We had a wonderful time at chalet Kotiri, where we stayed for over a week, during a skiing/biking holiday in October.
We enjoyed the spacious lounge, the warmth of the wood burner and/or heat pump, the comfortable (but not huge) bedrooms and good quality furniture, the clean and spacious bathroom (and quirky shower) and we were able to sit on the sunny deck most days, enjoying the view of the mountain. There's a little strip of garden around the house where kids could play. The kitchen is well-equipped and even had a few basic food supplies. However the gas cooker was a bit temperamental (you had to press for quite a while for the elements to remain lit) and the dishwasher was rather noisy (our tip: switch it on just before you leave the house or just before the last person goes to bed) but those were only minor inconveniences. There is not a huge amount of space for your ski/biking gear, but we belatedly found a drying cupboard with a dehumidifier, and we simply kept our bikes round the back near the deck. Having a washing machine and dryer was really handy, and we often put things to dry on the deck.
We went for evening walks around the neighbourhood, which we found very pleasant. Watching a straw house being built across the street was interesting too!
The village centre is only minutes away by car so it was quick to go and fetch something from the local supermarket, and on foot it's probably 10-15 minutes, a little longer if you take the nice riverside walk.
In the other direction you get to the "Junction" area in less than 10 minutes walk, and 2 minutes driving. There was not much open there, but there were a couple of eateries - the Powderhorn is a big one - and rental shops, including the convenient Snow Depot (where they have Ruapehu lift tickets, rentals and shop.)
Last but not least, the owner Ankita from Auckland was very friendly and responded very promptly to queries, even while she was overseas.
Overall a truly very pleasant house that we recommend to anyone who cares about comfort.