Karaka Tree Motel, Taupo | ConcertHotels.com

Passable

Not quite what I expected

Liked: Nice views of the lake
Disliked: Very dated and needs renovating

Rooms were hot and sticky...

Liked: Only good thing was the bed was comfortable
Disliked: It was dirty…. Shower was mouldy… spa jets didn’t work… black dirt came out from them…. Dirty knifes in the kitchen draw… had to wait at office at 3pm as was locked and no staff on site..

No tv no fridge no...

Liked: None

Check out is 9am.

Liked: Spa was huge. It filled quickly. Looked just like photo that advertised it.
Disliked: Outside was messy and needed a clean. Old and run down. The room smelt like cooking or food??People outside drinking until early hours.Check out is 9am. No facecloths, told to use towel. 2 flat pillows, needed to put together to make 1. No smoke alarms. No air con. There was a fan covered in dust to use. Which we did as the room was hot and stuffy. This is not within walking distance to town. Fridge hummed loudly. Soup dispensers empty. But looks like they now use singles instead. The cleaning was the bare minimum. This was a last minute booking and chosen for the cost as it was the cheapest. So I get what I pay for. Regardless, I still expect things to be cleaned atleast.

Pleasant

We would not stay there...

Liked: Location
Disliked: Not cleanNot enough towels/cushions , no soap in dispenser NoisyNo milk

Friendly...NO!

Liked: Not very much at all.
Disliked: Very inhospitable host.If we had time, we would have found somewhere else.Was dirty, and the things that have been repaired or or replaced are rough and ready.The host was rude and not helpful at all.There was loud guest party noise in the carpark and rooms at 12.30 to 1.00 am.. shouting, loud talking and laughter.Nothing was done to stop it.The place and management are ......

Good location, comfortable bed, but...

Liked: The bed was comfortable
Disliked: Not that clean - bit run down.TV didn’t work at all.Leg on couch was broken and fell down when we moved the couch to one side.No cupboard doors on kitchenette.Bench top fan very dirty and smelled when we ran it - also very noisy.Nice big mirror in main room.Bathroom not bad - new floor, new toilet, new basin, new shower, but room not finished.Couldn’t use hairdryer, which was attached to the wall but fell off, and there was no adjacent power point to plug it into. Its cord didn’t reach to a nearby power point.

The Worst Hotel/Motel Experience I’ve...

Liked: Location
Disliked: I have traveled extensively and stayed in many accommodations, including budget-friendly 3-star hotels—but this was by far the most neglected and uncomfortable stay.Upon entering the room, it was immediately clear that cleanliness was not a priority. The bathroom had not been properly cleaned—there was hair all over the floor. The kitchen area’s lino was stained with food, a clear sign that the floors hadn’t been mopped or disinfected. The entire room was old and worn, with visible stains on the walls, holes in the doors, and a ripped bed base. To make matters worse, the room reeked of old cigarette smoke, despite being advertised as non-smoking.When I raised my concerns with the staff at the front desk, they sent someone with nothing more than a spray bottle and a hand towel to "clean" the bathroom floor. After a quick wipe-down, he asked if it was "clean enough"—and it absolutely was not. The lack of proper sanitation was shocking.The neglect extended beyond the room itself. The exterior of the hotel was just as rundown—cracked pavements, unkempt gardens, and an overall feeling of disregard. It was clear that no effort was being made to maintain even basic standards.This was hands down the most uncomfortable and unpleasant hotel experience I have ever had. It wasn’t just outdated—it was dirty, poorly maintained, and completely lacking in care for guests. I would never stay here again and strongly advise others to look elsewhere.