Charleston Lodge saved us since we were super exhausted from our Glow Worm cave tour adventure, and…read morewe couldn't bring ourselves to drive back to Greymouth. The Lodge is located literally right next door to the Northwest Adventures building. The owner was super nice and immediately gave us a room and made sure we settled in. When we asked about places to eat she said there really weren't too many restaurants, but she gave us directions to small place about a five minute drive away (I think it was called Jacks?). She even phoned ahead to place our order (she had a menu in the office), because she knew we were hungry and she said the place is notorious for long waits (so awesome!) The apartment was comfortable; one main bedroom where my parents stayed and another bed in the living room which is where I slept. There was a nice kitchen with a kettle and tea/coffee, and the bathroom was nice too! I particularly enjoyed the powerful mini heater in the living room. To top it all off the owner provided us with fresh eggs, toast, jam, and juice for breakfast the next day which was so nice! This place was super homey and an awesome find. The hospitality was amazing! :D

Lovely remote/secluded resort on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. Within walking (yes…read morewalking!) distance of Pancake (Punakaiki) Rocks, and right on the beach. Tip - visit at the beginning of the off-season, which is wonderfully peaceful and quiet - I highly recommend it! There is a restaurant and bar on site, and rooms come equipped with bug spray and an umbrella for those wet, rainy days! They thought of everything! Staff is super friendly and helpful, and the chef knows what he (or she??) is doing in the kitchen (dinner was delicious)! Be sure to make reservations if you want to stay for dinner - seating is limited, and the view is gorgeous!

I would describe our stay at the Punakaiki resort as one of the best and biggest surprises of our…read morerecent trip to New Zealand. Booked on-line, we had no real idea of what the hotel would be like. When we pulled in late in the afternoon we got out of the car and stood with our backs to the hotel for the first few minutes. The simple reason was that we watched as the waves crashed onto the deserted beach right across from the main hotel building. It was beautiful with low late afternoon sun shining through the clouds. The hotel did not look busy when we checked in, but when we went to our room- an Eco Suite (was not sure what that was when we booked, but more later) which was across the highway, we were again blown away by the view and the level of comfort in the room. Fortunately we were just in time for high tide and took the advice of the staff member who checked us in to walk the short distance up to Pancake Rocks to catch the high tide. This we did and were not disappointed, although that is a subject for a different review. We walked back down to the hotel and had dinner at the bar. Again, the dinner was so good we were really surprised at the quality. Our appetizer of onion rings was huge, but after driving most of the day, we were hungry and made short work of the hot crunchy rings. Our main course was a delightfully spicy Cajun pasta and a beautifully cooked stuffed chicken breast. Despite being full we decided to order a cheese platter to take back to the room for our lunch on the road the following day. Again it was a very big portion with a very wide selection of cheese. There was only ourselves and another two couples for dinner so clearly the hotel is between seasons right now. We did not see many staff members during our stay, but the people we did see were so friendly and very helpful and informative. Our Eco Suite was actually made from sustainable local materials, but aside from that was spacious, clean and comfortable with wonderful views. Oh, and pedestrian access to the main building was via a handy tunnel under the road. Lighting at the resort is kept to a minimum, so as not to distract the birds flying in from the Petrel Colony nearby. This is just one example of the careful thought that went into the design and execution of the hotel. Anyone passing by should really seriously consider saying at this great hotel.

Amazing stay! Unbelievable service and delicious breakfast! Heather is the hostess with the…read moremostest!

We stayed in Nelson one night on our two week honeymoon throughout both North and South Island. We…read moretook a late afternoon ferry into Picton that was delayed so we weren't on track to arrive until close to 9 PM (and our trip was made slower by driving in the rain). The owners were so nice, checked in on us and weren't mad that we were making them wait for our check in (we were the last ones). The room was so big and the bed was so comfy - these weary travelers almost contemplated not going to Abel Tasman the next day...almost. Also Max recommended the best restaurant in town (Hopgoods) and called them in advance to make sure they would stay open to accommodate us for dinner. Literally it was the best meal we had on our trip and we were so sad that we were barely staying awake during it b/c we were so tired. Nelson is the type of place that I would definitely come back to and it has a super quaint center of town. If you are going to the area - definitely stay here....for more than one day.

