Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

Everything

Villa was huge with a working fireplace and a lovely mountainside view. Food was very tasty and they were flexible in providing for dietary requirements. The grounds were lovely and walking them was a treat too.

Hot tub is due for a repaint. Restaurant saff was very friendly but a bit slow. Nothing to fault the Hotel otherwise-really pleasant stay

Incredibile location

Tranquil setting. Breathing taking views.

Breakfast was very good, but choice for vegetarians were very limited. There was a set menu to choose from, which was the same every day.

Very limited choice for vegetarians. Further, since the food is served in the room, it tends to get cold by the time it reaches the room and we settle down to eat.

It was nice and quiet. Food and service was fantastic. We just struck a bad time with the weather "FOG"

The quietness, the hot tub & amazing evening sunset & watching the cloud inversion breakup.

The location The bedroom lounge and bathroom are all amazing plus a hot tub with a view. The staff were great and the stargazing experience ( whilst expensive considering there were 12 o& us doing it) was informative and fun.

Dinner service was very slow. It Over an hour after we sat down to get the main course. It’s a set menu - so there isnt any time wasted ordering. Also there is no advance notice of what the set menu actually is going to be This was an issue for us as the main course contained a lot of truffle oil. Which I really can’t eat And the desert was something my wife can’t eat. She got a replacement pudding.

The villa was much nicer than I anticipated, with its own private hot tub (maybe I missed it on the booking page, but I was pleasantly surprised). The grounds are very beautiful and you can take a walk through the woods to get to a view point for the lake.

The drive into the reception area is on a dirt road. We struggled to get through to staff via phone upon check in, check out and also once to try to order wine, although eventually we got through to someone each time. However, we understood that since the property is so large and the rooms are spread out so far, the staff are always running around (and driving around) to get to various points in the property, so it was not a problem in the end.

The shower was very good, the bed and pillows comfortable and the view towards the mountains was excellent. We ate in the main Lodge on two occasions with Luke, his wife Kaye and other guests which was very enjoyable. We attended a cooking demonstration with hufa which was excellent and was followed by a lovely lunch. Luke the owner was very prompt in coming to discuss all our concerns but couldn’t change anything, he offered the cooking demonstration and the opportunity to eat in the main lodge with him, which we accepted.

1) The gravel 1.25km road to the lodge was very uneven and full of pot holes. 2) There is no TV in any guest lodge (it’s not advertised as having a TV) but we would have liked the opportunity to choose ourselves but Luke decided ‘ no one would want to watch TV ! ‘ 3) No air conditioning in the lodge which makes it difficult to sleep when the weather is very warm, Luke said we should open the doors, but of course a lot of flies would come in and we were also worried about our security. We were given a fan. 3) The bathroom has a floor to ceiling window which is ‘mirrored’ on the outside and clear see through from inside, unfortunately, at night when the lights are on, it is totally see through from the OUTSIDE and there is no blind, which leaves you feeling very exposed. 4)Breakfast is continental and left in the fridge the day before. Eggs are available on request and brought to your lodge but by the time they arrive they are overcooked. 5) Dinner is also brought to your lodge and there is no choice, you have what the chef decides, in our four day stay we had beef twice and lamb twice and although it was excellently cooked we would have liked a choice. You also have up to a forty five minute wait between the starter and main course. 6) The photos on the website lead you to believe that all the guest lodges have a lake view, when in fact, only two have.

The property was amazing and the staff helpful before, during and after our stay. Top shelf design and amenities - everything was perfect!

Villa was super well appointed, food was amazing and aplenty. Very warm welcome by owners and staff.

The property and the staff there gave us such unique and luxurious experience at the Mount Cook. The scenery, the meals we enjoyed in our villa was top notch.

nothing

Villa itself, parking outside, view from our room, open fireplace and included dinner.

Location. The name and advertising showed a lake view and implied proximity to Mt Cook. Neither was true. We had a nice view of distant mountains (not Mt Cook) and nearer pastures with grazing deers. It was not the view we drove 4 hours to see. The retreat should be renamed Twizel Retreat.

absolutely beautiful lodge with the most amazing scenery. dinner provided to our room was nothing short of amazing. the hot tub overlooking the mountain ranges was a bonus. the entire experience was 10/10

Great breakfast, especially the salami.

Our amazing stay in the Ashley Mackenzie villa was magical! The view of the glacier lake, the mountains, and Mount Cook were spectacular. Kaye and Luke were gracious hosts and Anna was a dream to work with. The villa was first class and very well appointed. We lacked for nothing! The chef prepared 5 star dinners that were delicious and delivered every evening. Highly recommend this property for a relaxing and pampered stay.

The villa was beyond amazing. The views right on Lake Pukaki were spectacular. We had our own private workout room & hot tub, plus a private massage room & sauna that sadly went unused. Our hosts, Luke & Kaye were lovely and provided amazing cuisine both nights. There is plenty of privacy, but if any assistance is needed, they are right there to provide it.

Hosts Kaye and Luke are developing an gorgeous property on the south end of Lake Pukaki. Part of this development includes a villa for 2-4 guests. The combination of tranquility and comfort that our one night stay provided were unsurpassed in my experience. The hosts are gracious and engaging. Kaye provided a delicious basket of goodies when we arrived; after returning from Mt. Cook park in the evening, Luke brought down a wonderful prepared dinner of locally raised salmon (we had earlier selected a wine from his cellar to chill). It turned rainy that evening, so we finished the bottle by the fire in the living room. We awoke to light coming in through the bedroom windows. After a sumptuous breakfast and soak in the hot tub overlooking vistas of the lake and mountains, we felt recharged enough to (reluctantly) leave the bliss behind and push on with our travels. The ineffable pleasure this stay provided cannot really be conveyed in this small comment box. Book a night or two yourself to read the comments I (and many other enthralled guests) left behind in the guest book; you will be inspired to add yours to the list. This retreat would be perfect for a honeymoon (or second honeymoon). I dream of returning some year to see what Kaye and Luke have done to further develop the grounds.