Blanket Bay

For the hotel That they had everything we needed For the hospitality Every person you meet all to cheering with you and willing to help you Marcus help us to set up a nice tour which we enjoyed so much for Dart river experience

Retired Levi's exec, Tom Tusher saw the future of S Island, NZ more than 35 years ago. The property he purchased has been developed into a spectacular fishing, hiking, heli oasis. Originally conceived as a Montana fishing lodge, the recycled NZ bridge timbers create an entirely unique NZ lodge look and feel. The attention to detail extends to every employee, who enjoys employer built lodging. This enables Blanket Bay to provide world Class food & beverage service from a dining room and patio with dramatic Lake Wakatipo and mountain views. From the moment Andrew greets you at the front door of the massive lodge, you feel special. We stayed in a Chalet - it had the largest window and best view of any hotel I have ever stayed in. Want your heli to pick you up in the front yard? No worries. Want to play Shuffleboard after a great day hunting trout on the Caples or Greenstone river? Check out the lounge downstairs! Need a pack lunch for the Routburn Track - no worries mate! Expensive? Yes! Worth every penny, absolutely! A truly priceless experience!

We stayed four nights in a beautiful, spacious mountain-modern chalet room a few steps away from main lodge and loved it. The property is beautiful and well-located for access to hiking trails including the Routeburn trail. We had no problem accessing the resort or trailheads using our own vehicle but appreciated the concierge's input on current trail and road conditions given recent rainfall. Gorgeous views happen everywhere you turn so exploring the resort property is a pleasure. We enjoyed swimming laps in the 18m heated pool with a lake view. The staff was friendly and attentive, particularly in the restaurant, where the staff took pride in presenting a beautiful 4-course gourmet meal each evening. Sommelier Sebastien presided over meals and cocktail hour, making sure guests paired the right NZ wine with meals. Breakfast was excellent too. Housekeeping was immaculate and took place efficiently behind than the scenes better than anywhere I've stayed before. Highly recommend this as a place to unplug and explore the beautiful South Island.

I had the absolute misfortune of staying at Blanket Bay Lodge, and I can honestly say it was one of the worst decisions of my life. From the moment I arrived, I felt more like an inconvenience than a guest. The staff seemed bored and disinterested, acting as if every request I made was a personal affront. So much for “hospitality.” Location & Views: Everyone raves about the views of the lake and mountains, but I barely noticed anything through the haze of frustration. Sure, the scenery is gorgeous if you can ignore the fact that it takes an eternity to get there on winding roads that made me carsick. And once you arrive, you’re practically trapped—there’s nothing else around, so you’re stuck with whatever they decide to offer you on-site. Rooms & Cleanliness: The room was supposedly “luxury,” but I’ve had better nights in budget motels. The linens felt stiff and over-laundered, like sleeping on sandpaper. The décor was bland, outdated, and looked as though it came straight from a mediocre roadside inn. I found dust in every corner and a strange musty smell that lingered no matter how wide I opened the windows. Service & Staff: If you enjoy waiting ages for your food or for any type of assistance, this is the place for you. Housekeeping? Barely saw them. Reception? Half the time they were nowhere to be found, and when they were there, they seemed annoyed at my mere presence. I had to practically beg for basics like fresh towels or an extra pillow. Dining Experience: The meals were overpriced and underwhelming. I’m all for gourmet cuisine, but not when it arrives cold, flavorless, and on a tiny plate that looks more like a garnish than a meal. I ended up craving fast food just to feel satisfied. Good luck getting any special dietary requests fulfilled—staff responses ranged from blank stares to outright shrugs. Amenities & Activities: They brag about all these fancy activities, but you’ll need a small fortune to participate. Even if you do shell out the cash, don’t expect anything special. The so-called “spa” felt more like a cramped bathroom with a lukewarm tub. And if you’re into outdoor adventures, you’d better bring your own gear—what they offer is outdated or unavailable half the time. Value for Money: Honestly, it felt like I was being scammed at every turn. For the exorbitant price I paid, I expected at least basic courtesy and a comfortable stay. Instead, I got mediocre service, dingy rooms, and constant frustration. I’ve stayed in places at a fraction of the cost and had a far more enjoyable experience. Overall: Blanket Bay Lodge is all hype and zero substance. If you’re looking to waste your money, be treated like a burden, and leave feeling disappointed, by all means, book a stay here. Otherwise, save yourself the headache and find literally anywhere else. It can’t possibly be worse than this overrated lodge. Final Word: This place left me questioning every travel decision I’ve ever made. I’d rather camp in my backyard than retur

Blanket Bay lives up to its reputation as one of New Zealand’s top lodges. The lakeside position is stunning and the walks along the lakeshore from the lodge really lovely. The main lodge is on a big scale and its style is perhaps more what one would expect at a very high end lodge in the US rather than NZ. Our room was very comfortable and had lovely views of the lake. Dinner outside on the terrace in the evening sunshine was very special. The food was good, although not as exceptional as we experienced in some other places in New Zealand. Service levels were outstanding throughout our stay.

Our 3 night stay was lovely, but for this price point, there were too many “bummers”. Positives: The views were truly outstanding, the bed/bedding comfortable, included breakfasts and dinners were tasty. Damien the sommelier and Oliver the bartender/server were terrific. Fun to swim and kayak in the lake with a feeling of having it all to yourself. Easy drive into Glenorchy to access walks/shops. Issues: -Speed/attentiveness of meal service was inconsistent. Given the limited guest count, this seems like it must be an issue of needing more staff. -Towels at the pool ran out twice in a 3 day stay. -Overall property lacked any NZ character, including the inexplicably windowless game room/lounge. -Body Wash and other bathroom toiletries were not great quality (despite being specially branded for Blanket Bay) and to still be using single serve plastic containers for these seems off the mark, esp in NZ.