Mountain Lodge, Stratford is a hotel on Pembroke Road West, on the eastern side of Egmont National Park near Stratford. A lodge this close to a mountain like Taranaki earns its keep by cutting the drive out of an early start: staying near the park boundary rather than in town means less time on the road before a dawn summit attempt or a long day walk, which matters more here than it might elsewhere given how quickly Taranaki's weather can turn. Checking the mountain forecast, rather than the general town forecast, is worth doing before committing to any track, since conditions at altitude can be completely different from what's happening at the lodge itself. Being based right by the park also makes it easier to get out for a short walk in changeable weather rather than losing the whole day to a drive. On Pembroke Road West near Stratford, Mountain Lodge sits right on the edge of Egmont National Park.