We stayed in the Samson Lodge Rooms with ensuite. Rooms very similar to a nice motel. The Lodge shared kitchen and lounge was well equipped and comfortable with fire and pool table. This area is away from main facilities of Whistling Frog...so perfect if you don't have small children as not close to playground or cafe. Rooms were quiet and warm. Electric blankets and extra blankets were nice touches.

Nothing other than the cafe was a little overpriced, as are all the cafes in the Catlins really.

This property was a good base to spend the day touring this area of the Catlins; Our accommodation was clean and comfortable. We stayed in Room 22 which was nicely renovated with new carpet, bathroom and good beds (a queen and a single), tv ad coffee/tea etc. We were able to use the excellent common area which was well equipped with big tables, kitchen gear, tv, pool table and a wood stove if needed. Check in etc was smooth and management friendly and efficient.

Nothing to complain about at all.

Location was good for what we wanted to do in that area. The cabin was well fitted out and spacious. Sofa was comfy.

Cleanliness could have been better, there was a strong smell of the previous occupants food when we entered the cabin. The electric blanket didn't work on one side of the bed and the electrics on the side lamp seemed a bit dodgy. The ranch door on the dining area could do with greasing, as it was quite difficult to slide open and shut.

Was a very nice quiet spot and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. We were able to use the portacot for our wee boy. We were in a unit next to the conference room which is really nice and spacious great for an evening relaxing.

Double bed was slightly firm but perfectly fine. The room took a while to heat up was a wall heater and a small oil heater available. But room is NW facing so on a sunny day would get plenty of sun but had been cool weather.

The staff were very friendly and helpful. The room was nicely furnished and had tea/coffee making facilities.The cafe/dining area was very nicely set out and had a very good outside area. Range of drinks available was good.

The main problem was that booking,com's description of our room was misleading. I booked a double room with 'shared bathroom' which lead me to believe i would walk 3-4 m along a corridor to a bathroom. The room was actually a cabin and the shared bathroom was in the camping ground amenities block several metres (>10) up a gravel track. Only 2 toilets were available for a large number of people. My bed was so soft and sagging that I had to sleep on the floor to ease the pain in my back and hips. But my partner didn't have a problem with the bed.

Being in an isolated area, the Restaurant was a bonus. A satisfying meal. Finding the motel unit was a bit of a challenge. The map presented should have circled "Sampson Hill Lodge" which was faded out as that is the lane we were supposed to enter. It is quite a large complex. Otherwise, the unit was clean and the facilities on offer are quite extensive for the more expensive units.

No complaints.

We chose the accommodation as a stopover for the Catlins. The location is very good, it is only a short drive to McLean Falls and to the Cathedral Caves (the latter are only accessible 3h per day, tide dependent). Very comfortable is the restaurant which offers good pizza and tasty beer. The kitchen of the restaurant closes quite early (for us already at 18:15), so don't come too late. The main road is almost completely deserted at night, so everything is very quiet and you can sleep very well.

There is no breakfast in the morning and no shopping nearby, so bring everything with you!

It was a nice place to stay. I like that they had a restaurant attached for dinner. We could borrow a DVD to watch in our room after dinner, what was a nice addition.

The fish wasn’t fresh and so wasn’t as tasty. The next day we went in for coffees. The flat white and cappuccino had the milk burnt. The milk had formed skins in the cup what wasn’t pleasant to drink.

Really great place to stay, excellent location for exploring the Catlins. We stayed in a cabin which was quite basic with just a bed and a table but that was all we needed as they had a full amenities block which we utilized. They also had a restaurant with tap beer and food which was quite nice if you don't want to cook (as there are not really any places around to eat at). Definitely recommend staying there for a couple of nights to explore the surrounding site!

This is centrally located to parts of the Catlins. The sea caves when open are about 2 klms by car. The falls are about the same. It's budget accommodation for everyone. The staff place everyone spaciously apart, which is nice. A well catered camp kitchen and a leisure area. Must do, see the lost Gypsey, if heading North a beautiful new gallery at the Owaka old bakery, gift shop and the man cave is a barrel of laughs. It's staffed by some local characters with a great sense of humour, tell him a bloke from down under sent you. Visit the nuggets at Kaka.

The studio rooms are a tiny bit too small for me, but you make do. Needs some better defined pathways. Roads are well formed. Flyscreens on the windows.