Blanket Bay — Hotel in South Island

I had my expectations set extremely high due to the positive reviews of the property and my previous experiences in New Zealand lodges and Relaix and Chateau properties. Unfortunately I was left feeling disappointed.||Positives:|1. The location of the lodge is breath-taking. Set on the shores of lake Wakatipu overlooking snow-capped Mount Bonpland your first impression is Wow! The beauty and serenity of the location is undoubtedly unique and impressive, and I couldn’t get enough of the view.||2. Arrival and check-in was seamless. In fact there was no formal check-in but rather just a tour of the property whilst they quickly placed our luggage in the room. No forms to complete or credit card exchange. ||3. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, greeting you with smiling faces and eager to assist.||4. The beds, pillows and linens are incredibly soft and comfortable, and combined with the silence of the location you will have an amazing sleep.||5. Breakfast has a nice mix of cold buffet items (cold meats, cheese, pastries, yoghurt) and your choice of hot dish including a traditional full breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown and black pudding, eggs Benedict, omelette or really anything you choose. It’s relaxed and uncomplicated.||Negatives:|1. The lodge room is just that, a rather small, drab room with no living/sofa area, no desk, no fireplace. This compares unfavorably with the base category at Huka Lodge which is a junior suite almost 50% larger with sofa, fireplace and French doors which open on to the lawn and river.||2. Whilst the bedding is soft and enveloping the towels unfortunately are course and scratchy.||3. The lodge has an odd mix of woods which aesthetically don’t match. The floors and doors are a highly glossed orange color wood whilst the roof and timbers are a rustic unvarnished dark brown. They clash.||4. The main living room has high ceilings with amazing views and is beautiful. However the bar is unappealing and the games room in the basement has zero ambience or charm and feels drab.||5. There are very few areas to sit and relax outside despite there being vast lawns to utilize. In fact, it’s really only poolside that has loungers, and the cushions for these were away being cleaned during our stay. They should invest in comfortable loungers / steamer chairs placed in the gardens overlooking the lake.||6. Unlike Huka Lodge where there are at least 6 locations throughout the property where you can dine, Blanket Bay really only offer the indoor restaurant and patio outdoor area. That’s a shame given the size of the property.||7. Dinner at Blanket Bay is a 4-course set menu which changes every evening. Be prepared for complicated dishes which utilize anything and everything the chef was able to source that day. This means that sometimes the flavors become confused and what should be the star of each dish becomes overtaken by other elements. ||If location is the deciding factor for your choice of lodge then it’s difficult to beat the location of Blanket Bay. However, in terms of accommodation, food and value for money I would recommend Huka Lodge over Blanket Bay. Huka Lodge feels smaller and more intimate. Its base category rooms are beautiful junior suites on the river with living areas and fireplaces to curl up in front of. It has multiple distinct dining areas dotted around the property to give you privacy and the dining is less complicated whilst retaining the high quality and flavors unique to New Zealand. When you consider the price point is similar for both properties the...

Blanket Bay is a spectacularly beautiful and isolated location and Blanket Bay Lodge takes full advantage with amazing, tranquil and wild views (depending on the weather) of the lake and surrounding mountainous landscape. The main lodge is styled on a classic American stone lodge, with stone walls, at scale exposed timber beams and structures, timber floors, large fire places, classic framed paintings, model ships and oversized sofas.

We stayed in a lodge suite, which was grand in size and style, with exceptional privacy and two comfortable arm chairs positoned to take in the amazing views. The weather was cold during our visit and the in room gas fire place provided great warmth and atmosphere. The super king size bed was extremely comfortable and the bathroom with double basin and underfloor heating was very functional. The rooms, like the lodge, are not ultra-modern. They are a gracefully aged style, which has been well maintained.

