Blickinstal Holiday Retreat

The bed was good and the bathroom was clean. After I emailed about the toilet, someone came to clean it within 30 minutes, even at night, so credit for the quick response. But it was disgusting to find fecal matter stuck to the back rim. At $317 for two nights, the worn furnishings were disappointing. Lodge #2 also wasn’t the advertised separate bedroom and living room. The bed is four steps up, with only a small wall between it and the TV area, and you can see the bed from the basic dining table. The reverse cycle aircon was dodgy too, and took about 15 minutes to get working properly.

The location worked well for a one-night budget stay, close to Tanunda and some very good wineries. The barbecue area has a nice countryside view, though I’d be very brave to try using the barbecues. Outside, the dead trees in planters by every room were in keeping with the big dead tree out front. Check-in was a hassle. We hadn’t seen the process before arriving, and ended up in a hot car trying to upload a licence to meet the conditions. Then the $300 deposit link failed. I called support, explained the problem three times to someone who barely understood English, and they hung up. A working link did arrive by text, at least. The room was old and dated but clean, except the toilet bowl leaked and left a puddle that my wife slipped on and nearly fell in. It didn’t seem hygienic either.

It was a quiet, fairly private spot with beautiful views, and the cottage was cute, clean and tidy. We also got three bottles of wine, all really nice. We had a good stay, and the small things below didn’t spoil it, but there’s room for an update. The microwave seems ancient, a full length mirror in the bedroom would help, and the bathroom needs an exhaust fan. We couldn’t stop the bath tap running while the shower was on, despite turning, pulling and pushing the lever, and that affected the shower pressure. There’s also a list of things to clean and do before leaving. I don’t mind that in a holiday home for a stay longer than a couple of days, especially since it isn’t cheap.

The views were the highlight of our quiet Barossa getaway, and we did enjoy the spa, cosy lodge and comfortable bed. But the kitchen and room were very dirty. There were crumbs left by the previous guests all over the counter, dust throughout the lodge and oily buildup on the kitchen brick walls. The kettle hadn’t been cleaned either, so we had to clean it before using it. Please see the photos.