Following the digital media marketing example of 50 reasons to visit and stay in Sweden, TRM promoted 50 reasons to stay in Turangi. Following that, today’s post may be the most important of all, to narrow down your decision-making analysis.
Having decided to stay at Turangi, this post provides more compelling reasons to stay at TRM. Why? Unless you are aware of the many benefits provided only at TRM, tourists cannot make an informed choice. (This list excludes some of the better perks which cannot be mentioned on social media…) OK? So here we go…
1 History
Let’s start with a brief history. Why? As TRM is the oldest motel in Turangi, there must be a logical reason why it has outlasted others by being more aware of guests (aka inmates) requirements and addressing them. TRM was developed originally in the late 1950’s. (That was when I first stayed here in a caravan.)
The holiday accommodation originally comprised the village shop plus 3 motel units with about 20 caravan sites sharing basic ablution facilities, similar to many camping grounds. After the new SH1 was developed in the 1960’s, and new access provided off Link Road (Now renamed Piri Road), the tourist accommodation was extended to provide 11 units. This brief history is to describe some of the additional features so you can judge why so many guests have returned again and again for over 60 years. It has to be exceptional to survive that long.
2 Trout Fishing
Turangi has long been promoted as “The Trout Fishing Capital of the World”.
The management style and fitout are deliberately designed more for anglers fishing the Tongariro River – the best known trout fishing river in NZ. There are many other motels and other competing tourist accommodation options in Turangi as well, some cheaper and some with higher room rates, so this post is to persuade fishos that this is the real deal where they will get more bang for their bucks. We know the Tongariro River better than any other motel operators and help anglers more. The owner started fishing here in 1959 so he has many years of experience to help others.
We were tempted to post each of the 50 pools on the Tongariro RIver. We did this back in 2006 but realised the futility when they all changed after the next flood.
3 Tongariro River maps
For the last decade, TRM has published our own “Tongariro Bucket List – 50 pools to fly fish before you die“. No other motel in NZ provides such valuable practical assistance for tourist anglers. When the map was distributed to other tackle shops they charged customers $5 per copy. At TRM it is free for guests. It has been regularly updated – now into the 4th edition. To assist novices or tourist anglers unfamiliar with the river, it includes a Pools Ratings Chart (see below) marking all pools out of 20 for access, reliability, snags, wading, angler pressure, difficulty, and scenic qualities. Tourist anglers and novices treasure it.
4 Rod Hooks
A small indication of the desire to provide everything that anglers require is the installation of rod hooks inside every unit. Similar to the maps, they indicate how much further TRM goes to please anglers. They might be a minor fitting but are always appreciated in the feedback from fishos.
5 Smokehouse
A commercial-sized electric smokehouse is provided free of charge for guests. Every week other fishos requests have to be reluctantly declined, such is the reputation. It is reserved for guests only. Suitable garnishings – salt and brown sugar – are provided FOC at the trout cleaning station.
6 Fish bags
Fish bags are provided free as well. These are collected from DOC (Department of Conservation are the Taupo Fishery managers) and Barry at “I love fishing”. Thank you. Once again, just a tiny gesture but it helps to maintain the delicate trout condition better when it is frozen.
7 Freezers
In most units, the usual small motel-style fridges have been replaced to provide larger fridge/freezer units, needed for storing fillets. In addition, for those who still need more storage space, there is a locked chest freezer available – see photo above.
8 Wide range of accommodation
The accommodation varies from studio units (one double queen bed and one single bed) to 1 & 2 bedroom units sleeping up to six. These have proved to be ideal for groups or fishing clubs. Regular anglers who stay often and return again and again are rewarded with substantial discounts. These are not evident on the OTA (Online Travel Agents) listings. Ask at reception for more details.
9 Covered parking
All units have carports over the entrances so guests’ vehicles can be unloaded out of wet weather.
10 Additional parking
There is plenty of additional vehicle and trailer parking around the site for negotiating trailer boats and extra cars.