One of my favorite places to stay this trip. The owners were incredibly friendly and personable…read more Joss (Joc?) is celiac so she is very familiar with all sorts of dietary restrictions and willing to cater to them. We ordered a simple breakfast from some handy little forms they keep in the room and she delivered it to the door of our chalet. Top awesome things: so many birds just outside our French doors. We're not birders at all but it was totally neat. Totally walkable to our kayak day trip and three different dining establishments - a cart-type with plenty of picnic tables called the Fat Tui, a more locals-friendly pub called Park Cafe, and a bit of a nicer spot with lots of GF/DF options called Hooked. There is laundry and a kitchen on site. Dedicated parking for each chalet. The internet was 4/5 but that means better than many places we've stayed in NZ. No additional cost. Our room had a queen or king bed plus an extra twin in the corner. Would be good for a family. I hope we can come back to visit next time we are in the country!

This is an excellent place to stay. It's close to restaurants and fun activities. The couple that…read morerun this place are also very lovely people. A must for a few days in Marahau

Ridicously overpriced. Small rooms with very soft beds. Old overused towels. Poor lighting in the…read morebathroom. Slippery shower. Poor service had to ask twice for shampoo and conditioner. Noisy refrigerator. NO ICE! Nothing is close...you definitely need a car to stay there. No breakfast anywhere nearby. Staff doesn't show up until 9:30a. $50 charge for evening service if required. I've stayed in hotels worldwide this is at the bottom of my list. I will say...the rooms were clean.

Good location with view out over the water but a bit most with planes flying overhead. Near a nice…read morerunning and biking path and they rent bicycles. Very nice hotel with cute English style Cottages. Laundry was easy to do. Staff were nice and helpful. Room had a big jacuzzi and comfy bed. TV only has about 10 channels.

Ok, I'm a first time backpacker. Not sure flying in from Auckland with a cabin bag actually…read morequalifies. I booked the Prince Albert for a couple of nights on booking.com for my daughter and I. Couldn't have been happier. Lovely historic building, a five minute walk from the centre of town. Warm and friendly reception, clean rooms, lots of separate areas for relaxing. Couple of things I didn't expect - anyone staying could order a $10 meal at the bar each night (including dessert) and there's free breakfast each morning. It's a simple affair, toast, cereal or waffles, but much appreciated on a cold winter morning.

We just spent two nights in this moderately-priced spot, and couldn't be happier. Less expensive…read morethan most accommodations in New Zealand, it's right in the town of Takaka, easy walking distance to a full-sized market, several good restaurants and bars, clothing and hardware stores, and pretty much everything in town. The entire Golden Bay area is an easy drive from the motel, with hikes, hot springs, fishing, swimming, and all the usual fun things. This motel is almost a boutique hotel, as the interior appointments are modern and well-designed. Our room had a very usable kitchen with full assortment of utensils, a lovely bathroom, windows that opened to create a nice flow of air, and a very comfortable bed. My single complaint is that the lighting in the kitchen is compact fluorescent, rather harsh at night, but all the other lighting was fine. The couple that own and built the place are very knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to chat with. Highly recommended for any sized group, including families. There is a laundry room, outdoor barbecue grill, and our room had a little veranda with table that was very comfortable. Book from their web site, you will save money.

If you're looking for a relaxing and peaceful weekend, you need to park your little patootie here!…read more This place is just amazing with a marvelous atmosphere! I wish that this place was in America so I could spend another weekend of relaxing. As soon as I pulled up onto the property, I felt like I wasn't in reality, more like everything was from a storybook. Everywhere I looked was just beautiful. When you pull in, remember look up towards the left. They have a really cool treehouse! Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read a book in there, but definitely check it out if reading a book in a cool place is your thing. As soon as I was about to walk into the front door, I noticed grapes hanging on the arches. It was so beautiful! We were warmly greeted by Victor and Robert. I enjoyed their lovely company! We were greeted upon parking and chit chatted before going to our rooms. Our room was amazing I tell you. I felt like I was out in the country during the olden times, living a during the simpler life. It was great being the only guests at the time because then our hosts prepared breakfast at the time we wanted since they asked us the night before. We had breakfast in the greenhouse and it was BEAUTIFUL. Did I feel like Mary exploring her secret garden? Why yes, yes I did. The breakfast was wonderful with a beautiful view and a great environment with music playing in the background. We even got to have their gorgeous dog Flavia sit with us during breakfast. They also make their own wine in house, so if you stay, ask them for a tour! It was nice walking around talking with them knowing more about this place and having Flavia walking around with us. They showed me the different grapes, and also the olive trees! I was also able to pet mini horses! They were so adorable! Unfortunately, I didn't get to go up into the tree house, but it looks beautiful and like a place I could sip on tea. Truly, if you're ever in the area and need a peaceful and relaxing getaway for a bread and breakfast place, stop by here with all the cute New Zealand country charm!

