Raetihi
Snowy Waters Lodge
Snowy Waters is a unique accommodation venue centrally located halfway between Auckland & Wellington. Built in 1941 to accommodate staff of the Waimarino Hospital, the Old Nurses Home & Doctors Residence is set within 5 acres of parklike grounds with outstanding views of Mt Ruapehu.
This character filled, self-contained, self-catering holiday home is big enough to accommodate family reunions, social club retreats or birthday celebrations.
14 guest rooms in the main building provides rustic accommodation for up to 38 guests while 6 garden cabins offer budget accommodation for a further 22 people (60 guests total).
Snowy Waters is situated on a hill 1km from shops, café’s, a museum and NZ’s oldest Theatre, just 10 minutes from the mountain town of Ohakune.
There are loads of activities to fill your time here, including a bike or hike on the Old Coach Road (15km walk and cycle trail), you can take the Sky Waka gondola to NZ's highest restaurant on Mt Ruapehu, there are jet boat and canoe journeys on the Whanganui River to the Bridge to Nowhere, plus there are loads of local bush walks.
We are 30 minutes from Turoa ski area and 50 minutes to Whakapapa.
Facilities in The Old Nurses Home include a rustic themed open plan kitchen/lounge/bar with three sets of bifold doors which open onto a covered outdoor entertainment area. This is a wonderful space with a tranquil garden outlook, plenty of seating for alfresco dining, along with magnificent views of Mt Ruapehu.
The bar is unlicensed so you are welcome to bring your own drinks. The lounge has a fireplace and a 55” flatscreen TV with Google Chromecast so you can watch your favourite movie or series directly from your device.
Outside there is a BBQ, wood-fired pizza oven and a brazier for toasting marshmallows. There are two bathrooms each with three toilets and three showers, plus there’s a laundry and a drying room for ski gear.
The Doctors Residence adjoins The Old Nurses Home via an interconnecting door in the hallway and has four guest rooms. The Doctors Residence has its own open-plan kitchen/lounge with a fireplace, a 55” Smart TV, and a bathroom.
For large groups it is a great option to have this second lounge for kid’s entertainment while the adults have the main lounge.
14 guest rooms can accommodate up to 38 people. Bed configurations are as follows:
room 1 - double (1 x queen bed, sleeps 2)
room 2 - quad (2 x sets of bunks, sleeps 4)
room 3 - double (1 x queen bed, sleeps 2)
room 4 - double
room 5 - twin (2 x single beds)
room 6 - quad
room 7 - double
room 8 - quad
room 9 - double
room 10 - family (1 x double plus 1 set of bunks, sleeps 4)
Sandford & Brown - double ensuite room (1 x queen bed with private bathroom)
James K Baxter - double ensuite room (1 x queen bed with private bathroom)
John Punch - quad (2 x sets of bunks)
Alexander Hattrick - double (1 x queen bed)
Additionally, we have six outdoor Garden Cabins and an outside toilet/shower block with two toilets and a shower in the ladies, and two toilets plus a shower in the mens.
The Garden Cabins surround a circular covered outside entertainment area. Our Garden Cabins will accommodate a further 22 guests in the following configurations:
Mt Ruapehu - family (1 x double plus a set of bunks, sleeps 4)
Whanganui River - double (1 x queen bed, sleeps 2)
Tongariro Crossing - family
Raurimu Spiral - quad (2 x sets of bunks, sleeps 4)
Bridge to Nowhere - quad (2 x sets of bunks, sleeps 4) Old Coach Road - quad (2 x sets of bunks, sleeps 4)
All linen including white fluffy towels are provided so all you have to bring is food and drink. Our building is centrally heated with safe, water filled, European-style radiators and each lounge has a fireplace.
There is plenty of off-street CCTV monitored car parking and free Wifi throughout the property. Outside we have two heated spa pools with mountain views, a trampoline, a bouncy castle (weather permitting) and plenty of room for the kids to run around.
A minimum two-night stay applies to all reservations, three nights apply to public holiday (long) weekends.