Kinloch Wilderness Retreat

Stunning views, peaceful, excellent food, helpful and cheerful staff and interesting history

Bad Data, bad phone line, bad internet

We changed our booking at the last minute and ended up in one of the dorm rooms with four beds, two bunks. These rooms are designed for two occupants and was extremely crowded with four of us without enough space to keep our luggage. On the positive, the setting is lovely, the public spaces are well maintained with everything you need. The washing/dryer machines are much appreciated after tramping. The staff are wonderful and helpful. on the negative, the sandflies are nasty, and the code system to get into the rooms is a nightmare.

If you want to be close to nature very weak network and wifi but will get some if you are desperate then this is the place. Your shared bathrooms are pretty big cozy and nice & clesn with all amenities you can imagine. Their breakfast is really good with a killer view and outdoor hot tub has a very nice view. Amazing experience!

Such a beautiful properly in an amazing part of the world.

It was a very lovely stay there. I slept in the dorm and it was the most silent dorm I have been. The shared kitchen is big enough for everyone and I really enjoyed the silence there. It is perfect for a little break in the nature. I spent some minutes in the hot tub in the morning and felt so good.

Tha accommodation was nicely decorated, all clean and modern. We stayed in the lodge building with a shared bathroom and lounge. The room was comfortable but extremely small. I had a lot of difficulty walking around the bed and to fit our two suitcases in the room. The shared kitchen was very well appointed and a good meeting place. There also was a hot tub but that was a bit disappointing, great view though. There are all different sorts of accommodation, from luxury till budget and a campground opposite.for me it was a bit confusing and mixed up. I loved sitting on the veranda but there were very many sandflies and they were very aggressive. The most from all my traveling through New Zealand. I’ve sprayed insect repellent but got still bitten over 30 times and ended up staying indoors. A real shame as the surrounding is so nice and calm.

Stunning location for some rest n relaxation. Or plenty of walking and outdoor activities nearby if that’s your thing. Enjoyed just taking in the vista along with tasty snacks. We stayed in an eco lodge which had all we needed. Definitely need to apply sandfly repellent. A non toxic variety was supplied. A tranquil vibe. It’s about a 75min drive from Queenstown around the lake.

Our stay at Kinloch Wilderness Retreat far exceeded my expectations. Our rooms were very comfortable and access to the living area and library/game room and front porch made the visit particularly delightful. There were plenty of opportunities to "lounge" and relax. One in our party initially had some concern about sharing a bathroom. However, it never presented a problem and the bathrooms were always accessible, spacious and clean and tidy. We particularly appreciated the opportunity to bring our own food and drink and to have use of the large kitchen and dining hall. Space for our food was provided in a large refrigerated section and also in individual plastic containers intended for shelf staples. The lodge provided ways to label everything. It was delightful meeting other trekkers from around the world and sharing cooking, food and conversation. We took a kayak trip which was also wonderful and a great way to see the great beauty of the area. The retreat was close to the Routeburn Track and other hiking areas as well as some filming locations for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was all splendid. Staff were personable and helpful. I would highly recommend this place and hope to return some day.