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  5. Reviews of Karaka Tree Motel

Reviews of Karaka Tree Motel 4 stars

216 Lake Terrace, 1219 Taupo, New Zealand

#59 of 61 hotels in Taupo

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 2307 hotel reviews

5.2

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    5.8

  • Comfort

    6.0

  • Location

    7.8

  • Facilities

    5.4

  • Staff

    6.7

  • Value for money

    6.1

  • Free WiFi

    6.7

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 31 August 2025

    5.0
    Needs a clean-up.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There is rubbish everywhere - all in the unkempt gardens and lawns. The spouting leaks, and pours out over the steps where you have to walk. The dishes weren't clean, like coffee stuck to the inside, and I had to wash everything before we could use it. There was no dishcloth to wipe bench and tables. No face cloths or hand towels either. The fridge was very iced up and needed a full defrost. While it is dated and reflected in the price, the neglect and unkemptness is unnecessary.

    Inclusive of pets, my little dog enjoyed being able to accompany us. The beds were comfortable with clean linen and some towels.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 August 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • People with friends
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No remote TV .TV no signal .wifi not strong signal. Expensive if you have pet stay should show price for pet . Some room can't use full facilities. Because I book for 5 room. Reception should tell me anything not available before check-in.

    I like spa but some function doesn't work

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 August 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • One-Bedroom Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room was very smelly when we entered Only one very small heater which barely warmed up the room Kitchen sink was not clean, dried spots around probably tomato sauce

    Friendly staff and good parking space

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 August 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    How cold it was. The heating didn't work, the TV didn't work either

    The presentation of the layout

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 6 August 2025

    6.0
    Ok for a cheap nights stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • One-Bedroom Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    It’s very dirty, things were broken and we’re unable to use the TV

    We had been there before

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 August 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There where molds in the bathroom. Jacuzzi was not working. Need to ask for everything to room service from clean towel to toilet paper. Rooms where not ready at the time of arrival.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 August 2025

    5.0
    It served the purpose for one night but did not meet our expectations.
    • Business trip
    • Family with young children
    • One-Bedroom Suite
    • Stayed 1 night

    The hot pool wasn't able to be used - had a big hard wooden cover over it and couldn't be removed. This was one of the reasons we went to the Karaka Tree. The tv had no sky and the highest setting on the volume was so low we had to have subtitles on so we could read what was happening as couldn't hear it properly. The room was not warm - there were two little electric heaters to warm the place. In the morning all our food and milk, yoghurt had frozen in the fridge over night. This Motel is classed as a 4 start motel - there is no way it is 4 star. It use to be many years ago when we have stayed there but not now. 3 star at the most.

    The beds were comfortable.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 August 2025

    5.0
    Cheap and cheerful
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room was pretty cold on the first night but it was sub zero temp outside which didnt help! Lukewarm shower on the final morning - not sure what was up there.

    Friendly staff. Cheap and cheeful accomodation. The mineral spa was nice to relax in after the half marathon. The electric blanket was nice on achy muscles

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 31 July 2025

    4.0
    dirty, broken, poorly maintained, broken door locks. Not what it used to be
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night

    dirty, broken, poorly maintained, broken door locks, hole in internal door, random crockery, one chair

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 14 July 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Had no stove or oven to cook, room wasn’t the cleanest but as ok

    The spa

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 July 2025

    4.0
    Was glad to have a bed for the night for the family but will not stay there again.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • One-Bedroom Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    TV not working, carpet in room was soaking wet from condensation, curtains in room were hanging off and half the window was exposed and the list goes on. It just looks like they don’t care or can’t be bothered. The noise from other patrons was another level😒

    The big bed and the exit out on to the road.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 July 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There was no door on the shower and the shower head was pointing up at the wall and could not be moved so essentially was hitting your head while showering. The internet didn’t work and couldn’t watch tv, there was no milk in the fridge and the room didn’t get maintained while staying multiple nights.

