Wanaka Alpine View Lodge — Local services in South Island

There hasn’t been much recent reviews for this place so I’d just provide a bit of recent insight for anyone looking for reviews after change of ownership. I can see from older reviews that the previous owners were probably very charming and friendly and cooked good breakfast. When we visited in August we found out that there have been new owners since end of 2018. There are a few notable differences eg there is no breakfast for the time being (though it was stated clearly on the booking information page), and I think probably the new owners have a less outgoing personality and the fact that they are not local kiwis and while they are helpful and responsive, may not feel like they are in a position to offer as much advice and tips.||||However the rooms (at least the self contained unit we stayed at) seem just as well maintained and inherited all the great features and appliances, including a fully functional kitchen, washer/dryers, heaters / air conditioners in every room, and even board games. There were some minor hiccups during our stay of 9 nights but the owners were communicative and responsive. Our kids also enjoyed feeding the sheep (the owners gave them some sheep feed). There was some unfortunate hiccups with their booking portal, charging some customers prematurely / double charging, but the owners were quick to rectify the issues and made also made additional refunds to ensure that no customer were shortchanged due to forex / bank transaction costs.||||Location is about 5 minutes drive from Wanaka town centre so it is good if you have a car. The upside is that it is very quiet and peaceful. At the time when we made the booking, there was a 10% discount for longer term stay (I think it was for more than 5 nights stay) making it great value for our family of 4 to stay at the self contained unit compared to options within walking distance of town centre.||||Overall I recommend this place if the prices are right and if you have a car. ||||My only issue is that the additional charges of 3% for using a visa card for payment was not stated on the website / in booking information page. Although I understand that it is not an uncommon practice for small businesses in New Zealand to pass own credit card processing fees to customers, it should be stated transparently and clearly including the amount for each type of card (visa / master / amex) to enable customers to make a better...

I have been staying in Wanaka for Eight Years and the straight line that runs through the experience is the traffic and attendent consequences grows ever year. ||||This makes Alpine View Lodge on the edge of town on a no through road especially attractive. ||||The original owners left a legacy of well equipped Wooden Cabins with everything you could practically need. Air source units to keep you warm or cool depending on the season. ||||I stayed in Aspiring the self contained cabin which has a fully servicable kitchen with all the modern utilities which enabled me to cook all my meals whilst staying in Wanaka. ||||The hosts hail from Shanghai and offer their own unqiue brand of hospitality based on curteousness,mutual respect and a desire to please. Cheney is fastidous in maintaining the properties and Mavis and her husband continue to prime the properties for peoples arrivals. Your key point of contact is Melianni who is as sharp as a tack and takes seriously any request or special need one may have. As a tramper I know of only one set of hosts who could add value to my existing knowledge and thats because they are trampers ! Whereas Melianni has familarised herself with all the usual activities involvling planes/choppers and four wheel drive packages whihc abound in the area.||||Next year will be my third visit with them and I very much looking forward to sharing the beautiful space that is...

We stayed in the Minaret Room last week, and quite frankly, I wish Tripadvisor allowed zero—or better yet, negative—stars. This was by far one of the worst lodging experiences I’ve ever had.||The room was a disaster: badly furnished, ice-cold, and with a non-functioning Wi-Fi connection. The space was cluttered with pointless, impractical furniture that seemed more decorative than usable—completely useless to any traveler with actual needs.||It was freezing when we arrived. Nobody had bothered to turn on any heating in advance. When we finally figured out how to switch on the heater, it only made things worse: unbearably loud and utterly useless. It made noise, not heat. Sleeping there felt like camping in a badly decorated refrigerator.||As for the Wi-Fi: it was advertised, but non-existent. I left a message with the lodge operator—radio silence. No callback, no follow-up, no fix. Clearly, guest comfort and basic services are not a priority here.||My advice? Don’t walk—run—in the opposite direction. Stay anywhere else. This place is an overpriced...