11 Fishing books
A wide range of trout fishing books are available for guests. Some books and old fishing magazines (remember Target Taupo?) are spread throughout the units but the main collection is in reception. The most popular book for inmates is “TONGARIRO Skulduggery”. Many inmates start reading it and have to buy a copy from reception to solve the devious scheme to qualify for government compensation for all manner of tourist facilitites. It is turning into a collectors’ item. All profits were directed at improving signage on the Tongariro River (tourist panels to describe the 100 year old history of the names of pools, etc.) but that is still being declined by DOC.
12 Drying rooms
Most units have large storage lockers outside the entrance which also stores the hot water cylinders. Why? They are ideal for all other gear such as drying waders and vests overnight, drying Lake O water-strider rafts, etc. Either inside the cupboards or outside every unit are wading poles – recycled ski poles – to improve angling safety.
13 Spare Waders
A collection of waders – both summer style and thicker winter versions – are available for guests. Often tourists leave their waders behind after a week or two fishing so they add to the collection. TRM also have a special rack of waders free for farmers. These have been left behind because they leak but are ideal for use when hosing out the cow shed.
14 Free guide dog.
Juno is a retired failed huntaway sheep dog. She is supposed to be a fierce guard dog but is useless as she does not bark. We should have known, that is why she failed as a sheep dog. Her duties have been redefined to guide tourist anglers along the Tongariro River Trail. Beware, (just like SWMBO – she has no traffic sense at all).
15 Filleting knives
A collection of suitable filletting knives, complete with sharpening stone and protective gloves, are stored at reception. When left at the fish cleaning station, the knives went missing too often so they now can only be issued by SWMBO. Thank you to the generous guests who donated them.
16 Wet weather gear
A wide collection of warm coats and other gear, hats and gloves, etc. are available for guests. Once again, thank you to the guests who donated some of these. Other gear includes wading vests, hats, gloves, etc.
17 TRM hats
TRM lucky hats have been spotted worldwide for the last 20 years. Their “good luck” charm has been proven beyond doubt. Even guides on the Zambezi River wear them!
18 Drying hooks
Outside the entrances to units are wall hooks for drying out waders and vests. It is advised that any fishing gear should be taken inside overnight to discourage strangers.
19 Fishing tackle
A wide variety of fishing tackle is held at the reception. TRM is not a tackle shop but holds emergency stock only in case it is needed outside of usual retail shop hours.
20 Location
TRM is located within easy level walking distance (waddling in waders) to the pools below the SH1 road bridge to the north and Judges Pool and other town pools to the south. There is no need for a car. It is a trout angler’s paradise. Turangi is located in the midle of the North Island halfway to everywhere.
21 Advocacy
TRM stongly support many local initiatives to improve the river environment. These are too many to mention them all but starting with support for CCD (Check Clean Dry to avoid the spread of Didymo), supporting local heros like Didymo Dave, support for the Trout Centre, support for women’s fishing by holding the first two exclusive women’s tournaments at TRM, support for Reel Recovery by providing accommodation for their conferences, etc.
22 Management
TRM’s management is proudly very old-fashioned. She – SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed rules supreme at TRM) still relies on pencil booking sheets as well as the usual iMac computer programmes for occupancy details. Why? Belt & braces strategy. She does not trust the nameless AI spooks in cyberspace. She hates OTA’s (Online Travel Agents – you can guess who) systems. Whenever She relies on them Turangi has a power cut. (When we started at TRM, there were emergency candles in every room!) She prefers to rely more on Her memory. The other half of the geriatric management team is usually hiding in the laundry where he can do the least damage. Warning: He has lost nearly all his hearing (and marbles) so try to avoid booking through him or bribing him with $ cash… Only trust SWMBO.
Tomorrow the list continues with more info on TRM’s biggest tourist ploy that has now lasted over 20 years. Can you guess it?
It is the reason why TRM has the highest reputation for tourist accommodation in Taupo.
No other motel or tourist accommodation can compete with it.
Tomorrow all is revealed – TRM’s confess their secret key to success.