Wandering the snow-covered Chateau, I witnessed the quiet presence of an empty soul
It was early morning, standing in front of the Chateau Tongariro. The air was crisp, biting like only the snowy air can, awakening all my senses. I’ll never forget the anticipation in my daughter’s eyes; it was magic. We had wished for fresh snow, and by morning, it had quietly arrived, transforming everything around us to white.
It was 2013, and we were at the Chateau Tongariro, ready for a day of sledding on the front lawn. I can still feel the joy of watching her play. It reminds me of how snow rekindles the childlike wonder in all of us.
Sometimes, a place becomes so deeply intertwined with your memories that it transforms into the memory itself. The Chateau Tongariro was exactly that for me.
When I think of the places I’ve visited, the people, the emotions, and the memories make them unique. Sometimes, a place becomes so wrapped up in your memories that it is the memory itself. The Chateau Tongariro was that for me.
A decade later, I find myself standing here again, our daughter grown. Fresh snow blankets the ground, just like it did back then. As I reflect, I realise that snow will fall, season after season, for future generations to enjoy. Hopefully, they will enjoy Chateau Tongariro just as we once did.
The scene before me was like stepping into a winter fairytale
Fresh snow had transformed the landscape, making it impossible to walk by. Today felt different. As I wandered the grounds, photographing the Chateau, I couldn’t help but notice the once lively windows now dark and empty, as though its soul had faded away. The charm it once held seemed to have slipped through time, leaving behind only the stone façade.
Then, I saw a group of students laughing and throwing snowballs, unaware of the memories they were creating. For them, the Chateau was still full of life. I stood quietly, reflecting on my connection to this place, wondering if they would feel the same one day.
The History of the Chateau Tongariro
Tongariro National Park’s mountains and forests were given to the New Zealand people in 1887 by Horonuku Te Heu Heu Tukino, the Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa. They provided the foundation on which the Chateau Tongariro hotel was built. The Hotel was officially opened on 16 February 1929, but it did accept guests earlier in 1928.
The Chateau Tongariro Hotel welcomed guests worldwide during the opulent and majestic “Roaring ’20s.” The Hotel preserved the atmosphere of that glorious era even to the day it closed.
Find out more about the Hotel.
