Whakapapa Holiday Park is right in the heart of Tongariro National Park and close to some of the best walks in the area, including Taranaki Falls, Silica Rapids, and the Tongariro Crossing. It’s also one of the official pick-up points for the Crossing, so you won’t have to roll out of bed any earlier than absolutely necessary.

The facilities here are way (note: way) better than usual DOC sites. There's a communal kitchen, lounge, hot shower, unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi, and powered and unpowered sites and cabins if you're not travelling with a tent/campervan.

Sites start from around $23 per adult. Because it's so cheap, it can get very busy, especially around public holidays or during the summer, so I’d recommend booking as early as possible.