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5.0
#1 of 10 motels in Te Anau
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Welcome to Radfords on the Lake – luxury 5-star lakefront accommodation in Te Anau which you will love. Wake up to views of stunning Lake Te Anau and the mountains of Fiordland National Park in one of our spacious, luxuriously appointed apartments. Radfords on the Lake is the perfect base from which to explore Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound or the wider Fiordland National Park. Te Anau – Your gateway to Fiordland Our home of Te Anau is your gateway to Fiordland and the perfect location to base yourself from. Te Anau is a beautiful location in its own right, with a multitude of experiences on offer including glow worm caves, nature hikes, lake cruises and more. If you are short on time, picking up a scenic helicopter or plane ride from Te Anau over the National Park will open up some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world to you. Experience the best that Fiordland has to offer. Our carefully curated packages focus on what our guests enjoy most, from exploring Milford Sound, to experiencing New Zealand’s most famous Great Walks.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Radfords on the Lake is widely celebrated for its stylish decor that contributes to a warm and comfortable atmosphere. The rooms earn high marks for their coziness, cleanliness, and breathtaking views of the lake, offering travelers a perfect blend of comfort and picturesque scenery. Guests frequently express satisfaction with the value, finding the rates well justified by the quality of their stay.
The hotel's service is often described as exceptional, with a personal touch that leaves a lasting impression. Its location is ideal for exploring Fjordland, with easy access to main attractions and the convenience of being close to the lake and main street. Reviewers also consistently note the spotless condition of the hotel and the range of amenities that enhance their lakefront experience.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Exceptional
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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We stayed 2 nights and I would rate it one of the best motels I have ever stayed in. The rooms were reasonably large, the extras were great, like towel warming racks, plenty of heat serving of the room was first class by Kylie and Kerri at reception was very helpful and welcoming. The property is beautifully presented.
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Date of stay: May 2021
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.
Response from , Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 2 Jul 2021
What a lovely review and such a wonderful boost for us to know that your whole family enjoyed your stay as much as we enjoyed having you! Arriving back to your room being warm and cosy is part of our service to all our guests after a long day at the Sounds, we are so pleased this help make your stay one of your best. We certainly hope we get to extend another warm welcome to you in the future. Keep safe and Kindest Regards Kerri and Steve
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We recently spent a night at Radfords on the Lake and couldn't have chosen a better place to stay! We were greeted by Kerri, the lovely host, who filled us in on what we needed to do the following day. A quick phone call and she had us booked on a cruise of Milford Sound, and then provided sensible and helpful advice regarding getting to and from Milford Sound. She also offered great advice on where to eat! Our room was warm, beautifully furnished, and the bed was super comfortable. We were also lucky enough to have a couple of visits from Dexter, the resident Ragdoll cat! Thank you Kerri - we will be back!!
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Date of stay: July 2020
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.
Response from , Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 23 Jul 2020
Dear JamesM Thank you for your delightful review, you were such a pleasure to host and so pleased that our local knowledge and Southern Hospitality hit the spot! We very much look forward to your return visit so we can showcase more of Fiordland. Again thank you for choosing to stay with us. Kindest Regards Kerri, Steve and Dexter.
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Ok, i wimp out camping. This property is set on manicured lawns across from the lakes. Our lux unit was beautifully angled towards the view. Choose the rooms that have spa baths. Heavenly. In-house bikes are great for cycling into town
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Date of stay: October 2019
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.
Response from Radfords56, Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 7 Jan 2020
Dear Eli Thanks for your excellent appraisal of Radfords on the Lake. We are thrilled that your short stay was so very well received. We are glad that you appreciated our bikes for guests use, the Double Spa Baths and the manicured lawns. Thank you again and we hope to see you in the future. Kindest Regards Kerri and Steve
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From the moment we arrived, the service from Kerri was awesome. She greeted us a huge hug full of warmth and friendship which she showered us with for our entire stay (3 nights). We were shown a map of the local area, highlighting many of the local restaurants and attractions in town and even personally walked us to our room. Our room was spotlessly clean (the cleaner also must take pride in her work), beautifully decorated, comfortable bed and crisp linen, peaceful and relaxing surroundings. Kerri is a knowledgeable host, advising us to change times from afternoon to early morning boat cruise on Milford Sound due to heavy afternoon rain. We had a fabulous holiday and can only give Radfords on the Lake our highest recommendation. We will be back!
