Guest reviews Wharekauhau Country Estate, Wairarapa

by jonsean Aotearoa New Zealand

A quiet and relaxing time with included privacy

This lodge is near the southern tip of the North Island of NZ and made a great base to see Cape Palliser, the Pinnacles and Lake Ferry. The villas are large, comfortable and private. Ours was let down slightly by a hole in the wall but other than that was as you would expect from a lodge stay. The included breakfasts and dinners (including canapé and cocktails) were all very nice. Dinner is at a set time and takes around two hours (730-930pm). We went on a two hour ATV tour around the estate and onto the beach. This is highly recommended. The electric car charger only works for Tesla’s and our advice is that this needs to be changed for future guests. We were able to plug in our car but only into a regular wall socket (this meant it would take around two days to charge). All the staff were extremely helpful and pleasant. We would stay here again.

by astropig Auckland, New Zealand

Disappointing Food

Amazing Lodge, stunning location, service and accommodation, although the cottages are showing their age. Shame about the dining. Breakfast was excellent. A fixed menu is offered with predinner drinks and canapés. Sorry, but the canapés were just not right. Did not enjoy the flavour combinations and found most to be a little rancid. Dinner portions were tiny and on the cold side. Definitely no wow factor at all compared to elsewhere. We were not impressed that a $50 bottle of wine on offer in the cottage was $150 in the restaurant. Not a high enough standard for the price. It was an amazing stay but we felt the whole experience was a little dated.

by Katieclem46 Hamilton, New Zealand

Lovely setting

Wharekauhau sits in splendid isolation between the sea and the mountains behind so it is a lovely drive in. Service was good in all areas and the cottages are individually nestled in private settings, making for a very peaceful stay. The loudest noise we heard was the chorus from the frogs in the pond, and we slept really well. The dinner menu is set, with four courses and is included with the tariff, but cheese is an optional extra, as are drinks. Presumably if you can afford to stay here you won’t mind paying for your sparkling water. There are no options on the menu but we were shown the evening menu earlier in the day and I assume could have asked for something else. On both evenings we had good meals, with delicious starters. They were definitely the standout. The lamb main was very good but the second night’s pork fillet was not of similar standard. A rather strange “peanut butter and jelly “ dessert was apparently a new addition and fellow guests were less than enthusiastic. Overall the food was acceptable rather than fabulous. Notably the breakfast buffet offered only rice bubbles and cornflakes as cereals, a first in my many years of hotel visits. It was duly put out the next morning after I had commented. Cooked breakfasts were good. Small niggles were rectified promptly, such as no shoe cleaner, but there were a few lapses in the maintenance line which preclude top quality ranking, such as broken insect screens and a dead light bulb.

by kiwiana7902014 Auckland, New Zealand

A slice of luxury

The lodge is worthy of its luxury reputation. The buildings are beautifully designed and maintained, the decor is elegant and tasteful. The cottage suites are private, have panoramic views of the natural landscape and are spacious. We enjoyed the wine pairing although the dinner menu was a little over fussy. We can recommend the sheltered tennis court, the indoor heated pool and wandering the beautifully landscaped garden spaces. Service is professional and warm.

by kiwisojourn2020

Overwhelmingly disappointing!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to stay at Wharekauhau recently. However, what a huge disappointed it proved to be! Our room was dusty and dirty, with previous occupant's hairs, dust, and old soap splatters in the bathroom, shortbread crumbs left on the table, and a general stale and musty air about it. I brought this to the hotel's attention, but nobody seemed to care particularly and no effort was made to spruce up the room during our stay. The staff were excellent although one member of the restaurant staff was extremely rude and chippy in a way I have never experienced in a hotel of this supposed standard. On the plus side, the location is spectacular and the grounds were beautiful. Also - the spa treatment I had was first class! For the price (and I have been fortunate enough to stay in some fabulous lodges and hotels throughout NZ and the rest of the world) I found the whole experience extremely overpriced for the service we received. Maybe Wharekauhau thinks it does not have to go the "extra mile" with predominantly NZ guest at this time?