The Station Cafe

I don't know if they are still open, it is the old New Zealand train station converted into a cafeteria, trains still pass through the place at night, it is beautiful inside but it seemed to me that it had been closed for a while, I went in May, and It was quite cold, maybe they open seasonally.

Fantastic looking building which looks lovely but not open to the public, whilst we waited for the Northern Explorer. However there are rest rooms, showers etc.

Has this place shut down? 9.40 am and not open. Five cars have pulled up over ten minutes, occupants got out and then moved on. Three others on foot. Your customer are walking/ driving away.
Hope you are ok!
Marry Christmas.

Nice setting but that’s about it. This place could be great under new management! Instead it’s poor quality food, dirty and overpriced. Wedges had no cheese, bacon or seasoning.

Dropped by amid a long drive for coffee and toilet and rest. Very dirty toilet however. Rubbish left unattended on the floor in the toilet. No soap for washing hands. Would suggest active review of these. At time of visit, only one staff member was around to service guests and prepare coffee.

Haven't been for a few years and found it rather rundown. Had toasted sandwich which the bread was hard and inside luke warm. Very disappointed. One toilet out of order and not very clean

Great cheese and onion toasted sandwich, however, TOILETS POOR, no hand soap, rubbish bins not empty appeared to be days old rubbish in them, toilet paper on floor and holders broken. I think you need to sort this area out. Not a good impression for tourist/tourism. HYGIENE a must these days

Don’t Stop Here. We thought it would be a good place to have something to eat and take a break. We arrived at 12 on November 13th and the manager was completely unprepared and panicked for customers. The menu offers the daily menu and something for breakfast, which however require preparation in the kitchen, and one person cannot do. Either the cashier or the kitchen, or you risk doing bad both of them, and so it was. We got 2 big brekky (eggs, hashbrowns, sausages and bread) all full of oil and fat. I think there is a lot of good will but there is a lack of resources to do well.

Came to this place as it was the only choice left that opens till 3 pm. As it was a one man show (only 1 person to take order, make coffee and prepare food), we waited for very long before the coffee and food were being served. The fish and chip, and the pancake both cannot make it (as you can see from the photos), yet you paid full restaurant price for them.

Over the years it's declined dramatically. Poor service, Food and cleanliness. The bathrooms are disgusting. They need to upgrade everything, especially their food and drink.

With fond memories of previous dinners here, we came back for breakfast whilst waiting for the train. The food was terrible and the coffee weak. It’s not cheap either. This is my wife’s cheese and onion toasted sandwich; although I’m not sure the name is applicable for the food served.

Got a toastie here for 9.50 and was served this. Scabbiest sandwhich I've ever seen. I feel robbed. One small piece of bacon and a few onions with a slice of cheese is disgraceful

A piece of plastic the size of a dollar coin was found inside the pancakes ordered for my daughter. It was brought to the attention of kitchen staff.

The glass water bottles (refilled by the cafe) were dirty looking, in particular the rubber bung that sealed the bottle closed. It was black instead of red.

Female bathrooms were not the cleanest either.

Post pandemic, one would think standard of cleanliness would be better, not worse.

We drove there from the middle of nowhere. When we arrived the girls were very nice but when we went to order the guy making the drinks said “take away only” I asked why since they are supposed to be open until 15: 00 as advertised, (it was 13: 50). He said that he had to do “something” even the waitress were asking him why. So we couldn’t dine in and had to drive back. We ended up at “Shapps” where we were welcomed.

Giving 3 stars based on friendly service and a cosy atmosphere. The food wasn't the best. Ordered the big breakfast and was disappointing as we requested scrambled and received poached eggs on a piece of bread not toast. Lots of bacon but wasn't crispy or cooked well.

The male staff might be too busy to say one more word to give a proper answer, when there are only two tables of customers. Added up the coldness to my morning.

Waited for ages to even be looked at let alone served, when served we were told it would be a 20min wait for 2 coffees. Cafe was pretty quiet, what a joke

Waited over 30 minutes for a take away coffee in an almost empty cafe. Not a word about the wait. They really need to sort out their system.

It has potential but…

The place could be so cozy and nice but it was really cold (the fire and heat pump weren’t turned on). It has really cool memorabilia and photos, but it’s not being looked after. The food was average. Hopefully they turn it around

Had the eggs benedict with salmon and a cappuccino, which were good. This place needs a good clean and some upgrades. The cafe was messy and not very clean. Bathrooms were dirty. Plenty of parking available. There are not many options in the National Park town in terms of cafes or restaurants.