Lakefront Apartments & Lodges — Hotel in South Island

We stayed in unit 16, and after reading the reviews here I admit it’s one of the better units than others. Still even this place is definitely one of those “looks better in photos” situations- kind of like an Instagram filter. The images shared here make it look modern and well-kept (I admit it is nicely furnished) but in reality, it could be improved with just a little TLC.

Like another guest mentioned, first impression when checking in at reception, it was located at a different tired, aging old building- not quite matching the sleek look in the Booking.com photos. We then had to drive over to our actual apartment block next door. On the plus side, parking was easy (though better suited for a small car), and there was convenient lift access to our unit.

The best part? The location ⭐️and the view ⭐️. It’s just a 5-minute walk to the town center, and the view from the livingroom is beautiful (see photo). The unit is styled nicely at first glance ⭐️, with a spacious kitchen and well-stocked with essentials like a electric kettle, stove, microwave, utensils, tea, coffee, and cleaning supplies. But the little things gave away the lack of care- like a teapot was filthy and had remnants of tea still. It made me question the overall standard of housekeeping and maintenance.

We stayed in a duplex unit, with two bedrooms downstairs: one queen and one twin. The stairwell showed noticeable wear and scuffed walls. The bedrooms were generally well-furnished, but everything felt carelessly placed. The queen room in particular had mismatched furniture and odd touches- like a painting stuffed inside the wardrobe. The wardrobe doors didn’t even close properly due to misaligned hinges, which just added to the sense of neglect.

The downstairs bathroom is spacious and looked decent at first but lacked functionality. There were no hooks to hang clothes, and the electric towel rack was dangerously loose- it fell off the wall during our stay, so we didn’t dare use it. There was no proper heating either, just a wall-mounted fan unit. The shower had great water pressure and stayed hot, and toiletries were provided, but unfortunately the base had yellowish-brown stains, which was a bit off-putting. However, the smaller bathroom upstairs was clean- it also is connected to a laundry offering the use of a washing machine and dryer.

Upstairs felt slightly better. The living room was cozy, and I appreciated little extras like cushions on the couch and basket of blankets under the TV unit. The Smart TV was a nice touch as well as the floor fan and stylish little interior decor knick knacks. The kitchen flows into the lounge, opening up to a balcony with lovely views. In theory, it’s a great setup- but the balconies themselves felt neglected: small, sparse, and not inviting to sit out on.

The biggest downside, though, was what happened in the middle of the night. Around 3 a.m., we were jolted awake by a loud fight involving several young male guests in the hallway. There was yelling, banging on a door, and what sounded like a physical struggle spilling into one of the units. It was genuinely unsettling. We tried calling the customer service number printed on a flyer and placed on the coffe table, but the number was disconnected- I had considered whether we should call the police. The next morning, a cleaning crew was stationed outside what we assume was the unit involved.

In the end, I was left disappointed by the huge gap between what’s marketed and what we actually experienced. That said, it is reasonably priced (paid $300 a night) which I think it’s a good deal for a duplex- so it could work for a quick overnight stop, but I wouldn’t recommend it for families, solo female travelers, or anyone wanting a peaceful and...

We stayed in a two bedroom apartment. The parking is a bit tight and is for cars or AWD/4WD. If you plan to have an attachment on the roof of your AWD or 4WD it's best to call them before booking so you know for sure your car will fit in. There is ample street parking which is always full.

These apartments are situated next to Queenstown CBD so close to shops and restaurants. Opposite to the apartments is Lake Wakatipu. The view from the living room balcony is of The Remarkables and Cecile peak. The master bedroom (downstairs) also has a balcony which gives a view of the apartment building in front of the Lakefront property.

The apartment was clean. Staff are friendly and helpful. These apartments are all privately owned apartments so no two apartments will be the same from furnishing perspective. Our apartment unfortunately had a few issues and certainly did not give a 4 star feel. If I was to look only from a location and view perspective (living room only) yes I may rate it between 3.5 to 4 star.

The size of rooms is large and does not look congested. A toilet in laundry room is provided next to the enterance door. Washing machine and dryer has been provided. Powder can be purchased from reception. Kitchen had a dishwasher however overall needs updating. The electric stove gave a smell for a minute or two everytime we turned it ON. The exhaust worked but the light did not. The carpet overall looks worn out. In the living room balcony 3 outdoor plastic chairs were provided but no table. The chairs were not clean or had stains on it, either way simply did not touch them.

The bedrooms are large. Beds and pillows were comfortable. The bathroom downstairs is common between the two bedrooms. It had a bath with a shower combination plus toilet. The exhaust fan did not work plus one of the folding shower screens was broken.

The bathroom was provided with 5 soaps and shampoo satchels which is rear and was a positive.

Overall the apartment we lived in needs a bit of renovation. The owners of this apartment should be replacing the carpet, repair scratches and holes in wall, update the kitchen, replace balcony chairs and provide a small foldable table.

I discussed these issues with the onsite manager who was friendly and understanding.

Not sure if all apartments are in a similar state or not but I wouldn't rate this as a 4 star apartment based on the issues we saw and price we paid. Plus the master bedroom balcony has no view which is not specified in the advertisement atleast and was a disappointment.

The apartment we stayed in can certainly be worth 4 star once renovation is carried out and the advertisement clearly says bedroom balcony view is obstructed by the hotel in front of this apartment.

Every traveller has a different set of requirements so please don't just disregard this property. Work it out if these issues matter to you or not and the expectations you have. Speak to reception frankly and they will assist. The apartments are in walking distance to the...

Great location, but unfortunately no where close to “4 star”. As mentioned in previous reviews, the check-in process is a farce, with you having to check-in at the totally differently named “Lakeside Motel”, which is located next door. This would be fine if you were told this, however both website and prior email correspondence was totally devoid of any instructions informing of this process. Had I not by chance found out the next door check-in location from a random guest, we most likely would’ve spent our first night somewhere else.|The apartment was immaculately clean upon arrival, however was more like a basic 2-21/2 star motel. We arrived to find one of the kitchen doors hanging off its hinges, bottom milk tray holder in the fridge broken & off its rails, & a broken rubbish bin lid on the kitchen bin. The TV had been poorly attached to the wall & hung at a 10 degree sloping angle (we adjusted by simply tilting our heads to the side after a while). Furniture looked like it was sourced on an absolute budget, with cheap mismatched settings, although it still managed to do the job. Kitchenware “bric n brac” was minimalist & cheap.|However, we found the beds comfy, and the carpeting & vinyl floor coverings were clean & modern, as were the bathrooms. Heating was fine, appliances were fine, although the clothes dryer shook so violently & loudly that we decided it safer not to use. Carparking was tight, but none more so than your typical Queenstown parking offering, and being under cover was a plus.|Internet was patchy, with constant needs to re-enter Wi-Fi codes, and TV channel coverage was profoundly disappointing. Nickelodeon & Sky Sports 1 seemed to be the only offerings apart from the very limited & poor quality free-to-air offerings.|Daily servicing of the apartment was excellent & consistently of a high standard. |The views are spectacular, the position close to town is excellent, but unfortunately, Lakeview Apartments Queenstown are a long shot from 4 stars…They’re more like a budget appointed accomodation, although they charge a...