Starlake - Lake Tekapo

We had a wonderful stay and would happily recommend this property to anyone visiting Tekapo. Before we even arrived, we had a slight issue with our departure flight, but Eliza was incredibly understanding and accommodating with our booking. Thankfully everything worked out, we arrived as planned, and the rest of our stay was completely seamless. The location was perfect for our family. It's just a 3-minute drive, or an easy walk, to the main food precinct, the lake, and the large playground, which was always buzzing with families. There is also a small playground almost directly across the road, which our almost 2-year-old absolutely loved (although our 6-year-old outgrew it fairly quickly). For anyone visiting in winter, the property is ideally located, with Roundhill Ski Area only 30 minutes away, Mt Dobson around 50 minutes away, and the Tekapo Hot Springs, ice skating, and snow tubing just a 6-minute drive. Despite being so close to everything, the area was lovely and quiet at night, and we weren't disturbed by traffic or outside noise. The house itself was fantastic for our family of four. The keypad entry made check-in and coming and going throughout our stay incredibly easy. The fireplace was a huge hit with both the kids and us, creating a cosy atmosphere after long days out. When we ran low on firewood, it was simple to top up. The property also had two fixed heaters plus a portable heater, which kept all the bedrooms warm and comfortable, and the blackout curtains were a bonus for a good night's sleep, as were the comfy beds. We especially enjoyed the balcony, with its beautiful views across the lake and surrounding mountains. On clear nights, the stars were incredible. The BBQ and outdoor heaters meant the space could still be enjoyed even in the colder weather. The kitchen was well equipped with everything we needed for cooking, and the supermarket was only a few minutes' drive away, making it easy to stock up on groceries.

There wasn't anything we particularly disliked about our stay, but there are a few things worth mentioning so future guests know what to expect. We travel a bit and are always prepared so these weren't issues for us. The bathroom provides hand soap and body wash, but you'll need to bring your own shampoo, conditioner, and any other personal toiletries. If you're planning on using the fireplace, matches are supplied, but we found it handy to pick up some fire starters from the supermarket, which made lighting the fire much easier. The kitchen had a small amount of milk, cooking oil, salt, and pepper available on arrival, but you'll need to purchase any other groceries or pantry items. Again, the supermarket is only a few minutes' drive away. As we visited during the middle of winter and snow season, we noticed the wardrobes had a slight closed-up smell from not being opened regularly, so we simply aired them out for a little while and it was perfectly fine. There isn't a washing machine in the property. This wasn't an issue for our stay, but it's something worth considering if you're planning a longer visit, or chatting about with the lovely team.

Beautiful views of the night sky, convenient access to Lake Tekapo. Cozy house.

the deck was amazing and had sick views of the lake full functioning kitchen lots of board games for entertainment apartment was clean great location

i just wish we had paper towels 🤭 and also washing machine.

Awesome view from the balcony