In 1925 Sir James Gunson, with H W Glen director of the Waikuke prison camp drove the first car to Whakapapa. Waimarino to Tokaanu highway was pushed through towards Mt Ruapehu with the help of labour from the prison camp early in 1925. Until then the approach to Whakapapa had been only for the fit and strong.
The Tongariro Park Tourist Company limited was formed to build the Chateau, an elegant Georgian structure of four stories and basement, alongside the original Whakapapa huts. The Chateau was built to bring overseas tourist to New Zealand so that they had an International standard of accommodation to stay in.
The Fletcher Construction Company undertook the contract at $78.000.00 pounds. Work started on the 10th of January 1929. The building was styled after the Canadian Resort of Lake Louise. The foundation stone was laid in March and fantastic as it may seem, the building was open for guests by the 1st August 1929, even though it was still unfurnished.
Unhappily, the finances of the company would prove insecure with the onset of the depression. Within two years, the company was wound up and after various interim arrangements the tourist department took over the hotel. Although it continued to lose money, it remained a major asset to the country tourist trade.
The opening of this well-appointed building revolutionised the atmosphere of Ruapehu as a resort.
Suddenly dinner jackets and evening dress were required for after skiwear. Even ski clothes began to be style conscious, navy blue gabardine trousers, cut very full and tied at the ankle, became the fashion. They were worn with a matching jacket of the same material and a peaked cap with flaps which could be let down to tie underneath the chin in bad weather.
The success of this accommodation right on the snowfields inspired building plans among several ski clubs. Numerous groups had for years been making visits to Ruapehu. The Tararua, Hutt Valley, Auckland Tramping Club, Alpine Sports, Aorangi, Rangiwahia, Auckland University, Victoria University and other clubs regularly organised trips to the mountain.
The Tongariro ski club, formed originally to cater for members of the Chateau staff, was soon open to the public also. These clubs had hitherto used the Chateau and accommodation grouped around it. But now several turned their thoughts to hut building. One other club hut was actually built, erected by another Tongariro club. The Tongariro Tramping Club to the south of the mountain, this was at 3800 feet below the snowfield level. But before further steps could be taken world events intervened.
Just as plans were maturing for a round of building activity, World war two broke out. Many of the keenest skiers promptly join the forces. Road and rail travel were restricted. To cap it off The Chateau was commandeered as a mental hospital when an earthquake damaged a hospital in Wellington.
Ruapehu became remote, inaccessible, a memory of happier days. But during the years of deprivation pressure was building up for a remarkable boom. The Chateau once had its own Airport and was located half way down to where the present Chateau golf course stands and gave guests the luxury of just a short walk to the Chateau resort.
In 1945, volcanic eruptions caused the hotel to be evacuated and it was not until 1948, newly renovated, that the hotel reopened to provide accommodation for visitors to Mt Ruapehu and the Tongariro National Park. Today, this region is now classified as a Dual World Heritage National Park.
In 1957, control of the Hotel passed to the Tourist Hotel Corporation (THC) of New Zealand, which also developed the Whakapapa ski area. It wasn’t until 1990 and Government privatisation of assets that the hotel was sold to private interests and the ski area operated by a separate company.
In 1990, Kah Corporation, a Singaporean company bought both the Chateau and Wairakei Resort. The Chateau underwent a name change to The Grand Chateau and refurbishments were undertaken to improve the look of the hotel.
Through out the 1990s the hotel endured many natural and economic disasters. The eruptions of Mt Ruapehu in 1995 and 1996 and the no snow year of 1998 caused the hotel to make significant losses and the doors were nearly closed.
A change of management and marketing strategy in the late 1990’s saw the hotel pick itself up from the gloom of earlier years and develop new initiatives. More emphasis was placed on the summer market as winter was proving to be unreliable and packages were put in place to attract the domestic market.
With a name change to Bayview Chateau Tongariro coinciding with the hotels 75th anniversary on the 1st of November 2004, the hotel is now thriving. In 2001 and 2002, the hotel had its best years ever and, as a result, the money being made is being reinvested back into the hotel. Extensive refurbishments have been completed in rooms, food and beverage facilities, back of house and in the public areas to return the Hotel back to its former glory. An additional 40 rooms to the hotel will be completed in March 2005 and the hotel has plans to develop a spa complex also.
Bayview Chateau Tongariro has also been recognised nationally. In 2002 the Chateau was a finalist in the Major Hotels and Resorts section of the New Zealand Tourism Awards and Finalist in the Hospitality Association of New Zealand Awards in the category of Best Re-Developed Hotel. Also, the Chateau was Runner-up in the category of Medium to Large Business and Winner of the Accommodation section of the Lake Taupo Business of the Year Awards. In 2004 the Chateau was nominated finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards and National Finalist in the best re-developed hotel category of the New Zealand Hospitality Awards and then won the major prize of the Lake Taupo Business of the Year Champion of Champions Awards.
Dinner with friends we met in 1989 on a trip back from Germany. Mike and Merle live in Tauranga (about 2 1/2 hours south of Auckland). They drove to Matamata to have dinner with us.
Our "hotel" in Auckland had two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a full kitchen, living room and laundry facilities. The kids enjoyed the extra space and the view was incredible from our 24th floor, corner suite!
