Pinewood Lodge

Pinewood Lodge is conveniently located a pleasant, five-minute walk from the center of Queenstown, New Zealand, which perches at the elbow bend of Lake Wakatipu. Food stores are a bit out of the way, but are available.

The Location

The distance is not far, but the route is complex, so get detailed directions from staff before setting off up the hill. Once there, locate the short-cut path back to town -- a much more pleasant and abbreviated trek. There's lots of parking on the spacious campus.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Thirteen self-contained units house dorm beds, double and twin rooms, studios, and family lodges, as well as luxury lakeside bedrooms. With the exception of two new buildings, many small, barracks-type structures dot the grounds. Our unit had three sleeping rooms, a bathroom, a small kitchen, and a social room with tables for dining or recreation and a television set.

Common Spaces

While the single four-burner stove in the kitchen made simultaneous meal preparation by three cooks a challenge, it also created one of the best social interactions of our nine weeks in New Zealand and Australia. The lounge in one of the new buildings offers couches and chairs, television, and a bank of computers with internet access. The communal kitchen in the main building is large, modern, and well equipped. Ours was supplied with the necessities and it worked because the friendly occupants coped with the close quarters. The age of the unit and the furniture makes for a grungy look, but it is clean and maintained. Toilets and show are adequate and functional.

Summary

A small inventory of staples such as cereal and canned food is available at reception, where staff are helpful in providing directions and scheduling tours. Most places of interest are within easy walking distances. Taxis are busy, so it is wise to schedule ahead for departures. There is also timely bus service to the airport. A number of itinerant workers choose to stay here -- a testimony to Pinewood's value relative to other lodgings in Queenstown.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2007