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Date of stay: January 2020
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.
Response from Radfords56, Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 14 Jan 2020
Dear Ticae, What a wonderful way to start the day by reading this! Thank you so, so much for your thoughtful and kind review. We so appreciate the time you have taken to write this, and we couldn't be more proud that you enjoyed your stay with us as much as we enjoyed having you both. We always try and offer our local advise and Southern Hospitality to make the very best of your time here so you go away with many special memories. Can't wait to see you back, to showcase more of what Fiordland has to offer! Kindest Regards Kerri and Steve
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Great 2 bedroom with a common area living room/ kitchen. Close to walk to everything in town and very kind staff running this place. Really good for families. The room we had had a giant king bed and a twin in each room so a family of six could easily be omfortable.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Response from Radfords56, Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 10 Feb 2020
Dear Jenn K Thank you for choosing to stay with us and we appreciate you reviewing your stay. We are pleased you enjoyed our property, location and friendly staff. It was our pleasure to host you and we hope you have manny fond memories of your time in Fiordland. Kindest Regards Kerri and Steve
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We had a wonderful stay at Radfords on the Lake in Te Anau. Kerri was very friendly, welcoming and helpful. She ensured that she went above and beyond to advise us about local activities and eateries. Kerri really helped to make our Te Anau adventure special. Our room was beautifully presented and immaculately cleaned each day. We were very comfortable and warm and we thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular views of Lake Te Anau. A beautiful location and so convenient being within a short walking distance from local restaurants and shops. We were very impressed with the high quality of service and accommodation during our stay. We would certainly choose to stay at Radfords again and would highly recommend Radfords on the Lake to anyone visiting this stunning part of the country.
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Date of stay: June 2020
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.
Response from Radfords56, Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 7 Jun 2020
Dear R Carter We are delighted you chose to treat yourself with a stay at Radfords on the Lake. We are thrilled to receive your kind words following your recent stay with us. It is so pleasing to hear that every aspect of your stay met with, and hopefully surpassed, your expectations. We do hope we might welcome you back in the future and thank you for taking the time to post your review. Kindest Regards Kerri and Steve
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Had a lovely 2 night stay at Radfords on the Lake. Kerri is the perfect host and she was so helpful when it came to recommending restaurants and walks in the area. The room was spotlessly clean and warm with lovely views of the lake from upstairs. The town is so close by for restaurants and shops. Unfortunately we were unlucky with visiting Milford Sound as the road was closed which was disappointing but it means we will be back to try again and will certainly be staying at Radfords for sure. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: September 2020
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.
Response from , Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 23 Sept 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience with us. We are very happy we were able to assist in providing you with a memorable time here in Te Anau, sadly as mentioned you did not get to Milford Sound due to the weather and road closure, however we look forward to welcoming you back again to complete this experience. Sincerely, Kerri and Steve Radfords on the Lake
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We stayed in the lovely room at the front with the fabulous view, just stunning. The best part of the stay is Kerrie, thank you!!!You were so helpful making it so easy to plan our time and had excellent recommendations that made our trip. All the little extra details like bringing us insect repellant for one of our excursions, chocolates etc show you go the extra mile🤗
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Date of stay: November 2020
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.
