Ezibed.com Customer Reviews for Pukenui Lodge

"The Chalet was fantastic & the owner Chris was very friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be booking at Pukenui Lodge again - and telling everyone else to do the same!!" Thiea Bell, 26 August 2009

"My second time to stay there and it's still a good experience." Anonymous, 29 July 2009

Pukenui Lodge Response: Hi, Thank you and we appreciate your honesty and custom. Kind regards, Chris.

"We arrived at Pukenui lodge about 10.30pm. We were greeted by the owner and he kindly showed us around the place i.e. bathroom, kitchen, toilet etc and our bedroom, which when we booked we asked for non smoking, but it seems this room was a smoking room as it stunk of cigarettes and even the bedding smelt of cigarettes which made us all sick of the smell and on top of this the heater didn't work and the bedroom was freezing. Then we proceeded to take a hot shower after we had unpacked and settled in but the shower was just as off putting especially when their was a blob of black hair in the shower but we put this down to our arriving late at night and cleaners had gone for the day, but to see the same blob of black hair in the shower friday night, saturday morning and night and again sunday morning wasn't good at all which made us all feel a bit yuck!!!! To think that this place didn't get cleaned at all over the weekend, and neither did the bedding get changed. They may have changed the sheets but the duvet cover still stunk of someone else's body smells and cigarettes. I took an overseas visitor with me to this place and was quite embarrassed to have taken them here. My visitor asked if we could go some where else because of school holidays we couldn't find anywhere else. I couldn't give Pukenui Lodge a rating unfortunetly. It may have been a reasonable price but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be cleaned daily.

The gentleman was very kind friendly and helpful." Anonymous, 19 July 2009

Pukenui Lodge Response: Hi Faith,
Perhaps you should have said something at the time, rather than after the stay, it can’t have been as bad as you make out. Room 6, where you stayed, has a heater that works fine. We can also provide electric heaters if asked, why over two days did you not ask?

We are a NON smoking lodge, in fact the room you were in had 3 teens staying in it the nights before and they certainly didn't smoke. We would have easily organised a fresh duvet for you had you asked.

The rooms are not cleaned during your stay, you booked a basic bunk room at $25pp, perhaps you were expecting a lot more for the $$.

I am always ready to assist and help so all you really had to do was say something at the time, we have spare duvets, heaters and sheets at the ready. I guess at the time it was not important.

I clean the showers every morning after checkout There are 40 people a day using the eight showers twice a day (that’s 80 showers a day) I would expect some mess and we endeavor to clean around the customers who sometimes use these facilities all day and night, some people loose that much hair its amazing they have any. Of the eight showers it seems you kept getting drawn to the one you had issues with, not too mention if all 4 of you used the same shower multiple times then I am at a loss as to why you did not say something at the time.

Perhaps in hind sight you should have spoken out at the time, even at checkout you smiled and proceeded out the door.

All the same I do trust you had a great ski weekend.

Regards.

"Room extremely small, only bunk beds in the room, nothing else, not even a hook on the wall. There was a radiator in the room but it didn't work. Pukenui Lodge was advertised as warmest in the National Park village, but the fire in the lounge was not going well - the wood was wet. Overall - lodge is run down and we are not planning to go back there in the future." Anonymous, 18 July 2009

Pukenui Lodge Response: Thankyou.
I did explain the heater issue. They do work but will not get to an untouchable temperature. I also provided you with an electric heater. You booked a small bunk room so unfortunately I cannot compenasate for higher expectations.

Regards

"Standard youth hostel-like atmosphere. Nice hosts. Could be cleaner." Anonymous, 17 July 2009

"We had an ensuite in our room and when you had a shower the steam would condense all over the roof. It dripped on us for the first half of the night while in bed. We dried it a few times then in the morning the moisture in the air condensed on the ceiling and started dripping again. Great way to wake up. Drying room wasn't warm at all in morning - all our snow gear was still wet. Oil heater in room on wall didn't work - had to get out of bed after about an hour and get the manager to bring us a portable heater. Breakfast wasnt until 7:30am. Usually this would be fine but when you are amping to get up the mountain it seems like a long wait. The next night wasn't as bad though the ceiling still dripped and the breakfast wasnt until 7:30am again. We stayed here a year ago and it was fine - don't know what happened since then." Stefan, 15 July 2009

Pukenui Lodge Response: Hi Stefan,
Being that you have stayed before you should be aware breakfast is and has never been before 7.30am. In fact it is from 7.30 - 9.30 and this is well notified in the dining area. As for the room, you should have opend a window to alleviate the steam, what would you expect in a closed room with a hot shower? This happens anywhere. Open a window.

I have doubts about your drying room experience, I guess the gear was so wet it should have been wrung out first.

I did supply a heater and also took the liberty to check your room on the Saturday morning, no moisture and BOTH heaters were going fine. In fact all three heaters were working fine. If Saturday night still produced condensation then obviously you failed to listen when asked to at least open the bathroom window a little (or close the bathroom door.)

