Loved the view, the staff, the room, the bathroom the location, the restaurant was all great!

Due to the front desk not being maned 24/7 (which is totally fine otherwise) they stick your hotel key in an envelope on the outside of the reception door if you are arriving late. Usually not a problem. however We are pretty sure someone who was checking in late into room 6 (we were in room 9) thought they were in room 9 and tried to enter around midnight our first night waking up both me and my husband and freaking me out. This was not the hotels fault but I highly recommend writing out the word six or nine next to the number for future. Noise as well between rooms was also an issue. Our second night the room next to ours did not observe quiet hours and up loud till close to midnight. Again not the fault of the hotel just something to be aware of.

View is beautiful, the food in the hotel was very good & the room was clean & comfortable. Check in staff were efficient & friendly.

The room was really hot when we arrived (sun shining in the windows all day). The only cooling was 1 pedestal fan up on the mezzanine, so we opened all doors & windows (but no insect screens). It did cool down a bit, when the sun went down, but it was still quite warm sleeping on the mezzanine level. Maybe closing all the curtains on bright sunny days (in spring/summer) before people check in to rooms would be a good idea (then we could choose how much heat we wanted to let in).

We were able to spend a happy moment looking out at the unexpected million dollar view of Lake Hawea from the room. There was a moderately sized veranda with wooden chairs and a table, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the view. The restaurant in the hotel had a great view, was spacious, the staff was friendly, and the food was delicious.

We couldn't find any tissues. The wind was blowing so hard that we couldn't use the chairs and table set up on the veranda for long. If you're looking for a place to wander around in the evening, you'll need to drive about 15 minutes to Wanaka.

Overall, this is a fantastic hotel. The best part is that you can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine without having to dine at the hotel—no forced spending, which feels really nice. The food here is also excellent, especially the lamb shank. The venison tastes great too, though the portion is a bit small. The location is amazing, offering beautiful views right from the hotel. The only downside is that there are two sleeping areas rather than two separate bedrooms. The downstairs bed is in the living room, with no privacy at all.

"The view from our room was absolutely stunning, looking straight down Lake Hawea – it was fantastic! Being just 40 meters from the hotel made dinner and drinks an easy walk, and the shop only 300 meters up the road served a fantastic breakfast. I highly recommend this location for its convenience and breathtaking scenery."

"The only downside? We had to leave! Oh, and we must’ve picked the windiest two days in New Zealand’s history – we practically felt like we were about to take flight! Haha. But even the wind couldn’t take away from the stunning views and fantastic location. We’ll just have to come back when the weather decides to cooperate!"

This hotel is definitely underestimated. It’s large, quiet location, good facilities and also good dining room. Especially the price is unbelievable affordable. If I visit Wānaka this is the first place I will think first. And of course I visit here most of the time I choose to stay here. Many years I got the best aioli here as I am a chef , I can believe that was handmade it’s definitely amazing! And you can trust their restaurant. It’s fantastic! Good location while you dining you can check the view. When your stomach enjoy the food the same time your eyes enjoys the view lol Needless to say their staff is super friendly. It’s maybe not a luxury /modern hotel but it’s definitely a clean, out of standard and a comfortable place!

Night time the heater was not strong enough

This hotel offers a stunning lake view and fantastic cost-effectiveness, making it a great budget-friendly option. The place is around a 15-minute drive away from Lake Wanaka. The local town only has one shop and a restaurant, making the place very quiet and distant from major tourists.

The equipment is a bit outdated, and the sound insulation is poor—noisy neighbors and a loud fridge disrupted sleep at night. The second-level room was also quite small with no living space, which felt a bit cramped.

Our stay at Hawea Hotel in Wanaka was truly delightful. The hotel offers a fantastic blend of comfort and charm, set against the backdrop of stunning natural beauty. The views from the hotel were incredible, providing a serene and picturesque setting for our visit. The room was clean, spacious, and very well-appointed, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing stay. The hotel staff were friendly, welcoming, and always ready to assist with any needs or questions we had. We also enjoyed the on-site dining options, which offered delicious meals with a great selection of local and seasonal dishes. Overall, our experience at Hawea Hotel was wonderful, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Wanaka. We look forward to staying here again on our next trip.

Our stay at the Hawea Hotel was wonderful; the front desk personnel was incredibly helpful and pleasant. The mattresses had electric blankets, which made them extremely comfy. We were initially a little doubtful about the two-story hotel's lack of a split system for heating the room because there was only a radiator heater on the wall, but it was more than sufficient to heat the entire downstairs as well as the upstairs part where the kids were sleeping, and it was really comfortable. It was plenty of room for a family of four. The meals were outstanding, the restaurant was charming, and the dining service was courteous and professional. We will most certainly return and heartily recommend the accommodation and restaurant to others!

There was nothing that we didn't dislike.

The staff were fantastic, very welcoming & engaging! They were also extremely helpful. In particular, Case the Bar Manager & Max the Reception Manager! The food was fresh & delicious. The King bed was superior quality and extremely comfortable. Rooms well appointed, location & views spectacular. We will definitely return!

The actual threadbare carpet in Unit 4 and the deterioration of the outside wooden balcony, with a shoddy repair. which is a trip hazard. Both of these issues have nothing to do with the exceptional customer service that all the staff provided us. I would strongly recommend to the company that owns Hotel Hawea, that these repairs & refurbishments receive immediate attention. I feel that guests may not return due to these issues.