Abba Court Motel & Apartments

We’ve travelled as a family with two young children and stayed in many places, but we’ve never had a host be so hostile over a small extra charge. Communication felt argumentative from the outset, with long messages picking at minor details that we had to deal with while travelling. There was no one on site to talk to, and everything seemed to be handled remotely by an owner who didn’t appear to live in the country. The property has several cameras, and the owner seemed to be watching them constantly. That made the stay uncomfortable. The high fees for infants also seemed unusual to us. The money itself wasn’t the point, it was the unprofessional, accusatory way the situation was handled, starting before we arrived and carrying on during the stay. We can’t recommend the property based on our experience. I hope the owner thinks about how they communicate with and treat guests.

The worst accommodation experience we’ve had, and one of the biggest mistakes of our trip. There was no staff on site, and messages from the owner were long and confrontational. Even small issues were met with accusatory language, making the place feel stressful from the beginning. We felt watched because there are multiple cameras around the property, and it seemed obvious our movements were being monitored closely. As a family with two young children, we found that invasive. We were also surprised by the extra infant charges, which we’ve rarely encountered. The way those were discussed felt aggressive. We’ve never been charged that way elsewhere in NZ or any other place. Things got much worse while we were still there. The owner suddenly confronted us in person about a one-star review. He acted aggressively and intimidatingly, and our children were terrified and started crying. We began recording for our own safety. He even threatened to call the police simply because we’d left an honest review. This was extremely distressing. The way the property is managed felt hostile rather than welcoming, and I strongly warn other travelers to avoid it.

I’m planning another Queenstown ski trip for 2026, and after staying in all three large hotels on Gorge Road over the years, I’ll be choosing Abba Court again. My last two stays there were great for me and my ski mad teen son. The larger apartments, good servicing, handy location to town, and supermarket right opposite have all been a real bonus. I don’t usually review places, but I saw the recent one-star review. The owner, not a manager, lives on site, and Lyndon has been genuinely helpful when I’ve planned stays. He’s easy to contact. I’m also glad there are external cameras for obvious reasons. Tourism is a tough business, not a charity. Expecting discounts on competitive advertised prices that you accepted when booking seems unreasonable to me, and reflects more on the poster than the business. I’d rather spend my money with a local business than a corporate chain.

It was easy to get around on foot from here, with everything within walking distance, but the spot still felt a little tucked away and quiet from the main street. Check-in and checkout were straightforward, and we were completely self-sufficient. I’d recommend it and would definitely return.