We stayed at Chris's place as a home base while doing some wilderness walks in the region. It's close to the visitors centre, and the views along the drive to it are stunning. You get to see the mountains from different angles, in different light each day. On a clear starlit night, Ruapehu can still be seen from the master bedroom window.
We loved hiking the easy Taranaki Falls 2 hour walk, then the Tongariro Crossing as a super challenge on another day. The warm fire, cosy beds and nearby presence of the mountains after coming home from our exploring made Three Mountains house a really special and memorable stay. Loved it!