The biggest disappointment with Blanket Bay was the food, specifically the five course dinner service. The five courses were bread, appetiser, entree, main and dessert. Across the multiple nights we dined, there was not a single sauce served with any of the food. One night with the venison main, a jus was served but it was a watery, tasteless mixture and did not qualify as a sauce. As a consequence, the food was very dry, and while some of the proteins were well cooked, the lack of a sauce meant very few of the dishes worked. It seems the Head Chef is trying to be different and distinguish the cusine by not serving sauces and replacing them with dabs of cream and gel. Two of the appetisers were also a little mystifying, when we were served a single prawn with the prawn dish and on another night a single scallop with the scallop dish. It would be better to serve these as hor dourves at the pre-dinner drinks session if fresh seafood is in short supply or too expensive to justify.

Timing of a five course dinner service can also be challenging and we mostly thought it was too fast, indeed one night we sat down for dinner at 7:15pm and all food had been served before 8pm. Other nights were slightly better. The lodge likes to seat everyone in the main dining room (colder weather) and the dominant view is of the fire place, so the views aren't great and with a full dining room there is little intimacy given noise and proximity to other diners.

Sometimes you can take a concept too far, and in this case the Head Chef is short changing the diners and his accomplished kitchen team, by eliminating sauces in the dinner menu. As a result it detracts from the overall experience and reduces the rating.

The overall lodge service is professional and any preferences you may have will be accomodated to high standards. The team is a mixture of experienced hoteliers and young staff learning their way in the industry. Overall the combination works well.

Blanket Bay Lodge is an accomplished luxury lodge set in a spectacular location. We really enjoyed our stay and with some modest changes to the evening dining experience, the lodge can sustain its position as one of New...

I had the absolute misfortune of staying at Blanket Bay Lodge, and I can honestly say it was one of the worst decisions of my life. From the moment I arrived, I felt more like an inconvenience than a guest. The staff seemed bored and disinterested, acting as if every request I made was a personal affront. So much for “hospitality.”||||Location & Views: Everyone raves about the views of the lake and mountains, but I barely noticed anything through the haze of frustration. Sure, the scenery is gorgeous if you can ignore the fact that it takes an eternity to get there on winding roads that made me carsick. And once you arrive, you’re practically trapped—there’s nothing else around, so you’re stuck with whatever they decide to offer you on-site.||||Rooms & Cleanliness: The room was supposedly “luxury,” but I’ve had better nights in budget motels. The linens felt stiff and over-laundered, like sleeping on sandpaper. The décor was bland, outdated, and looked as though it came straight from a mediocre roadside inn. I found dust in every corner and a strange musty smell that lingered no matter how wide I opened the windows.||||Service & Staff: If you enjoy waiting ages for your food or for any type of assistance, this is the place for you. Housekeeping? Barely saw them. Reception? Half the time they were nowhere to be found, and when they were there, they seemed annoyed at my mere presence. I had to practically beg for basics like fresh towels or an extra pillow.||||Dining Experience: The meals were overpriced and underwhelming. I’m all for gourmet cuisine, but not when it arrives cold, flavorless, and on a tiny plate that looks more like a garnish than a meal. I ended up craving fast food just to feel satisfied. Good luck getting any special dietary requests fulfilled—staff responses ranged from blank stares to outright shrugs.||||Amenities & Activities: They brag about all these fancy activities, but you’ll need a small fortune to participate. Even if you do shell out the cash, don’t expect anything special. The so-called “spa” felt more like a cramped bathroom with a lukewarm tub. And if you’re into outdoor adventures, you’d better bring your own gear—what they offer is outdated or unavailable half the time.||||Value for Money: Honestly, it felt like I was being scammed at every turn. For the exorbitant price I paid, I expected at least basic courtesy and a comfortable stay. Instead, I got mediocre service, dingy rooms, and constant frustration. I’ve stayed in places at a fraction of the cost and had a far more enjoyable experience.||||Overall: Blanket Bay Lodge is all hype and zero substance. If you’re looking to waste your money, be treated like a burden, and leave feeling disappointed, by all means, book a stay here. Otherwise, save yourself the headache and find literally anywhere else. It can’t possibly be worse than this overrated lodge.||||Final Word: This place left me questioning every travel decision I’ve ever made. I’d rather camp in my backyard than return to Blanket Bay Lodge. Zero...