Response from , Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 20 Nov 2020
Dear Vickil We are so pleased to hear your recent stay with us was an enjoyable experience and that you particularly appreciated the view from your Suite and amenities in your room, together with the Southern Hospitality. We love what we do and to offer advise and help to plan your time here with the best experiences and dining options to make the whole package complete. . You were awesome guests to host. We appreciate you taking the time to provide to place your review and look forward to having the opportunity to welcome you back on a future occasion. Kind regards Kerri and Steve
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My wife and I just spent three nights at these accommodations and we loved it. It was perfect for us, a 2 room suite with a fully equipped kitchen, a living and dining room area, a nice bedroom and a modern bathroom all done in beautiful relaxing decor, bright, and spotlessly clean. The bed was comfortable so were the pillows(look for the more comfortable ones in the bedroom drawers), the towels were great and the robes - to die for. Free parking, free internet (not the fastest I've seen) with lovely grounds, free use of washing machine and detergent (if I'm not mistaken it was 2 dollars for the dryer), and just a five minute walk to the center of this lovely little town and a view of the lake right across the street.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Response from Radfords56, Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 24 Feb 2020
Dear Seth r Thank you for choosing to stay with us and we a delighted you enjoyed your time with here and that our accommodation, location and facilities were to your satisfaction. Sadly our internet currently is lacking but this should be overcome as the whole town hooks up to the fibre network in the very short term. You weere lovely guests to host and we hope to see you again in the future. Wishing you safe travels and Kind Regards Kerri and Steve
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I have been to Te Anau on two prior trips (early January 2017 and 2020) and always wanted to stay here given its reviews. However, lodging in the town is often nearly fully booked more than a month out. On my first trip, I had to use Airbnb. On this trip, I was excited when I was able to book a room in Radfords on the Lake. However, the day before my flight, Air New Zealand cancelled our flight from North America making our road trip impossible given ferry reservations. Kerri, the owner, graciously cancelled my reservation without fee despite being just inside the non-refundable 14-day window. We did manage to book a new trip to New Zealand a couple months later months in March and were happy to stay at Radfords. Kerri was very personable and remembered us from prior phone calls. Our one bedroom suite was nice and comfortable after a somewhat long drive from Wanaka. The hotel has laundry facilities, which we took advantage of. The hotel is located right next to the lake with the town center a few blocks away.
Most people are passing through Te Anau to visit Milford Sound and it’s a good stop for two nights to break up the drive. This gives you more time to enjoy the area around Milford Sound, potential to wait for better weather and do some hikes along the way, such as Key Summit. On my first trip, I caught the first cruise of the day on Milford sound and followed it up in the afternoon with a kayak trip the length of the sound. My second trip was a night between completing the Routeburn Track and starting the Milford Track. Of the four days, I spent in Milford Sound one was raining and you could only briefly see the peaks. This also roughly aligns with my four days on the Milford track where one day it poured rain and another day was cloudy obstructing peaks. In summary, if going to Milford Sound spend a night or two in Te Anau to have a better chance at having a good experience when visiting Milford Sound.
When I return to Te Anau (likely winter to see the classic snow on Mitre Peak), the first place I would look to stay would be Radfords on the Lake.
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Date of stay: March 2023
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.
Response from , Owner at Radfords on the Lake
Responded 29 Feb 2024
Thank you so much for you kind words and detailed review of your time here. I am very pleased I was able to assist you with your change of travel plans, when this was totally outside your control. We certainly look forward to your return in the winter, the photography opportunities are endless, with the snow capped mountains and clean and crisp air. As long as you wrap up warm, this is a magical time of the year to explore, and the added bonus is not a lot of people about. Again thank you and Kindest Regards Kerri and Steve
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Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand69 contributions28 helpful votes
Hi Limsimseng
It takes about 2.5 hours to drive by car from Te Anau (where Radfords is located) to Milford sound. If you are looking to drive into Milford Sound and then back Te Anau later in the day it's a 5 hour round trip.
The road is windy in sections so it can be a tiring day trip, particularly if you're not used to NZ roads :-) You need to be careful to go with a full petrol tank if you are driving as there is no petrol station at Milford Sound.
You can stay overnight in Milford Sound although there are not many accommodation options. We did this and highly recommend it - gives you plenty of time to do a cruise and look around.
Also easy to get there on a day tour by bus from Te Anau.
If you are driving from Milford Sound to Queenstown (one way) it will take at least 4.5 hours. (Be careful because some websites and online maps indicate it's only a couple of hours ... but it's definitely around 4.5 hours and a long drive!).
Hope this helps!
There are more places to choose from in the Te Anau area.
PRICE RANGE
$309 - $413 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
radfords lakeview hotel te anau, radfords lakeview te anau
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Radfords Lakeview Motel
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandSouthland RegionFiordland National ParkTe Anau
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are provided by our partners, 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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