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Nestled amongst the grand vistas of Mt Shrimpton you’ll find Wonderland. Listen to the Fantail and Tui as they end their day in paradise or sit outside your secluded chalet and gaze at the stars, unpolluted by the bright lights of the city. is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can truly unplug from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Just across the road at the world-famous Mt Albert Station, we offer the full farm day experience, where you can immerse yourself in every aspect of rural New Zealand life.
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We were in #1 which was fine and well equipped. Comfy bed and very well equipped kitchen. All the staff were very chatty and friendly. We arrived just as the night’s torrential rain did around 7 pm. Check in was by a friendly Argentian lad. We were able to get the car right up to the cabin door so were able to unload without gear getting wet. My partner is celiac and as there is no menu online I was concerned about meal choices for her, despite being assured in an email enquiry that they had many. We checked in to our cabin, unloaded and went straight into the busy restaurant which was a very pleasant surprise. Plenty of GF choices and prices quite reasonable. When the meals arrived they were both delicious and large portions. My slow cooked brisket was melt in the mouth and one of the best meals that I had on our 2200km road trip. I had issues with the booking but that was a booking.com issue (around the time that they got hacked) , contact with the lodge staff by email and staff resolved it. The only negative I would not is that the accommodation options on the website seem to vary a little to what is available. Tuis around the door and Keruru in nearby trees.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Wifi only available in reception area, lounge and restaurant.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On paper, it's a wonderland. And in reality, it has soooo much potential to be awesome. It's like they've started to upgrade it, but stopped partway. It's a beautiful location, with really cute buildings. The bed linen was all fresh and clean, and a lovely mattress topper, and electric blankets are always good!
We had booked this place despite knowing the rooms didn't have wifi or TVs, because of the outdoor bathtubs, and the restaurant on site. It really should be on the website at the time of booking that the restaurant is temporarily closed, rather than in the booking confirmation email, given that there are no dining options in the area. The cooking facilities in the room were also limited, and many of the dishes were greasy and needed to be washed by us before use. The bathtubs also would have required us to clean them before use, as there was leaves and dirt in the bottom of both. We're not 100% sure what it was, but we think it was a smudge of peanut butter on the kitchen floor - perhaps it has exploded in the smelly fridge. The ambient smell was also offputting. The shower curtain needed replacement as it has some mould on the bottom - which you can smell - however apart from this the bathroom was very clean.
Two of the lights wouldn't turn on. We had two heaters of weak output. It was nice that they had been turned on in anticipation of our arrival, however their heat was not really sufficient. We had to put both of them next to each other and sit on the floor next to them to stay warm.
It's a beautiful location, and having subsequently stayed in a place with similar features that had been fancied up, it is clear that this place has a lot of potential. I can't really give a higher rating, but I won't give a lower one because they did mention that were struggling with too few staff.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The chalets have definitely seen better days but they are well equipped and comfortable. The one we stayed in could sleep up to 6 and had a fully accessible bathroom which was an added bonus. The cafe/restaurant next door is still operating at a reduced rate post COVID but served an ok evening meal (closing time was 6.45pm). Breakfast the next morning was excellent with a good variety of choices available. Good for an overnight stop.
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location is beautiful: restful, away from busy Wanaka and Queenstown, and excellent for activities in the surrounding country and for jet boat or flight bookings. But despite the best efforts of a hard-working manager, this place doesn't live up to its pricing and description.
The kitchens and ablutions facilities, originally very basic, are now aged, crumbling, beyond redecoration and well overdue for replacement. Old shower mixers and plumbing could not deliver a reliable water supply and had poor drainage. Servicing was patchy with kitchen rubbish and toilet paper not attended to daily during our week-long peak season visit.
Accomodation is similarly tired and run down, with draughty, single-glazed doors and windows in a place where even summer weather can be cool. and mattresses (doubled-up) over- soft and unsupportive for some, although single-level beds were convenient. Linen was clean and in good condition. Paying $82pp for a 4-share sleeping accom
Many tent sites were not level. Coin-in-slot laundry appliances were old and unreliable with several not working - this is poor, when many guests are outdoors enthusiasts who arrive dirty, wet and cold.
Restaurant meals were 'barely OK', and service was haphazard with some of our group (having ordered the same menu item at the same time) not served until others had long finished eating. Youthful counter staff appeared inexperienced, serving the acceptable range of chilled beverages into hot glassware straight out of the dishwasher.
Clearly a high on-and low off-season demand makes owning and maintaining a place like this difficult, with staffing, servicing and cash flow problems.
