Oreti Apartments

One of the main attractions of this accommodation to us was the in- house restaurant and bar so with that in mind the higher expense of booking an oversize apartment with great views for just the two of us was justifiable. On check-in we spotted a sign saying that the restaurant and bar would be closed during our stay. We were shocked and disappointed about this, especially as we were not informed about this in advance and we had hoped to enjoy a meal there after completing the Tangariro crossing the following day. We understand the restaurant is closed anyway Mondays and Tuesdays but the unscheduled closure should have been communicated to us as it meant two 30 km round trip drives to go out for dinner or resorting to self catering. The unapologetic tone did not help. (speaking to other people who have stayed here , it is not the first time this has happened , so it may be a tip to check restaurant status in advance)

We were looking for a place to stay near to the Tongariro Alpine crossing hike and the Oreti Collection looked the best choice. It's also a good option for cycling the Timber Trail too. We booked a two- bedroom apartment which was on the top floor with amazing views of the lake. The unit was spacious with a full kitchen and own laundry facilities (washer and dryer on the deck area outside the rear of the apartment). Free laundry detergent was provided. There was parking directly outside the apartment. We didn’t use the pool or any of the other facilities so couldn’t comment on those. We really enjoyed our meal at the restaurant which was homemade food and well executed. Our experience was very positive compared to some earlier negative reviews so perhaps the kitchen staff have changed. Staff in both the restaurant and at reception were very nice and friendly. The decor in the unit was as a bit dated and some of the furniture in a very tired state. The shower was very small as was the bed. However, the facilities, staff and view made up for these minor points.

I cannot rate this place high enough. We arrived on the 31st December 2025 for a 2 night stay only to discover I had actually booked for New Year 2026! The staff could not have been more helpful and went above and beyond to accommodate us. We had the most gorgeous cabins which were well equipped and spotless. The views!!! We also had a delicious meal in the restaurant. I wish we were going back next year! Thank you so much for a memorable stay. Definitely the highlight of our trip.