Cross Hill Lodge & Domes — Local services in South Island

New Zealand friendliness personified, this relaxing camping ground is in a great location for activities and sight-seeing. The owners have expanded to provide a glamorous version of camping that approximates a self-contained apartment with a kitchenette. Still a tent, though a high-tech geodesic frame covered with PVC, and good heating and hot water.||Views are of the rest of the camping ground, but that is part of camping ground life. |The lodge was once a home, now converted to the office, sitting room and whiskey room. The deck was also the place for communal breakfast (the dinners are no longer offered). While they do cater for dietary restrictions, each morning provides only one cooked option, e.g. pancakes one day, scrambled eggs & bacon the next. They did have cereal and juice each morning (and tea and coffee). Different milks are offered, and coconut yoghurt. Staff were very helpful with laundry, offering access to their washing machine and dryer, which made our life so much easier.||There was an onsite food truck that served the whole camping ground which had excellent family-pleasing burgers and pizzas. Loved the vegetarian pulled jackfruit burger (jalapeno marinade) with cheese and slaw on a sourdough bun. They aren’t open every day though, so check the hours that they operate. The town is 1.2 km walk away with a popular little supermarket /cafe and other hotel eating options.||This is a well thought out concept that delivers in comfort with an...

Wonder stay at the domes! We booked this as a last second accommodation since we left a different stay a day early. The Domes were a new level of glamping, with temperature controlled heating, an electric fireplace and blankets, hot water, a mini refrigerator and copious shower pressure. The location is next to a camping site, but far enough away to not be bothered by the kids running around and music for the camp sites. The domes are close to the lake (a 2 minute walk), and the location has a hot tub for any of the dome families to use with prior reservation. We had a great experience with a super clear night (the moon was so bright, it was like a light was on in our room) to gaze the stars, and we woke up in the morning to rain pattering on the dome top with a nice relaxing sound. Breakfast was good and served at a community table, unfortunately we were next to a boisterous family who were eating everything and anything that was served. The Team at Cross Hills did their best to make sure we were...

The host (Tom) is good at his job and was passionate about the offering, the breakfast was delicious, and the decor was fancy.

I am emabarrased about writing this as it is negative but I dont want other people to get their hopes up. My wife and I were excited to get here as Lake Hawea is a favorite of ours, however, it was a major let down. Some people will get excited about these and the novelty of them but if you are after a place to chill out in nature, read a book or have a romantic stay I would suggest saving your money.

The advertising does not reflect reality. You are staying in a campground with no view of Lake Hawea or the mountains but a view of a campground toilet block and an old bus. The domes reflect the pathway light and seeing stars at night is impossible, opening the curtains in the day reveals the campground and no privacy, we could hear the conversations of the people in the dome next to us and to top it off the AC unit which was above our head heads rattled and made...