We hesitate to recommend Wonderland. Its owner would be well advised to spend a few nights in their own establishment, to experience it as guests do.
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This lodge is located in the remote back country north of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka, south of Haast Pass. It is a good location for those exploring the back country, especially the classic Gillespies Pass tramping route or, otherwise, as a stop-over on a tour of the South Island. Right next door is Wilkin River Jetboats, which offers an experience just as thrilling as anything that Queenstown has to offer. The accommodation consists of a number of A-frame chalets scattered around in a park-like setting, with kitchen, dining room and shower facilities, a cafe/restaurant and recreation area. I was satisfied with the buildings - the rooms were clean and functional, there was plenty of hot water in the showers. We had lunch in the cafe, I would recommend the pies - baked on the premises and of generous proportions! We were a tramping club - we had one group which stayed at the lodge for a week and made day trips into the surrounding mountains, another which stayed here for only a couple of nights between longer trips. Communication with the management was good, they proved to be flexible and cooperative in meeting our wishes. I would be happy to stay here again.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Location
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Service
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are laws that protect renters, giving a minimum level of standard. Why can't lodges, motels and hotels have something similar?
This lodge should be shut down. By far the worse experience we've had that almost ruined the whole family trip. From a totally drunk owner driving his truck with a beer in his hand offering towels (and later on a quad bike with more beer, hitting on some of the ladies), to disgusting old, mouldy & rotting lodges. The online pics are definitely photoshopped/enhanced.
Beds that had blood stains on them, and walls that had semen stains too.
Kettle is dirt black inside, possibly used to wash undies in, or never cleaned.. Cups have stains in them from use.
Shower is covered in black mould. None of us used the toilet that day (skipped to next town for toilet). Power plugs that don't work, bedside lamps that are broken..
The outdoor "spa" is literally 2 rusted banyo tubs.
Used mouse trap behind the fridge..
Coil hobs from the 70's with dirty aluminium foil under them.
This place should be condemned, reported to the right authority, and shut down.
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Date of stay: December 2022
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have difficulty writing this review because I understand times are tough right now, but my stay was especially disappointing. I stayed in late December after tramping for 5 days and arranged my jetboat and trip so I could walk to the accomodation and go to my room.
1. My room wasn't available until 3.30pm (I was in the onsite kitchen waiting, and didn't actually realise my room was ready until 4pm when I went to investigate) even though check in was at 2pm. This wasn't dealt with in a professional way.
2. The accomodation had only just reopened and it was obvious. The room was damp and smelt like mildew and must.
3. There was a huge leak near the kitchen that a rug had been put overtop of, making the carpet and the rug absolutely sodden. It was clear they were trying to hide the leak.
4. When checking in at the front desk, the man didn't even greet me. He sat and stared at me until I said something - extremely rude.
If these had been communicated, and the issue with the check in been dealt with professionally I wouldn't have an issue. But "you can go have a shower in the communal facilities while you wait" was not on.
For what its worth, it is in a fabulous location and the baths were lovely - but seriously needs some work and shouldn't book out if they don't have the staffing to facilitate this.
There is also no wifi in the rooms and it's worth noting only some staff were wearing masks and they weren't controlling customer mask use.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The accommodation was good but there was no stove top as we were told. Thankfully they had a shared Lodge with kitchen to use for cooking but based on the room we booked it made it seem the stovetop was in our room (pics showed this also) so just caution when booking if that’s important to you. The shared lodge space was clean and nice to use also.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have stayed at this little gem several times, and will go back again and again. It is a magic little spot in an amazing part of NZ. The service here is wonderful. The accommodation is clean and very reasonably priced. It is peaceful, and a lovely chance to be 'off grid' in nature for a few days (although they do have wifi if you need it. The main reception offers coffee and counter food, and there is a restaurant with very reasonably priced meals if you don't feel like cooking.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
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Service
Room Tip:You cant really go wrong on rooms - they are all tucked away in bush settings.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for new years eve, so after doing some laundry we headed down to the lodge for dinner which was steak night. Steak was tasty and buffet extras included mushroom sauce which was delish. Wifi only available at the main lodge and the bottom lodge, which was no problem. We stayed in one of the ensuite A-frames which were very cool. Bed was comfortable (however it was quite light so moved very easily) Great shower, and other facilities provided (fridge & toaster/kettle) was much appreciated. Room had heating and bluetooth speaker attached to the roof heater. Petrol wasn't available but we filled up in Haast
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Date of stay: December 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Makarora area.
PRICE RANGE
$162 - $180 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Makarora Tourist Centre
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandOtago RegionMakarora
NUMBER OF ROOMS
33
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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