Brinkley Resort

Shackeltons was a real plus for us, with good food, friendly service, and a relaxed spot for a drink. We also enjoyed dinner at the Blue or Brown Pub in town, both had a nice atmosphere and hearty meals. Our place was clean, comfortable, and had what we needed after long days skiing. We stayed in Unit 21B, a handy two-bedroom option, and joining it with 21A made a roomy three-bedroom setup for ski season at Mount Hutt. Paul and Gayle were so friendly and accommodating with our requests, and suggested Opuke Hot pools nearby. You can catch the bus straight from the hotel to the ski field, too. Brinkley was a great base for the trip, and we'd happily return.

I was travelling on my own with the boys, and this was completely upsetting. I had already found travelling alone difficult enough. Paul, the manager, was aggressive and threatening toward them, swore repeatedly, and called them the C word. When I asked him to calm down and said we felt scared and would leave, he insulted and belittled me. I called the police and am working on a formal report. I have never seen such aggressive behaviour from an adult man. Afterwards he emailed to say he was evicting us. He claimed the children had threatened his staff, so I politely asked to see the footage, but he refused. I also emailed asking for the owners' contact details so I could speak to them directly. That request has been ignored, while he continues to email me with more threats. I intend to take this further and ask the owners to contact me about this review. I strongly recommend finding other accommodation with a more professional manager. We left straight away and found much better accommodation. Editing to respond to the reply below: the boys were 14, and my eldest son did not leave our accommodation without me. The two 14-year-olds tried to get golf balls from the reception area, which was closed, although you had said on arrival they were available to use. That's where you chased them and started abusing them. The previous day, around 9:30, they were looking for the pool area advertised by your business, and you chased and scared them then too. They were away from me for two minutes on each occasion. They did not damage or cause damage to any property. We left last night respectfully and left the apartment tidy. Your claims are completely false and a lie. I again request the footage to confirm your claims, and for the manager or owner to contact me directly.

The owners were warm and welcoming, and the service was very good. We also enjoyed the hot tubs at the end of the day and had a beautiful view of Mt Hutt. We were happy with the location. At first there were just two of us, so we arranged a small room, but after looking into it more we upgraded to a two-bedroom place with a full kitchen, lounge, and more space. The rooms were comfortable, though a little dated, and the internet was very hard to connect to.

A short stay in a beautiful, very quiet spot. The rooms had everything we needed, including a washer and dryer.