Egmont Eco Leisure Park & Backpackers

I have stayed at Egmont Eco Lodge some 5-6 times over the past 8 years and have watched it go steadily downhill. For me, it's always been a convenient place to stay before and after climbing the mountain but my most recent booking will be my last. It is disappointing to see that my feedback is consistent with many others. The lodge appears to be used as emergency accommodation, which is something I am not generally opposed to (the government pays the operators double the market rate) but it should not be also run as tourist and visitor accommodation, or at least, the visitors should be told about this at the time of making their booking. I had a two night reservation and had to leave after the first sleepless night. The few hours spent there I had to put up with people fighting, smoking, drinking and verbally abusing each other right outside my room. The room and facilities overall were dirty and the room was filled with cigarette odour. There wasn't anyone at the reception the following morning so I left the keys and departed. I believe the operator is misleading their guest as the accommodation is definitely not worth the $170 that I paid to stay there and most definitely not what it is being advertised as. I would encourage anyone considering staying at Egmont Eco Lodge to look at alternative options available to them, as there are plenty in New Plymouth and the surrounding townships.