The Riverside Bar & Restaurant is the onsite restaurant and bar at Parklands Motor Lodge, a 4-star, family-owned motel and holiday park in the heart of central Turangi. The lodge sits close to Lake Taupo, Mount Ruapehu and the Tongariro National Park, making it a natural stop for travellers exploring the region — and the Riverside is where they gather at the end of the day.
A local favourite, the restaurant is renowned for its welcoming ambiance and exceptional service. The menu is hearty, the bar is well stocked, and the atmosphere is relaxed — the kind of place made for unwinding with friends and family rather than dressing up.
The restaurant sits within expansive, family-friendly grounds that include a kids playground, game room, BBQ area and swimming pool, with free parking for motel guests. The friendly team, led by on-site manager Chenara, is always on hand to help — whether you're a motel guest topping off a day outdoors or a Turangi local settling in for a relaxed night out.
Tucked inside Parklands Motor Lodge, a 4-star, family-owned motel and holiday park on Te Arahori Street, the Riverside Bar & Restaurant is the lodge's onsite restaurant and bar. It answers the question every traveller asks at the end of a big day outdoors: where can we get a hearty meal and a drink without getting back in the car?
The setting is hard to beat. The lodge sits in the heart of central Turangi, ideally situated near Lake Taupo, Mount Ruapehu and the Tongariro National Park, and there is plenty to do across Turangi, Taupo and the national park for every kind of traveller. Whether you have spent the day on the trails, by the lake or simply on the road, the Riverside is where guests drift back to of an evening.
The lodge calls the Riverside a local favourite, renowned for its welcoming ambiance and exceptional service. The offer is simple and honest: a hearty menu and a well-stocked bar, served in a relaxed atmosphere made for unwinding with friends and family. There is no pretence here — this is comforting food and a good drink at the end of it, in a room where children are as welcome as weary walkers.
Hospitality runs through the wider property. Parklands is a family-owned business, and on-site manager Chenara leads a friendly team spanning reception, housekeeping and groundskeeping. The owners describe themselves as passionate about hospitality and proud of giving guests the best possible experience — whether they are staying a single night or settling in for a long-term visit.
The lodge does not publish a detailed menu online, so if you would like to know exactly what is on before you arrive, the easiest route is a quick call to reception on +64 7 386 7515 or an email to [email protected]. What the team promises is hearty food and a well-stocked bar — a pairing that suits a town that plays this hard outdoors. The staff are always on hand to help with any questions or requests.
The grounds do a lot of the work, too. Parklands' expansive sites give children plenty of room to run around safely, and the park features a kids playground, a game room, a BBQ area and a swimming pool — useful to know if you are bringing the family for dinner. Laundry facilities and bike hire round things out for anyone in the middle of a longer adventure.
For guests, the practicalities are straightforward. Ground-level units make life easy for families with small children and for anyone hauling bikes or skis, and free parking is available for all motel units. Groups are well catered for as well: the lodge offers conference rooms and group bookings, which makes the Riverside a natural gathering point for work trips, clubs and events.
Accommodation ranges from self-contained, air-conditioned one-bedroom units and double-bed studios to pet-friendly, non-powered tent sites tucked into the park, so it is entirely possible to check in, wander over to the Riverside for dinner and never get behind the wheel again. Long-term stays are an option too, so the restaurant can become a regular haunt rather than a one-night stop.
Whether you are a motel guest topping off a day near Lake Taupo or a Turangi local looking for a relaxed night out, the Riverside Bar & Restaurant keeps things simple: a warm welcome, a hearty plate and a well-stocked bar in the heart of town. To check what is on or plan a visit, contact the friendly team at Parklands Motor Lodge.