We arrived after 8 PM for our one-night stay. Robbert came out to the driveway to welcome us,…read moreshowed us to our room, and then gave us our space for the duration of the evening. Our room was huge; it had a large bed, a sitting area, and the biggest bathroom I've ever seen. The fixtures in the bathroom were old-fashioned; a bit more rustic than we're used to. Overall the room was quite charming with its wooden floor and French doors overlooking the patio and yard. It was dead quiet at night, and we had a very sound night's sleep. In the morning Robbert invited me to accompany him as he bottle-fed an adorable baby alpaca. It was exciting getting to go behind the gate and approach the large herd of alpacas, the enormous turkey, and the chickens. After petting the baby alpaca and taking lots of photos, Robbert served my husband and me breakfast in an utterly charming greenhouse that had ivy growing all along the internal support beams. It was so romantic. As the only guests at the B&B at the time, we had the whole place to ourselves. We were served the best French press coffee I've ever had, and a delectable assortment of foods. Robbert joined us after a bit, and shared fascinating information about his farm and NZ. It was very nice chatting with him. After we were pleasantly stuffed, my husband and I strolled the grounds, and especially enjoyed checking out the adult-sized tree house. Unfortunately, we had a tight schedule to keep and had to get back on the road shortly thereafter. I can imagine that 2-3 days here in this remote, peaceful oasis would be a great de-stressor.

This place was such a great find! I was headed to Hanmer when I saw this place and after a long…read moredrive from Christchurch and bumper to bumper traffic in the rain, I was ready to get off the road for a respite. Apparently this place is brand spanking new from renovations as it went into disrepair per the previous owners. It has 3 thermal pools of varying temps, a cold dip pool, a sauna all located in a fenced area. There are changing rooms, an infrared sauna, and an indoor hightemp thermal pool with pano windows looking out in a bldg down the path from the main visitor center and café. Each thermal pool is great and has naturally occurring algae, which you can rub on your skin or even eat if you are brave enough. The sauna is fantastic as well and the cold dip pool is invigorating! It is big enough for one person and has a ladder to ease yourself in if you don't want to do a full dunk. I highly recommend starting off in the sauna, doing the cold dunk, and then soaking in each of the thermal pools. It was so relaxing! I went when it was raining, and though some were put off by this, I loved it! It was extra relaxing because of the rain and the fact the rain caused less people to be in the pools. I had two of the pools all to myself! They do offer lockers, but honestly, my things were fine being hung by the thermal pools. Nobody seemed to mess w/anyone else's things. They also have a nice café here and I had a delicious steak n ale pie w/a ginger beer at a very reasonable price. You can rent a room here, as well. The day use price was fairly reasonable for use of the pools, saunas, and changing rooms. The staff were very friendly as well and the young man that checked me in was super helpful in explaining everything and even giving me a bit of history about the place. All in all a fantastic experience! I spent 4hrs there and left feeling like a rejuvenated human noodle w/a full belly and a contented soul!

This is the worst accommodations we have experience during our over 60 day stay in New Zealand…read more The room had lots of black mold in the shower, mold around the toilet fittings and mold growing in the corners. The room heater could not be turned off and remained very hot for over 24 hours. We tried opening the windows to cool things down but biting Sand Flies kept getting into the room. This was during the New Zealand summer. We also smelled a very strong odor of cigarette smoke when we opened the windows . They hadn't bothered to clean an ash tray full of cigarette butts! The paint work was old and scratched up. The toilet had broken free from the floor, The carpeting was lifting up and peeling up around the room heater. I can't believe they charged $358/night for this room. The sauna facilities had an 18" band of thick slippery green algae around the rims and "Therapeutic" black algae most everywhere else. But what's worse is the numerous biting sand flies that we and other quests continuously needed to swat away. When we entered the steam room... the handle fell off the door and the sauna benches had numerous long wooden splinter in the benches over an inch long! We went in the bathhouse and it too was horribly unclean dirt and spider webs full of dead bug carcasses that must have been there for months uncleaned, soap stains draining over the walls and broken old wire mesh window with peeling paint, it was unbelievably dirty for a bath house. I will try to post pictures, please review then to see what I experienced here.