Lodge · Comfortable
Karatu — farm lodges below the rim
Good to know: this page describes a type of place, not one property.
The camp we actually book depends on your dates, your budget and what's free when we
quote, so the useful part here is the decision. Your shortlist of named camps comes
with your itinerary.
- Type
- Lodge
- Level
- Comfortable
- Typical size
- 20 to 40 rooms
- Rooms are
- Garden rooms and cottages
- Children
- Welcome
- Pool
- Usually
- Wi-Fi
- Usually, in the mess
Karatu sits in farmland just below the conservation area. It's warmer than the rim, a lot cheaper, and about an hour from the road down into the crater, so expect a very early start on crater day.
This is the smart-value choice, and it's not a compromise. Karatu is farm country an hour below the rim: warmer, greener, and the same money gets you noticeably more space. Picture coffee estates, gardens and usually a pool, which is a real bonus if you've got children with you or you've been on the road for four days.
The trade-off: it's an hour up to the gate and an hour back down, so you won't be first onto the crater floor. If the crater is the highlight of your trip, spend one night on the rim and the rest here.
Worth knowing
What stands out
- 01 Warmer than the rim
- 02 Gardens and a pool
- 03 Great value
PoolRestaurantGardensWi-Fi