Waiorau Homestead — Hotel in South Island

Our stay was fantastic and we are beyond glad we made it on the longer side. Our hosts, Ann and Blyth, were very attentive – they’re incredibly busy people but we never ever felt second fiddle. They offered to book dinner reservations for us and a pot of tea was always ready to go. Casual conversation was lovely and it was nice to get to know the people whose home we were staying in.

The room we stayed in was lovely and roomy, with great views. It was exceptionally clean and turned down every day. The beds are nice and comfortable; I slept like a log (soft, for those wondering). There is water in the rooms and fresh glasses. The bedroom doors are individually locked and a key provided. Each side of the bed had its own electric blanket. A small bar fridge would make a wonderful addition to the rooms, though, as we could keep a juice or soda in there. I also couldn’t find a bin in the bedroom – but I might have just been blind haha.

Breakfast every morning was fresh and generous with a huge range of items for various tastes/requirements. They also made any hot breakfast at request and I had the most amazing omelette by Blyth and Bacon and scrambled eggs by Ann. To die for! They were also flexible with breakfast time, so it was ready if we needed to leave early e.g. on ski days.

We opted one night for the multi-course dinner (at an extra fee) and wow, that was so worth it. The food was fresh, had great variety and was impeccably cooked. Pre-meal, taste dislikes were noted and avoided but the meal itself was a surprise. If you’re planning to stay here, book this in-home dinner more than once!!

The bathroom was large and very clean with a huge bath with spa function. The floor around the shower is heated and there is nice big rug over the rest of the tiles to keep the tooties warm in the freezing winter. Towels were replaced daily if required. My only (very) mild gripe would be not knowing the bathroom is across the hall and not attached to the (big) bedroom, perhaps this could be clarified in the listing description? It makes the towel run from bathroom to bedroom a little embarrassing when I forgot to take clothes with me. I think the other bedrooms have ensuites, though.

The communal lounge room was very, very warm and inviting. There is always a fire crackling which was so nice to come home to. There are lots of books to read, a huge selection of DVDs which could be watched in the lounge room or in the privacy of the bedrooms. There is a PC in the corner of the loungeroom, too, for those who require it. A clever touch! The wifi is free and fast.

For those with kids – I cannot recommend enough. They are so lovely with children. SOOO lovely. They were kind and engaging to our daughter and she loved chatting to them. If at the end of breakfast, there were leftovers, Blyth gave us a container to take the extra fruit and pastries with us for our kiddo to snack on. Guys – you have no idea how many times this saved our bacon with a whingey hungry child!! Thank you!!

The view is breathtaking. There are rabbits running around and a little stream nearby, it is seriously picturesque. There is an outdoor table setting which would be wonderful in the warmer months as well as a pool. The spa was available and running, but sadly we did not find the time to use that or the fabulous outdoor fireplace.

Location-wise it is convenient if you are skiing at Cardrona – the entry is literally 200m across the street! 20mins east is Wanaka on a relatively easy to drive road. Queenstown is a little harder to get to over the mountain range, but totally doable in ~40mins.

Every day felt like we were coming home, which is a huge compliment. I rarely feel comfortable outside my home let alone in another’s home, but Ann and Blyth made sure we felt so welcome. They got to know us and we felt special and important – even though they get so many guests a year it never seemed as though we were just another booking.

Thank you for the stay, guys. We miss you already, it was like leaving family by...

A huge thank you to Ann, Blythe and Coco ( the chocolate Labrador) for your friendly and kind hospitality. Stunning and extremely peaceful accommodation with incredible decor and attention to detail. The room is extremely spacious with a sliding door leading out into the yard with beautiful mountain views. The bed is so wonderfully comfortable, we had incredible sleep and this is the first time in years I slept without any back pain as I have a rather severe back injury. The bed was so comfortable that we didn't even get out into the guest lounge at all. The shower is large and the bathroom has a heated floor, large mirror, a fan and a heater and all the amenities that you might need including a hair drier. Although we did not use the lounge, I am sure we would have if we had a longer stay. It is equipped with a lovely fireplace, tv and gorgeous sofas. The shelves are full of a fantastic selection of books and some games. We enjoyed our breakfast very much. It is served in a dining area and consists of cereals, juices, yoghurts, fruits, bread, croissants, jams and spreads, ham, cheese, tomatoes, avocadoes and freshly poached eggs. The location is very close to the Snow Farm, which was the main reason for our trip, yet it is private and quiet and away from any noise and parties. It is definitely a great place for a couple wanting to enjoy some luxury relaxation after winter activities. There is also a spa available, but we didn't get around to using it this time. Would definitely stay here again and for a longer...

What an incredible place to relax. Think innercity skyrise apartment on the 48th floor – well this is the complete opposite - the only noises we heard at night were the native birds in the morning once we had woken up naturally (rather than be woken up by our children which was a nice change). Although we had a spa bath in our ensuite the outdoor hot tub was just the ticket for my wife after her running race from Cardona to Wanaka. The food – well where do I start. The dinner was fantastic in every way. The only problem with the food was I didn’t want to stop eating. We were very spoilt and had a top class chef prepare our meal just for us as others at the lodge where either out or had eaten a private platter. It is not often you have a personal chef of this calibre just for you! The breakfast was again more than expected. One night is too short and we hope to be back in the...