Regards, Chris.

"Excellent! The best accommodation experienced in the National Park and Ohakune!" Samuel Wong, 25 March 2009

"The room was exceptional value at the price. The place had a friendly feel and I would definitely choose to stay there again." William Hawke, 16 February 2009

"Quiet, peaceful and laid back in the enjoyable kiwi way. Appreciated welcoming email from Chris." Kevin George, 12 February 2009

"The chalet accomodation was excellent and we recommend it to others. The service was also of a very high standard. The owner was very friendly and helpful, finding out information for us and readily accommodating us with a late check out. We will definitely stay there again." Gillian, 14 January 2009

"Clean and tidy. Room was not seviced i.e. had to ask for fresh towels. Host was very helpful, friendly and keen to assist with local knowledge of the area. Would stay there again." Barbara McPherson, 12 January 2009

"Very good lodge. Clean and tidy. Comfortable room." Breanne Roberts, 15 September 2008

"Pleasant host and surroundings. Overall good accommodation and excellent value for money." Anonymous, 14 September 2008

"Pukenui Lodge was the perfect place for us to stay on our skiing weekend, the facilities were clean, the showers hot and the rooms were soo warm, it was all we wanted after coming home from skiing, the lounge with fire was great to relax in as well, we will back again hopefully to stay in summer this time." Jacinta, 10 September 2008

"Great!" Les Robertson, 8 September 2008

"Excellent...loved the stay thought it was great just wanted somewhere to put our heads for the night, close to the mountain, close to everything. Would definetely stay again." Hailee Wheeler, 4 September 2008

"Bunkrooms are a bit small. The bunks are pretty rickety (everything shakes when someone turns over) and the mattresses worn out. But the common spaces (lounge etc) were OK." Anonymous, 3 September 2008

"Warm and friendly place to stay." Jackson Flinn, 13 August 2008

"As we were late to arrive it was wonderful to see the keys sealed nicely in an envelope and ready for us to check in. Thank you. Our two nights at Pukenui were awesome again. (This is our 2nd visit in 3 months.) We were really impressed by the service and the kindness of the house-keeping crew. Three cheers to Pukenui Lodge and Ezibed.com." Prakash Srivatsan, 13 August 2008

"Host was friendly and the place was decent. Only problem had was snow report wasn't up at 6:30, or 7 or 8... Could have been printed off the internet if it didn't arrive by fax. Room was old and not well planned - could be due for an upgrade? Overall a pleasant and good stay, thanks." Stefan, 13 August 2008

"Good value for money. Helpful & friendly owner." Pippa Darrington, 29 July 2008

"Rooms small, but okay. Lounge and dining area were good. The communal kitchen facilities accomodate 4-6 people maximum. It has a very small fridge for a backpacker style facility. Disappointed with drying room as it did not get clothes dry. Lights and locks need replacing in the womens toilets/showers." T Paku, 23 July 2008

"Pukenui Lodge was very clean and tidy, very enjoyable stay." Judith Taylor, 22 July 2008

"Great value." Brian Cahill, 22 July 2008

"Tidy and mostly polite staff. Could not use the advertised spa due to it not being turned on. In need of updating, especially linen." Noel Foley, 21 July 2008

Pukenui Lodge Response: Hi Noel,
Thankyou for the feedback. Apologies the spa was not heated fully at lunchtime but as explained we usually anticipate people use the spa after skiing so normal operating hours are 4 - 10pm.

Interesting about the linen, I shall forward that request to our linen supplier, like most hotels we hire linen.

"Toilets and showers and some areas of the rood need some attention. The kitchen for the self catering guests was too small for the amount of self catering guests staying." Anonymous, 16 July 2008

"Nice and friendly host. Very clean. Hope to return and stay during summer hiking season." Anonymous, 9 July 2008

"The plalce is nice and clean. Facilities especially for kitchen is very good.
Heater also very good, so make us very comfortable during we stay, because although the outside was very cold, but we still feel warm inside. But, for TV, is better if you can provide Sky TV. But I think it is better if you provide tea bag, instant coffee and sugar, because normally those are a basic thing which should be provided as a complimentary, as we never bring such things like that." Meithy, 3 July 2008

Pukenui Lodge Response: There is tea, coffee and also hot chocolate available 24 hours a day in the dining room.
In the self catering kitchen it is exactly that - self catering.

Were are happy you had a warm safe holiday.

"Super-friendly service, roaring log fire, neat and clean accomodation." Kerrie, 2 July 2008

"Excellent value for money, a family friendly lodge with fantastic facilities, as close as you need for the ski fields. Will definitely be back - highly recommend this place!" Kate, 18 June 2008

"Nice, clean, fresh and perfect for our purpose. Stayed in lodge." Anonymous, 21 April 2008