from the main road. I'd never stayed there though, until the advent of the Chateau to Plateau rides from the Chateau car park to the car park on Mt Taranaki. On the first visit I was expecting things to be formal. It was somewhat olde worlde, you had to dress formally to use the dining room. There was a casual venue round the back for us peasants. I asked the nattily dressed guy at reception if there was somewhere I could park the bike out of the weather, he pointed to the front door and told me I could park it right there. Excellent.

There is somewhat of a village behind ithe main building that was used by staff and people working on the ski fields. The Chateau itself was used by ski bunnies and international tourists as well as random motorcyclists. It will be missed.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/483389/grand-chateau-tongariro-to-close-permanently-on-5-february?fbclid=IwAR3W7el4QegMHOLl7_u9M1qUGbbRGNLo B0EBxj7TEe7YTOxlaJiXudRrZ7g

[caseye]

Passed by it many times, a few years back we booked an outside room, so we could park up the bikes close by.
Got to snowing that week so we took the car.
The staff had tried to ring us unsuccessfully and so when we got there we'd been upgraded to the Tongariro floor, upstairs (fourth floor) facing the mountain, ensuite, Huge bed, bloody awesome night.
Dined in the Ruapehu room that night, fantastic meal, waitresses and waiters were all bloody brilliant, some of the best food I've had anywhere, breakfast in the Ruapehu room in the morning, complete menu, capped off with it snowing as we had our meal and us sitting smack in the middle of one of the only picture windows in the whole restaurant.
Was absolutely fricking amazing, every staff member was there to help you and took your welfare 100% seriously.
Yes the walls needed painting, ceilings too, carpets were good and strong (Axminster NZ Made I believe) but the whole experience was magnificent.
Well worth the money we'd been asked for, what a Damn Shame!
Going to miss not being able to go back there, as we had planned.
RIP The Chateau Tongariro.:oi-grr:

[BMWST?]

been thinking of a welly/chateau rail trip over a long weekend but recent upheavals of the rail services means we didnt get around to it...regret not making the efffort now. What a waste. Cant help thinking its all a bit PC really

[jellywrestler]

I worked there for 3 1/2 years around the turn of the century, there's quite a few houses attached to the complex, and a pub as well as number of staff accom options single room flats, no cooking, single bed rooms wit combined bathroom etc. We had a full time painter sparky and builder doing the maintenance which was day to day stuff as well as freshening the place up. They added a wing early 2000's trying to attract bigger conferences, reality it is big conferences in the middle of nowhere waste a lot of time for people travelling to or from, the nearest airport was taupo a full hour away and very limited flights available. Recently the staffing and service have dropped from a luxury hotel to just pretty much digs for the night. The current ownership have had it for three or more decades, have they just had enough? I think if it was nz owned it would have closed a lot sooner than now.
Had a great time working their and left a good amount of population paste in some staff members along the way.

[husaberg]

I worked there for 3 1/2 years around the turn of the century, there's quite a few houses attached to the complex, and a pub as well as number of staff accom options single room flats, no cooking, single bed rooms wit combined bathroom etc. We had a full time painter sparky and builder doing the maintenance which was day to day stuff as well as freshening the place up. They added a wing early 2000's trying to attract bigger conferences, reality it is big conferences in the middle of nowhere waste a lot of time for people travelling to or from, the nearest airport was taupo a full hour away and very limited flights available. Recently the staffing and service have dropped from a luxury hotel to just pretty much digs for the night. The current ownership have had it for three or more decades, have they just had enough? I think if it was nz owned it would have closed a lot sooner than now.
Had a great time working their and left a good amount of population paste in some staff members along the way.

News said today it was not meeting the earthquake standards and the owner not willing (or able to realistically afford, who really knows) to meet them.

[neels]

Have been past a few times and seen from afar, never been into the place though as always passing through.

I vaguely remember there was a bit of a stalemate regarding renewal of the DOC lease, hence it ticking along month to month after it expired in 2020, with the owners not willing to front up the dollars DOC wanted and various other parties wanting to clip their ticket.

Not hugely surprising that after a couple of years of covid and the last ski season it wouldn't be looking like a great place to tip money into, particularly with the skifield company also in liquidation.

Much more sensible to park it, stop losing money, and wait for the heritage building people to come along with a bag of cash to fix the place up.

[jellywrestler]

News said today it was not meeting the earthquake standards and the owner not willing (or able to realistically afford, who really knows) to meet them.

yeah, they not gonna tell you about the court cases coming up from staff members...... why wasn't the lease signed 2 years ago? trouble has been brewing for a while it seems

[MD]

Had a couple of 'work ' team reviewing/building/planning/drinking long weekends there in the 90s. Fun times. Sitting in plush leather loungers sipping on Cognacs out of those large tumblers, smoking cigars :drinkup::drinknsin. Oh yeah work was tough in those days. Tell young ones today and they won't believe you.

A grand looking building in a perfect setting. Postcard material but I guess age gets us all.