Tongariro River Motel

Welcome to Tongariro River Motel

Tongariro River Motel (“TRM”) is an ideal base camp for anglers fishing the Tongariro River and tourists on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

TRM has 11 units – studios to large family units sleeping up to six. All units are completely self contained suitable for longer stay guests. Good discounts are available for longer stays. Go to Tariffs on LINKS for a detailed schedule of room rates. We know you will enjoy staying. Check the Guest Comments…

New Tongariro River map planned

About a year or so ago TRM announced the Tongariro River Pools guide was going to be updated? The existing map naming thirty pools was prepared by DoC over six years ago – after the 2004 flood wiped out many pools like the Breakaway, Fan, etc. But it is now obsolete and needs a complete revision.

As they say… Good things take time… TRM didn’t say it would happen overnight, but it will happen… Here in Turangi the pace of progress is a bit slower.

There are many old names to Pools which have been forgotten about and some of these are about to be revived. Have you heard of the Sly Grog Pool? Gentlemen’s Pool? Racecourse Pool? Fan Pool? Wanakau Pool? Downs Pool? Crescent Pool? Many of these historic pools were wiped out in the big (100 year ?) floods – namely in 1958, 1998, 1999, 2004, etc.

This new Tongariro River pools map is being prepared by the same wonderful local community organisation - the Advocates for the Tongariro River - that are involved in extending the anglers tracks up river and clearing up and replanting the Tongariro River banks and preparing a management plan for the entire river catchment, etc..

On your next visit have a look at the landscaping between Judges & Island Pool.

Now the Advocates are to sponsor a new river pools map for anglers and bikers and hikers. What a generous gesture.

This new Advocates’ map will also include the route for the Tongariro River Trail up above the existing winter limit at the Fence Pool through the Rangipo Prison Farm and through to the Poutu Intake. Very interesting stuff for all anglers, bikers and hikers.

Did you know that most of these pools and runs in the 14 km long upper river gorge already have names as well?

Within the existing usual river pools from end of Graces Road up to the Fence Pool fifty pools have been identified.

You have seen those books called “Fifty Rivers to Fish before you Die”? This map will identify “Fifty Pools to Fish before you Die”.

The famous TRM “Pools Ratings Chart” is also being expanded and revised for all fifty pools as well.

This is being updated by the expert – Tongariro River fishing guide Andrew Christmas. He last updated the individual pools information on TRM’s website – go to LINKS…click on “Trout Fishing”.

The new Advocates’ Tongariro River map will identify some angler access tracks that we bet you didn’t even know about with loads more interesting historic and helpful access information as well.

No angler or hiker can afford to be without one of these – they will become collectors items. Framed copies should be hung in every angler’s office to remind you what you are missing… So if you want one of these maps you will need to join the Advocates now – go to LINKS and click on “Advocates for the Tongariro River”.

The maps will be sent out FOC only with the Advocates’ newsletter…

Trout Fishing Capital of the World…?

This local issue must be more important than RWC or party sheds on wharves or transmission gullies or Taupo bypass roundabouts or even Australian elections…

Next time you drive from Taupo to Turangi you will need to be more aware. Otherwise you could easily over-shoot Turangi. Someone replaced our favourite Trout Fishing Capital of the World sign…

If, like many thousands of motorists and tourists, you used to look forward so much to be warmly welcomed by the wonderful sign confirming your destination really is “The Trout Fishing Capital of the World”, then you are going to be sadly disappointed.

We know some tourists and dedicated fly fishos – i.e. TRM inmates – who will be shattered… so brace yourself.

According to TRM’s feedback from guests and locals, that “Trout Fishing Capital of the World” welcome sign meant so much to so many anglers fishing Taupo and the mighty Tongariro River. It was part of local folk lore. It was us. It really was a valuable iconic brand. It was the best possible welcome that fishos world wide could dream of. It gave fishos a sense of arrival to Paradise.

Now it has been replaced. Instead, Turangi has now become rebranded and reinvented as the “Source of Great Lake Taupo” (?). Oh dear – we can hear the smelly Rotorua anglers laughing and cheering from here…

But do not despair. By good fortune the old sign was abandoned, left leaning up against a fence, from where it was apparently stolen “spirited away”. SWMBO has saved Turangi’s world wide reputation.

This is was what is known as a “mercy theft” to prevent officials from Gore, or Rotorua, or Taumaranui (Salmon Capital of the World?) or Palmerston North, or Hastings, or hundreds of other towns searching for an identity, from stealing it. Such was its special tourist attraction. SWMBO heard they might be on their way. So She saved it from permanent destruction.

How many times have tourists posed next to the old sign to get their “wish you were here” photos taken. I wonder if that will ever happen at all with the replacement sign.

TRM have it on good authority, we believe, we understand, rumour has it that it could even be a positive maybe that a certain anonymous but very fine motel (three and a half stars) has already made an offer they cant refuse for the wonderful traditional dilapidated paint peeling badly corroded “Trout Fishing Capital of the World” crappy old sign.

If there is enough support, it might be worth restoring and resurrecting in a new safe didymo free environment where it would be protected 24/7 by a ferocious guard dog…

If you prefer the Trout Fishing Capital of the World sign then email your support to TRM asap. Watch this space…