Te Anau Holiday Inn June 2003

I first visited the Te Anau Holiday Inn on my honeymoon in 1999. That was summer and it was wonderful. A return visit this year in winter has brought a more balanced view of this accommodation venue.

This large facility offers a broad range of accommodation from hotel rooms to self-contained villas. It is set amidst a beautiful rose garden (that provides a bloom for every meal served during flowering season). Full facilities are available including a guest laundry, breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and a bar. The lunch menu is not offered during winter months.

The meals are exquisitely prepared and presented, utilising New Zealand's wonderful range of fresh produce including venison, sea-run salmon, crayfish and many more.

The facilities also include a large barbecue area next to a heated outdoors swimming pool. There are also two huge private spas and a sauna. The pool, spas and sauna are only available during the summer months.

The complex is only a short walk from the major shopping area and other eating places. If you fancy a more down-to-earth menu, you can choose to eat at a restaurant called Bailies on the main street and they will charge it back to your room at the Inn.

This is a great place to visit in Summer but beware when visiting in Winter. Many of the facilities and services are not available and the staff may not always inform you of this when booking. It's fabulous if you just want a relaxed winter location that is not busy. But many of the towns shops are open limited hours during winter too.

Some of the villas are showing signs of neglect but this could also be due to reduced staffing during winter.