Matariki Star

We booked the whole house for six adults and two children. It had pretty much everything, though the kitchen could use serving dishes and a few more cooking utensils. It was very cold overnight, so we appreciated the gas hot shower, electric blankets, spare fan heaters, and extra blankets. The washing machine and clothes airer were useful too. A really great stay.

It’s a modern, clean place, but expensive for two people and uncomfortable for three. The dirty wine glass made me wonder if anyone had inspected the unit. Guests are expected to clean everything, even take recycling to the bin on the other side of the building. There are threatening signs saying you’ll be charged a penalty if you don’t wash and clean the dishes. At this price, guests shouldn’t also have to be the cleaners.

Please check every detail of your booking as soon as you make it. I booked a three-room chalet through Expedia back in November for a February stay, and Expedia confirmed that type. When I opened the confirmation link two weeks before the visit, it showed a one-bedroom chalet instead. I wasn’t refunded, and everything nearby was fully booked, so I couldn’t go elsewhere. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and I won’t recommend this place. If you do book, bring special plugs for NZ, as the chalets don’t have any USB charging ports.

I stayed in the one-bedroom studio, a lovely home away from home. Everything was new, the bed was very comfortable, and the place was warm in winter. The property manager had turned on the heater before I arrived. James was really friendly and shared useful information, including the road conditions. He was on his lunch break when I arrived, but still let me into the studio early. Anyone travelling to Lake Tekapo should check this place out.