    Great location, beds were comfy, in room spa was great

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 July 2025

    4.0
    Location was the only good thing about the place.
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The spa didn’t have jets our room didn’t have cold water for the spa so took ages too cool down. It was freezing and the bed didn’t have an electric blanket like other rooms. Our rooms were separated

    The location

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 July 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • With a pet
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • One-Bedroom Suite
    • Stayed 10 nights

    Poor standards of cleanliness - dead bugs, stains, & mould.

    Pet friendly - very difficult to find a pet-friendly hotel

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 2 July 2025

    4.0
    Average & dated but clean .. I wouldn’t class this as 4 star accommodation
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Two-Bedroom Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    1 roll of toilet paper for 5 guests & no milk with the complimentary coffee & sugar, heater didn’t work & wi-fi was terrible

    I hadn’t been in a proper bed for over a week before my stay, the bed was clean & very comfortable

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 29 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Needs Maintenance Was bit run down

    Location was nice

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 28 June 2025

    5.0
    Good value for money, a little run down and older, but reasonable considering the price.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 9 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No couch as shown in all the photos, tv did not get free to air, nor wifi to the tv. Wifi was weak at times. Stayed a week and was not offered milk or extra tea and coffee. Heater did not appear to work well.

    Spa was good, very hot and spacious, bed was comfortable. Friendly staff

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 June 2025

    4.0
    Probably our last stay here 😕
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Was given a room with not enough beds. Quickly changed rooms. Room was not very clean, main heater didn't work, small electric fan heater was barely enough, no sugar but 20 packets of salt & pepper!

    Great location. Nice to have in room mineral spa.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 June 2025

    4.0
    Bloody cold
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Inadequate bedding. I had to use spare towels on bed to keep warm. Wall heater did not function easily - no instructions on how to use it. It was too noisy to leave on. When I pulled the table away from the wall to operate the heater the leg fell off. I used the fan heater provided to heat the room but had to keep getting up in the night to turn it off as the room got too hot. Damaged door to bathroom area. Dirty shelves in kitchen. No dishwash liquid or tea towels to do dishes. No instructions on how to operate google tv. On arrival there was no one in the office - I rang the phone number on the door to get service. I waited for 10 mins for someone to come and let me in - no one came. After a while I looked in the window and the receptionist was sitting at the desk - I knocked and they let me in. The spa bath was great - filled quicky and suited my needs. It would have been great to know that you could drive around the back of the complex to exit. Manoeuvring out was tricky otherwise.

    NA breakfast. Location suited my needs.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 17 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Mineral Spa Twin Studio Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights

    need improve the wifi, offline frequently, also update oven in the room. could not cook noodles

    Spa

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 June 2025

    5.0
    Getting worn but great spa pool
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Unfortunately the general condition continues to deteriorate, but it was also let down by a bunch of poor servicing such as no hand towel, no tea towel for the dishes, knives and spoons but no forks, chairs and portable heater with broken legs.

    The main reason we stayed here was the private thermal spa pool, which was great. It's also a convenient location, and in a lower price bracket.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 June 2025

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Being able to hear neighboring occupants in the rooms around ours. Seemed as though the walls were thin. The safety chain on the door needs to be turned around so the safety chain can do it's job, this was placed on backwards that if anyone had a spare key, then they could enter even with the safety lock on

    The fresh water mineral pool

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 15 June 2025

    5.0
    Great location, not clean
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room not very clean, someone's wet underwear and t-shirt in draws, microwave goes but doesn't heat food, people's hair all over bathroom, was cheaper in price to other places, but should still be clean...

    Great location, quite place, hot tub is great

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 13 June 2025

    5.0
    served us for a night only
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mineral Spa Studio Suite (2 People only)
    • Stayed 1 night

    no light in spa room shower too small and shower nozzle to low no milk for a cup of coffee

    the bed was comfy

    Stayed in June 2025

Showing 1 – 25

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