Blickinstal Barossa Valley Retreat

The lodge wasn’t as advertised. It was described as having a separate bedroom and living room, but that’s rubbish. The bed is four steps up, with only a low wall separating it from the TV area, and you can see the bed from the very basic dining table. We paid $317 for two nights and the furnishings were worn. The bed was good and the bathroom was clean, though the reverse cycle aircon in lodge #2 was dodgy and took about 15 minutes to get working properly. The toilet was disgusting, with fecal matter stuck to the back rim. I emailed about it, and someone came to clean it within 30 minutes that night, so kudos for the quick response.

We booked late and didn’t see the check-in process until we arrived. Sitting in a hot car trying to upload your license to meet those ridiculous conditions was no fun. Then the link failed when I tried to pay the $300 deposit. I called support and spoke to someone who had a very limited grasp of English. After I explained the problem three times, they hung up on me, though a working link did arrive by text, so yay. Outside each room, the dead trees in the planters matched the giant dead tree out front. Inside, the room was old and dated but clean, except for a leaking toilet that left a puddle. My wife slipped on it and nearly fell, and it probably wasn’t very hygienic either. The barbecue area has a nice view across the surrounding countryside, but you’d have to be very brave to use the barbecues. The location is good, close to Tanunda and some very good wineries. It’s okay as a cheap option if you just need a place for one night.

The views were beautiful, and it was quiet, fairly private, cute, clean and tidy. We also got three bottles of wine, all really nice. A few things could use an update: the microwave seems ancient, there’s no full length mirror in the bedroom or exhaust fan in the bathroom, and the bath tap kept running while the shower was on. Turning, pulling and pushing the lever didn’t stop it, and it affected the shower pressure. There’s a list of things you have to clean and do before leaving. I don’t mind that in a holiday home when staying longer than a couple of days, especially as it isn’t cheap. Still, it was a good experience, and those are just suggestions. They didn’t dampen our stay.

The picturesque views were the highlight of our quiet Barossa weekend getaway. Inside the lodge, though, the kitchen counters still had crumbs from the last guests, there was dust throughout and oily buildup on the brick kitchen walls. The kettle hadn’t been cleaned, so we had to clean it before using it. Please see photos. Even with the cleanliness issues, we enjoyed the spa, the cosy place and the comfortable bed.