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Featured place to stay: Eco Inn, New Zealand

Submitted by richard on 20 January, 2007 - 10:25.

New Zealand is one giant adventure playground, and although familiar hotspots such as the Bay of Islands and Queenstown won’t disappoint, there are plenty of lesser-known off-the-beaten track places worth exploring...

Mount Taranaki in the Egmont National Park on the west coast of the North Island isn’t on the usual ‘Journey through Middle-Earth’ itinerary but is one of New Zealand's most accessible wilderness areas. I walked up this dormant volcano in a day and as every local Kiwi will tell you, the views from the top are awesome.

Eco Inn is the closest hostel to the mountain and is also one of the greenest places to stay on the west coast. The lodge is made from untreated Macrocarpa and recycled materials, and the heating and electricity is powered entirely by solar panels, wind turbines and a water wheel. From the hot tub you can look out towards the Tasman Sea and up at Mount Taranaki before cosying up to a wood fire. The walk up the mountain is a must, but there are also mountain biking trails at the nearby Lake Mangamahoe and excellent surf along the Taranaki Surf Highway.

Costs from NZ$160 a night (ecoinn.co.nz, +64 (0)6752 2765)

This article, by Richard Hammond, was first published in the Guardian.

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