The Castle On Tamborine

We paid over $1,000 for three days and two nights in this castle accommodation for my birthday, expecting a luxurious, relaxing stay. Instead, we had no running water for the first two days. We couldn’t shower, flush the toilets, use the spa bath or double shower, or get drinking water from the taps. We had to make do with dirty, unhygienic public toilets, which was uncomfortable and incredibly inconvenient for the price. The water came back on the second night, but we were told not to flush much or run full baths, so the amenities we’d paid for still weren’t really usable. There was no compensation or refund, just disappointment and hassle on what was meant to be a special occasion. The owner was condescending through it, giving orders before asking if I “understand”. For that price, I expected much better service and basic hospitality. It left a bad taste in our mouths and put a damper on what should have been a memorable celebration.

I spent a lot to make the weekend special for my husband’s birthday, and came away disappointed. The accommodation was okay but felt very ‘on a budget’. It was so cold, and although lighting a fire was a nice option, the other rooms stayed freezing. The TV didn’t work. Apparently the previous guests had broken it. The son who runs the castle was lovely, but I thought the mother was extremely rude. If I could do it again, I’d choose a 5 star hotel instead.

The apartment had plenty to keep us happily tucked away for our couples weekend: we used the private plunge pool and sunken spa bath, watched a film on the lounge room projector, and enjoyed drinks on the balcony and around the grounds. When we arrived at the scheduled check-in time, there was sparkling wine and chocolates waiting. Our host had also checked our arrival time and, since we were on the mountain early, met us outside with vouchers for free wine and liqueur tasting. We stayed in one of the castle apartments over Easter and couldn't find a thing to fault.

The hospitality and atmosphere made our anniversary weekend memorable, and the service was fantastic. My husband and I had a wonderful time here and will definitely come back. We'd happily recommend it.