Stayed here for two nights with my husband while on a months trip thru New Zealand.
After reading all the reviews on here plus checking out their website we decided Gingerbread lodge sounded wonderful and looked forward to it after some bland genetic motel and hotel stays.
We arrived at midday and saw another couple walking up and down the road looking for the B&B as well......it's not sign posted at all and just blends in with the other residential houses.
Apparently the council won't let the owner put a sign outside but if he wrote it on the side of his mail box then maybe it would help.
We found the B&B and a note on the door with a number to call upon arrival,we were only 2 hours early for check in but no one was home.
My husband got thru eventually to a guy who told us to go around the side as the door was unlocked,he then asked my husband what room we'd paid for and we had to guess which was our room.
We waited an hour but no one came to the house so we went out to explore Christchurch.
Upon return at 7pm we walked awkwardly into the house and a room of people in the dining area,said hello as we didn't know if they were guests or the owners......no one said who they were and we just got a hello back so off we went to our room!
Later on my husband goes out to make some tea and talks to another guest,turns out the woman who makes breakfast was there when we came in earlier she just didn't introduce herself or tell us anything about breakfast in the morning etc.

The next morning my husband goes into the dining room and has to ask who is in charge,he is asked how he wants his egg cooked but when he asks what are the options for breakfast the owner/guy in charge just says he can have whatever he wants.
My husband just has toast and cereal......it's easier.
The next morning we checked out at 9am as we had a flight,that's the first time I find out which 'face' is the owner as he starts asking me as I'm putting my bag into the car if I want a coffee or anything before we go.
This place feels like a halfway house or a hostel,it's too much money for what it is.

I seriously felt like we were in the wrong B&B-where was this magical 'Miki' and her amazing host skills,where was this family dog I'd read about!?
We didn't get woken with pancakes or a hearty breakfast like the reviews here suggest,I never felt I wanted to leave the room let alone sit and eat breakfast out there,I felt awkward and uncomfortable for the entire time.

Having a welcome note in the room would help if you are not around to welcome guests,maybe a photo of yourself so people know who you are or just firmly introduce yourself when you see a guest you have not met yet?!
A small menu in the breakfast area-maybe a chalk board of the options available would help things in the morning?
Write the name of the lodge on the mail box or on a small plaque on the door if the council won't allow your big sign.
I just felt like I was sleeping at someone's Granny's house not staying in a homely B&B lodge for $120 a night.
I seriously couldn't wait to get away from this place.......

Gingerbread Lodge came highly recommended on Tripadvisor, hence my recent 2 night booking there. The home is lovely, quaint and characterful just as the photos show. Miki is very friendly and helped us by confirming shuttle reservation to airport and suggesting options for sightseeing. With regard to the rooms, I was really sorry that I had not opted for one with a private bathroom as opposed to a shared one.. I think I overlooked that when I booked. We also did not have a car and I hadn't realized that it was so far out of the city and also from the restaurants..the first night, another guest kindly gave us a lift to the restaurant neighbourhood and the second night, we were too tired to walk having spent the day on our feet! if you have your own car, it wouldn't be a problem....so mixed revue from my point of view.