South Island Motel choices
 

We're close to confirming our motel choices for our trip in November. Does anyone have any feedback on the following accommodations or suggestions for others?
Christchurch: Stonehurst or Chateau on the Park
Franz Josef: Punga Grove
Wanaha: The Moordings
Queenstown: The Point
Dunedin: 755 Regal Court
Thanks for all your help. This forum has been great in helping us with our trip.
Frank and Judy

We've stayed at Punga Grove in Franz Josef - we liked it and would happily stay there again.

We stayed at Villa del Lago which is next door to The Point and it was terrific. You can walk to town, and the view is magnificent.

Aah, Queenstown, beautiful place!

Last March we stayed at the Point. We were 2 couples, had a 3 BR, 2 Bath apt, 1500 sf. Great living room, great view. I would heartily recommend it.

It was next to the Villa del Lago. I walked over there and saw the apts. They also looked nice, but but it was less desirable for our needs.

BTW, be sure to check out wotif.com for great rates. At present, VDL is listed, but not the Point.

In Dunedin, we enjoyed Hulmes Court. http://www.hulmes.co.nz/

You can see my comments at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34602230 ((*))

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More good notes about Punga Grove. Listed as a motel, it is far more. In addition, it enjoys an excellent location.

Thank you all for your input. We love the travel logs--thanks, Jed.

P.S. in Wanaka we are staying at the Moorings (not moordings) typos!! It looks beautiful on the website.

We've just come back from a stay at Punga Grove. I had checked their prices on Wotif.com but they had no availability on the dates we wanted to go. So I sent an email direct and they happily matched the previous Wotif price - which was actually half price. We had a Rainforest Studio room and it was really very lovely.

My experience with wotif is that if you email or call the hotel directly, they will usually quote the same price, even if you don't ask, and well in advance. ((*))

I have stayed at both the Chateau on the Park and the Stonehurst many times....and I love both of them. The Stonehurst is located downtown and is really convenient to getting around. They have a great range of rooms where you can go economical or splurge. Chateau of the Park is a splurge for me but well worth it. Not in downtown area but they will provide transport to downtown.....and they have a great restaurant. Both have web pages.

Thanks MJTOO: We are booked at Stonehurst with a waitlist at Chateau. I think we'll stick with Stonehurst. It sounds like a good location.

Hi fgesicki
I too was going to recommend Stonehurst - an amazing complex. We stayed there in January, and have booked to stay there again in January 2007.
As to 755 Regal Court, we stayed there a few years ago and found it to be a very comfortable motel, handy enough to the city to be able to walk there but far enough out to avoid the noise.
Enjoy your trip to New Zealand.

Thanks everyone for your input. We have confirmed the following:
Christchurch: Stonehurst
Franz Josef: Punga Grove
Wanaka: The Moorings
Queenstown: The Point
Dunedin: 755 Regal Court
In Auckland we are staying at Sebel Suites and that looks fun too.
We really appreciate all your input.
Frank and Judy