Lime Tree Lodge

The suite was lovely, with three beds across two bedrooms, and the bathroom was impressive. The underfloor heating worked well, though we had trouble with the basin plugs: the one provided didn’t fit either sink. We told the owner, waited a few hours for a replacement, and that one didn’t fit either. A working plug arrived the next day, so we managed with just one in the meantime. The kitchen, though, was so poorly stocked that our plan to cook for ourselves wasn’t possible. Between us, we had three eating utensils each, two side plates, one dinner plate, and two cups and saucers. There was also a leaflet for a local Asian restaurant with a €10 voucher, but the offer had expired in 2022. The pool area felt neglected. The path there was covered in rabbit droppings and dirt, and the pool had leaves and grime at one end. The hot tub was enjoyable, but the pool cleaner couldn’t reach all the mess because its pipes were knotted up. We were glad to have slippers. The communal fridge freezer made plenty of ice when I pressed the button, but opening it sent the ice spilling onto the floor. Old ice had blocked the piping, and the amount suggested it hadn’t been cleaned for a long time. I cleaned up the spill. My wife then had to clean bird droppings off the garden table and chairs where we planned to eat. The garden door lock from our bedroom was so loose that it took me about ten tries to get it to work. The property itself is magnificent, and it’s a short distance from Wanaka, but poor upkeep took a lot away from the stay. Check-in was another letdown. We were handed a map and a laminated restaurant list, with no welcome or information about the many local attractions. In the bedroom, a notice said the safes didn’t work, which was true, and claimed Netflix was available on the TV. It wasn’t, even with efforts from the proprietor and the proprietor’s young son. The safe warning made it seem this problem had been around for some time. We stayed three nights and came away with a very mixed experience. Despite the beautiful surroundings, we can’t recommend staying here. The Wanaka tourist information centre was fantastic, and Rochelle gave us really helpful advice about local walks and excursions.

The lodge is in a handy spot near Wanaka, and the staff were friendly. But for what we paid, we left disappointed. The rooms were small, which was fine, though dated and not especially clean, and we could hear our neighbours clearly. The pool was dirty throughout our two-day stay, so we didn’t get to enjoy it. Breakfast was okay. It would do for a short visit, but after much cheaper stays in Queenstown and Te Anau with a noticeably higher standard, this felt like poor value.

We had a huge unit with a very comfortable super king bed, a big bathroom, and a lounge. The host was pleasant and accommodating, and even offered to drive us into town since Uber Eats wouldn’t deliver. There were some cooking facilities in the room, but no TV in the lounge, and the tiny bedroom TV had neither free-to-air nor pay channels. The pool needed cleaning, and the spa was dirty and lukewarm. It was a hot day, so I still got in for a quick dip, but got out after seeing the water surface. The uneven patio tiles were also a trip hazard and needed relaying. The views and location were lovely, but the stay didn’t match the website’s claims or the price. It describes gourmet breakfasts, aperitifs, dinners featuring local produce, home baking, pickles, preserves, and regional delicacies, but there’s no onsite kitchen. The host can cook breakfast, though it didn’t sound very appetising. As I understood it, a chef could be arranged if we’d asked in advance. A bit of care around the grounds and a more accurate website would have made for a better review.

We chose this lodge for our wedding stay in January. The setting is beautiful, and the black suite was spacious with everything we needed. The view from the back patio was lovely, and Chris went out of his way to make things special for us and Michelle when she arrived. Thanks so much, Chris. There were some cleanliness problems: flies around, dead ones left unhoovered, dirty windows, a fridge that leaked inside, and a badly stained bath. Still, for me, the good parts outweighed those issues.