The room was large and comfortable with a view of the lake in the distance. It was quiet and had reliable Wi-Fi. Breakfasts were amazing! Staff was friendly. And one of my favorite things was the library common area. It had a fireplace and a constant supply of free drinks and pastries. Plus, they had converted an old confessional into a dumb waiter to send up the baggage. So fun!

Nothing really. The only slight downside might be that it’s a bit of a walk to restaurants and the lakeshore, etc. But that also means it’s quiet and peaceful. And it’s only a few minutes’ drive to the main part of town.

The welcome from the receptionist was lovely, the grounds and driveway were impeccably kept and welcoming. The entrance was historiacla, as was the whole building, but warm and inviting. The theme of the accommodation was in keeping with he history of the building with little poems and notes to explain artefacts in each of the rooms. The complimentary bar made the library an enjoyable room to sit and relax and speak to other guests. Table tennis was good fun. A quirky, delightful historic place to stay with polite and friendly staff. Attention to detail throughout. The breakfast in the chapel room was a delight. We would highly recommend and would stay here again.

Nothing

The surroundings were absolutely immaculate. This is a prior convent and the peace and stillness remain. The building is old with solid wood beautifully laid. Our room was great with a firm mattress. The heated tile bathroom floor was an added bonus. Shower was hot with great water pressure. The freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and fresh breakfast was perfect but the library was the ultimate for comfort, beverages, baked sweets and beautiful views. Kim got us reservations for suppers that were fine dining in a casual atmosphere. It was a rare treat to be here.

What a fun experience! As an old Convent, the property has been kept as close to period as possible. Beautiful features, memorabilia and feel. Staff were more than amazing, we were greeted to freshly baked biscuits on arrival. As a group of 9 with a very packed schedule, it was a real treat to stay there and not just another hotel. I stayed in the rail carriage and it was a really immersed experience. It had a full sized bath, which I took full advantage of. The host cooked us breakfast at 5:30 as we had an early start, super accommodating and nothing was an issue.

We couldn't fault anything. It's a period property, so book it with no expectations other than to be taken back in time.

The property was beautiful. An old convent it had a real old school charm. The hospitality was second to none. You really don’t receive hospitality of that level very often anymore. They went out of their way. Giving us a lift, letting us spend time in the library after check out. Fudge biscuits, tea, coffee, beer and wine on offer in the library for all.

We didn’t have a car so was about 20 min walk from bus stop, and there is no taxi’s or uber. So best to drive.

The lodge is lovely but what makes it special are the staff, particularly Kym, who is warm, knowledgeable, funny, ridiculously helpful and adopts folks she likes. I was lucky and got adopted. The lodge is quirky and personal, like visiting your coolest but slightly wacky aunt who takes over your vacation. If you’re an introvert or just want to be left alone, it could be everything you didn’t want. I fell madly in love with the place. The Cathedral Room is lovely, with an elegant old-fashioned bathroom and spa, but which specific room in the main lodge you take is less important; you probably will spend more time in the common rooms. I love trains, so the Train Carriage was a special experience; having a whole car to myself like Diamond Jim Brady. I loved it, and would stay there the entire time on a future visit. This a real train car, with a steep ladder to enter it and *most* things modernized. It would likely not work for folks with mobility issues. The Lodge is well-kept up, and thoughtfully appointed with a friendly international staff, but the feeling is more personal and homey than chic and luxurious. It has nice views but it isn’t lakefront. You see the lake unobstructed, but at a distance. The eccentric grounds include sculptures, pavilions and a carousel they are renovating. You can stay in it. It has clowns. If you want to spend your night in a Stephen King novel, be my guest. Te Anau is better situated than Queenstown to tour both Milford and Doubtful Sound, and the Lodge will happily assist with either. If your schedule allows, don’t just stay here overnight. Stay long enough to actually take in the lodge itself. Sitting in the library or at breakfast, talking to other guests or the staff is part of the reason for being here. Two to three nights is perfect. I took away great, warm memories; it was so much more than just a place to stay. I’m only sorry I didn’t get to meet the lodge’s owner, Mark, as well as Kym.

Breakfast is a buffet, and if the place had any weak spot, it was that breakfast didn’t change from day to day. That was not a dealbreaker.

We stayed the first night in the rail carriage and second night in one of the main rooms in the lodge. Both rooms are nice. Rail Carriage is very private and a bit of a walk from the main building. The toilet is bit small (its a train!). We liked that the toilet can be turned to private with curtains. There is a fridge with cold water. Light switch above the bed which lights up the whole carriage. The library in the main building is beautiful- they have free coffee, water and snacks for you throughout the day and night. Breakfast is nice as well - good continental style with few hot options.

We visited in summer and it gets quite hot during the day. Since none of the rooms have AC maybe a rotating fan/tower cooler would be nice to have. We felt the Christmas dinner buffet left a lot more to be desired for the price.

We loved all the little treats left for us - plentiful milk and eggs - and the lovely location. The place was quirky with lots of vintage furniture and ephemera. It was a little worn around the edges but comfortable.

The log burner hasn’t been cleaned out for a long time and there were lot of nails and hinges etc. inside. The firewood provided had to have many nails removed before using.

We stayed in the Trsin car at the back of the property. We were looking for a different experience and most definitely it fit the bill.

The train was stocked with tea, coffee a kettle and biscuits. Very cozy with period touches as well as modern amenities

We booked to stay in the train carriage which is quirky and has a lot of character. It is also cosy. However it does require some TLC and if you stay there it would be nice to have housekeeping as you do for the main house. After 2 nights we had a maintenance issue and spent our third night in the Bishops quarters. Ok but no character compared to the carriage. Bed very comfy though. Good location for walking into town and the company we used for the Milford Sound trip - MitrePeak- picked us up from the end of the drive.