18 Reviews
Lime Tree Lodge
Wanaka|2.81km from Wanaka Lavender Farm
After reviewing other reports on Tripadvisor, it seems that Lime Tree Lodge has experienced a rapid decline over the past few months. From the beginning, our arrival was less than ideal. No staff members were present, and we overheard heated arguments in the neighboring room. Even after attempting to get attention by shouting ”hello,” there was no response, and the doorbell to call reception appeared to be disabled. Only after reaching out to their main phone number did Kris, who identified himself as the duty manager, guided us to a large and attractively decorated suite. The suite included a spacious master bedroom, a separate second bedroom, and a large living- dining area leading to a patio. There was a big bathroom, but stains were visible in the bathtub. Kris provided a brief introduction before leaving for his day off at 5 pm. We tried to make ourselves at home, taking advantage of the complimentary wine and visiting the pool area. However, we encountered challenges, such as removing the cover of the hot tub independently, and a pool robot that made swimming nearly impossible due to its disruptive hose. The pool furniture was visibly dirty, indicating a lack of proper cleaning for an extended period. Shortly after our arrival at the pool, Jacqui approached us and greeted us by shouting, ”no glasses by the pool.” While the rule makes sense, a more welcoming approach would have been appreciated. As we had an early morning excursion planned, Jacqui kindly offered to serve breakfast on our patio, which we accepted. The breakfast was served on time but was unremarkable. Upon returning in the evening, we discovered that our room had not been cleaned, and the breakfast tray remained on the patio table. No staff members were visible anywhere on the property, and attempts to reach Jacqui were unsuccessful. Eventually, she emerged from the vegetation, claiming she had ”fallen asleep” and providing a series of excuses for the lack of service. It was evident that she was intoxicated. After contacting my agent, who escalated the issue to a person named Nick overseeing the property from China (a quite impossible task in my opinion), Kris returned from his day off, and the intoxicated Jacqui was replaced. The description in my itinerary stating, ”Lime Tree Lodge is a luxury, boutique-style lodge with a personal touch by the fantastic owners & staff,” couldn't be further from the truth. There is no owner on site, and the two staff members present seemed incapable of managing the lodge effectively. In conclusion, I would advise avoiding this place unless you are willing to handle self-catering and manage the lodge independently. If you excel at it, you might even be considered for a role by the mysterious Nick.
