Room Check: Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park

The Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park is handy to the area's main attractions.

Helen Van Berkel checks in to the Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park.

Getting there: About a two-and-half-hour drive from Auckland, if you can avoid the jams.

Check-in experience: Friendly and welcoming. And they loaned us a phone charger, the absence of which would have ruined a teenager's holiday.

Room: A self-contained one-bedroom cabin with a double bed in the lounge and bunks in the bedroom. A small veranda outside is a pleasant place to sit and watch the kids playing on the village green outside.

Price: About $100 a night.

What's so good about this place: It's comfortable, clean and cheap and close to Waitomo's main attractions.

The bad: The entrance could be better signposted: I tried to enter via the exit and ended up dithering dangerously on a high-speed road.

What's in the neighbourhood? Walk, abseil or float through majestic caves and admire the constellations of glow-worms.

Toiletries: Soap and shampoo-and-conditioner-in-one that you wouldn't want to use on your hair.

Food and drink: Within walking distance are the Huhu Cafe for upmarket dining and Curly's for good Kiwi tucker.

The bed: A comfy double on wheels in the lounge for me and a bunk in the bedroom for the daughter.

A room with a view: Outside is a village green where campervans park and kids kick balls.

Free wi-fi: Yes.

Noise: Not a problem.

Value for money: Absolutely.

Room service: No. It had a well-equipped kitchen and tea and coffee was available.

Exercise facilities: There's a playground, pool, a spa pool and a trampoline for recreational rather than exercise purposes.

Contact: waitomopark.co.nz

Perfect for: Families.