I understand the appeal of Skotel - a quaint, Kiwi escape in the middle of Tongariro National Park - and while both the meal at their restaurant and the gym/sauna/spa facilities pleasantly surprised me, the resort does have a couple let downs holding it back. Firstly, and importantly, the hotel is extremely isolated - in the summer months there is NOTHING happening in Whakapapa, and the nearest ‘town’ is at least a 20 minute drive away, even if you just want groceries and the like. Also, the room and en-suite bathroom were definitely smaller than we expected. However, I must admit I did have a comfortable sleep there and the stay is certainly more than suitable for a night after a day of exploring the park.