Blanket Bay

Retired Levi's exec, Tom Tusher saw the future of S Island, NZ more than 35 years ago. The property he purchased has been developed into a spectacular fishing, hiking, heli oasis. Originally conceived as a Montana fishing lodge, the recycled NZ bridge timbers create an entirely unique NZ lodge look and feel. The attention to detail extends to every employee, who enjoys employer built lodging. This enables Blanket Bay to provide world Class food & beverage service from a dining room and patio with dramatic Lake Wakatipo and mountain views. From the moment Andrew greets you at the front door of the massive lodge, you feel special. We stayed in a Chalet - it had the largest window and best view of any hotel I have ever stayed in. Want your heli to pick you up in the front yard? No worries. Want to play Shuffleboard after a great day hunting trout on the Caples or Greenstone river? Check out the lounge downstairs! Need a pack lunch for the Routburn Track - no worries mate! Expensive? Yes! Worth every penny, absolutely! A truly priceless experience!

Immaculate lodge with fantastic staff that really took care of us. We stayed one night and was worth it for the special treat.

I had the absolute misfortune of staying at Blanket Bay Lodge, and I can honestly say it was one of the worst decisions of my life. From the moment I arrived, I felt more like an inconvenience than a guest. The staff seemed bored and disinterested, acting as if every request I made was a personal affront. So much for “hospitality.” Location & Views: Everyone raves about the views of the lake and mountains, but I barely noticed anything through the haze of frustration. Sure, the scenery is gorgeous if you can ignore the fact that it takes an eternity to get there on winding roads that made me carsick. And once you arrive, you’re practically trapped—there’s nothing else around, so you’re stuck with whatever they decide to offer you on-site. Rooms & Cleanliness: The room was supposedly “luxury,” but I’ve had better nights in budget motels. The linens felt stiff and over-laundered, like sleeping on sandpaper. The décor was bland, outdated, and looked as though it came straight from a mediocre roadside inn. I found dust in every corner and a strange musty smell that lingered no matter how wide I opened the windows. Service & Staff: If you enjoy waiting ages for your food or for any type of assistance, this is the place for you. Housekeeping? Barely saw them. Reception? Half the time they were nowhere to be found, and when they were there, they seemed annoyed at my mere presence. I had to practically beg for basics like fresh towels or an extra pillow. Dining Experience: The meals were overpriced and underwhelming. I’m all for gourmet cuisine, but not when it arrives cold, flavorless, and on a tiny plate that looks more like a garnish than a meal. I ended up craving fast food just to feel satisfied. Good luck getting any special dietary requests fulfilled—staff responses ranged from blank stares to outright shrugs. Amenities & Activities: They brag about all these fancy activities, but you’ll need a small fortune to participate. Even if you do shell out the cash, don’t expect anything special. The so-called “spa” felt more like a cramped bathroom with a lukewarm tub. And if you’re into outdoor adventures, you’d better bring your own gear—what they offer is outdated or unavailable half the time. Value for Money: Honestly, it felt like I was being scammed at every turn. For the exorbitant price I paid, I expected at least basic courtesy and a comfortable stay. Instead, I got mediocre service, dingy rooms, and constant frustration. I’ve stayed in places at a fraction of the cost and had a far more enjoyable experience. Overall: Blanket Bay Lodge is all hype and zero substance. If you’re looking to waste your money, be treated like a burden, and leave feeling disappointed, by all means, book a stay here. Otherwise, save yourself the headache and find literally anywhere else. It can’t possibly be worse than this overrated lodge. Final Word: This place left me questioning every travel decision I’ve ever made. I’d rather camp in my backyard than retur

We recently enjoyed a 4 night stay at Blanket Bay and couldn’t have loved it more. We’re huge R&C fans, so I wasn’t surprised that we loved Blanket Bay, I am surprised at how much we loved it. Working with their team before arrival was terrific. You want to plan a private guided hike on a NZ holiday, no worries they made it happen. You want to reorder the various events you have scheduled due to weather considerations, no troubles they got it handled. We stayed 3 nights in the Fantail suite/villa and 1 night in the Routeburn room in the main lodge. Both were great. The Fantail had its own hot tub which I looooved, but the lid was quite heavy and I couldn’t figure out how to work the lever thing. But, like with everything, a call to the front when we were done so they could put the lid back on, no problem. The views from everywhere on the property are amazing. So, don’t fret if you’re staying in the main lodge or the villa, you’ll get great views at both places. Food was excellent. Their breakfast hash brown was amazing. Pre-dinner drinks and canapés, a lovely convivial experience. Word to the wise, show up on time as the bar fills up quickly. Their Somm (Sebastian) and their bar tenders deserve a special shout out, excellent. It’s pricey, yes, but we felt truly taken care of there and it seemed like time stopped in the best way. I got to feel like I was on vacation.

Our 3 night stay was lovely, but for this price point, there were too many “bummers”. Positives: The views were truly outstanding, the bed/bedding comfortable, included breakfasts and dinners were tasty. Damien the sommelier and Oliver the bartender/server were terrific. Fun to swim and kayak in the lake with a feeling of having it all to yourself. Easy drive into Glenorchy to access walks/shops. Issues: -Speed/attentiveness of meal service was inconsistent. Given the limited guest count, this seems like it must be an issue of needing more staff. -Towels at the pool ran out twice in a 3 day stay. -Overall property lacked any NZ character, including the inexplicably windowless game room/lounge. -Body Wash and other bathroom toiletries were not great quality (despite being specially branded for Blanket Bay) and to still be using single serve plastic containers for these seems off the mark, esp in NZ.

We just spent 3 amazing nights at Blanket Bay, and honestly, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. The team here is something special - they went above and beyond for us. What really stood out was how they catered to everyone in our family. We all wanted different things from our stay, and somehow they managed to exceed everyone's expectations. They were especially wonderful with my mum, who has mobility issues. From the moment we arrived, they made her feel so welcome and comfortable - it really meant a lot to us. The food is genuinely world-class. Every meal was an adventure, and dining in the cave on our last night was absolutely magical. They really know how to make each meal special. The location is stunning, the service is perfect, and the attention to detail is incredible. This place has everything right - from the big things down to the smallest details. If you're wondering if it's worth it - yes, absolutely yes! Special shout-out to all the staff who made our stay unforgettable. You've set the bar impossibly high for everywhere else we'll stay!