Wanaka Heights Motel Wanaka New Zealand

Escape to Paradise: Wanaka Heights Motel Awaits!

Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into "Escape to Paradise: Wanaka Heights Motel Awaits!" – and frankly, I'm already picturing myself sprawled by that pool with a cocktail. But before we get to the blissful, let's get real about the nitty-gritty, because I am not about to be bamboozled by a brochure. And, yeah, I know this review is probably going to be longer than my last grocery list, but hey, you asked for detailed, and frankly, I’m feeling chatty.

SEO-Juiced Rundown: Accessibility, Cleanliness & Safety – Because Let's Be Real, It Matters!

First off: Accessibility. This is HUGE. Especially as I'm getting older and my body is starting to think it's a rusty old car! The details, if they're there, aren't really provided, which is a red flag. Do they have accessible rooms? Is the lobby doable for someone with mobility issues? Is the pool lift-equipped? Seriously, Wanaka Heights, give me the lowdown! If they aren’t being clear, I can be a grump. This is a massive miss if they're not catering to everyone. (Keyword Alert: Accessibility, Wheelchair Accessible, Facilities for Disabled Guests).

Cleanliness & Safety: Okay, this is where Wanaka Heights better shine. Post-pandemic, I'm basically a germaphobe. This is critical and can make or break the whole experience. Let's break it down:

Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: Okay, that's a good start. Sounds like someone's taking it seriously. Still, I want specifics. How do they sanitize? Are they just spraying Lysol and calling it a day? Or is it actually a deep clean? It'd be nice to see a detailed cleaning procedure.
Hand sanitizer: Crucial! I'm not going to beg the bartender for sanitizer every time I leave the bar.
Hygiene certification: A plus! I always prefer to know that the place is certified by a reputable body.
Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Peace of mind. Necessary.
Hot water linen and laundry washing: A minimum, frankly.
Cashless payment service: Excellent! I have a bad relationship with my wallet.
Anti-viral cleaning products, Good, and I like this.
Room sanitization opt-out available This is a thoughtful option.
CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Good! This is what I want to hear. Knowing that I'm safe is the most important.
Rooms sanitized between stays, Okay, I'm happy.

The Rooms: The All-Important Sanctuary

Now, the juicy stuff. Let's be honest, no matter how amazing the spa is, if the room is a disaster, it's all for naught.

(Available in all rooms: Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.)

Okay, so it looks like they've thrown the kitchen sink at it. "Available in all rooms" is music to my ears. Here's what I really want to know:

Blackout curtains: YES! My sleep is sacred.
Coffee/tea maker & Complimentary tea: Crucial. I’m not getting up before I have a cup of hot-water and tea, the world can wait.
Free Wi-Fi: YES! I’m the sort of person who needs this!
Bathtub/Separate shower/bathtub: Please.
Air conditioning: Absolutely. I can't sleep when it’s too hot.
Slippers, Bathrobes: I love these!
Soundproofing: Dear God, please.
Extra long bed: This is wonderful

But here's where they could impress. They've included a "Laptop workspace." Now is it a cramped little desk next to the radiator or a proper setup? Details, people, details!

Internet Access:

Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! This is perfect.
Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, this is good for guests who need more than just wi-fi.

Pacing, Quirks, and Rambles:

Okay, I've reached that point where my eyes glaze over. I've been staring at a screen for hours.

Things To Do/ Ways To Relax: The Real Paradise Test!

Alright, let’s get to the fun stuff! What can I actually do to ditch reality?

Pool with view, Sauna, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: I NEED to know what the view from the pool is like. Is it mountain vistas? Lakeside serenity? Or a view of the parking lot? If I can’t see the view, it doesn’t count. I have to know!
Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage: Sign me up for the full spa experience. I deserve a good massage!
Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Okay, maybe I should feel a smidgen of guilt about the upcoming dessert buffet. I’d at least like the option.
Foot bath: I'm intrigued. Is it as relaxing as it sounds?
Spa: This one's too general. I need to know what kind of spa treatments are offered.
Terrace: Yes! A place to sip wine under the stars? Perfect.

*This is where it gets tricky. When I go on vacation I don't want to do a whole lot. I want to sit, drink tea, read a book and stare into space. But I *do* want the option to do all the things listed above.*

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food Glorious Food!

Okay, friends, this is where I get serious. Vacations are not complete without a proper feast of food.

Restaurants, A la carte in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Wooooow. I better pack my elastic-waisted pants. This is a lot.
A la carte in restaurant: Great! Variety is the spice of life.
Asian breakfast/cuisine: Always a win in my book.
Bar: A must.
Breakfast [buffet]: Gotta love a buffet! But I also hope they have a decent coffee machine.
Room service [24-hour]: YES! Late-night snack cravings are real.
Vegetarian restaurant: Good to know they're catering to all tastes.

My biggest question is: Is the food any good? I need reviews! Photos! I need to know if the chef is using fresh, local ingredients. Because let's face it, I can live on bread, but it needs to be good bread.

Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easier

Air conditioning in public area: Essential.
Audio-visual equipment for special events: A plus if you're planning an event.
**Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/

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Wanaka Heights Motel Wanaka New Zealand

Alright, buckle up buttercups! This isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is ME surviving, THRIVING (maybe), and definitely spilling secrets, all from the comfy (hopefully) confines of the Wanaka Heights Motel. Let's get this show on the road… or at least, vaguely point it towards the road.

WANAKA HEIGHTS MOTEL: Operation Adventure (and Avoiding Mild Panic)

Day 1: Arrival & The Great Motel Room Revelation (and a bit of a meltdown)

1:00 PM: Arrive at Wanaka Airport (which, surprisingly, isn't just a shed). Okay, so this 'luggage reclaim' is actually a glorified conveyor belt, but hey, at least my bag arrived! Praise the travel gods!
1:30 PM: Check-in at the Wanaka Heights Motel. Oh. My. God. The view! Seriously, the lake is practically begging me to dive in. Which I won't. Not yet, anyway. It's cold out there.
1:45 PM: Unpack. This is where the "messy" starts. I swear, I packed for both a tropical vacation and a polar expedition. How does this even happen? Finding the power adapter is a victory in itself. This is the first time I'm staying here, and I am already getting frustrated about where to put the clothes/baggages.
2:00 PM: The Great Room Tour: Okay, let's be brutally honest. The room isn't exactly the Ritz. But it's clean. And that balcony view… still gets me. The TV is older than I am, though. Probably needs a good whack to get it working. Just kidding (maybe).
2:30 PM: Attempt to set up Wi-Fi. Seriously? In 2024? This is a test of my patience. Still, managed to get some streaming movie, what a win.
3:00 PM: Decide to check out the nearby shops! First stop? Coffee. I need coffee. Then, maybe a souvenir shop for something I'll regret buying later. It's all about the experience, right?
4:00 PM: Wander the lakefront. Oh boy. The wind. The relentless wind. I look like a drowned rat. At least the ducks think I’m hilarious. I should have brought a hat!
5:00 PM: A quick (and slightly overpriced) beer at a local pub. Seriously, everything is expensive. But the atmosphere is buzzing! The locals are super friendly, and the beer is cold. A moment of peace (hopefully).
6:30 PM: Dinner. I'm aiming for something authentically Kiwi, but I might just end up with a cheese and cracker situation in the room because the thought of cooking is exhausting.
8:00 PM: Finally watch the movie, so far so good.
9:00 PM: Bedtime, exhausted.

Day 2: Adventure Quest (or trying not to look like a total tourist)

7:00 AM: Wake up! Actually getting up! Hurray!
7:30 AM: Breakfast at the motel. Toast, jam, the works – fuel for the day! Still hungry? No problem.
8:30 AM: Trying a trek. I’ve never done this before. I will probably fall, but whatever, I am doing it. Wish me luck.
11:00 AM: Okay, maybe I’m not a seasoned hiker, but the view FROM the top was something else. Windburn confirmed. Worth it.
12:30 PM: Lunch! I treat myself to a burger that’s slightly bigger than my head. Regret it immediately. But… delicious. (See? Messy!)
2:00 PM: I am going to go for an Adventure activity. I want to check out the water activity, so I am going to go there!
4:00 PM: I will probably regret it. I am getting scared, but I am doing it for the trip!
6:00 PM: Dinner. I order a salad. Trying to detox (see burger incident).
8:00 PM: I'm attempting to write in my journal, but exhaustion has set in. My notes are a complete mess of scribbles, half-formed thoughts, and a general sense of "wow, that was a day."

Day 3: Lake Wanaka & The Great Reflection (and a minor identity crisis)

8:00 AM: Start the day with a big breakfast and a healthy amount of self-encouragement. Today, I'm going to be a better tourist. Less stumbling, more… grace?
9:00 AM: Wander into the lake and taking photos.
11:00 AM: Trying to take shots of the famous Wanaka Tree. Beautiful, and completely overrun with other tourists. I have to admit, I am one of them.
1:00 PM: Lunch at a lakeside cafe. People-watching is a sport, and I'm an Olympic champion (in the "judging and awkwardly staring" category).
2:00 PM: I decided on a scenic drive around the area. The roads are winding, the views are spectacular, and I'm beginning to think I should invest in a dashcam, just in case I do something catastrophically stupid (again).
4:00 PM: Back to the motel! Time to collapse. I am thinking about what I have learned, and how much I enjoy the new experiences.
6:00 PM: After a brief nap, I am planning on the last dinner in Wanaka.
8:00 PM: I am watching the sunset.

Day 4: Departure (and the inevitable sadness)

7:00 AM: Early start. I am packing and making sure I did not miss anything!
8:00 AM: Breakfast, with a side of existential dread. How fast these days have gone!
9:00 AM: Final walk around the lake. Taking in the beauty.
10:00 AM: Last check-out at the Wanaka Heights Motel. The staff are lovely (bless them), and I hug them! Or something like that!
11:00 AM: Head back to the airport.
12:00 PM: Fly out of Wanaka. Goodbye, beautiful lake and mountains! I'm already scheming a return trip.

Post-Trip Ramblings (Because No Travel Itinerary is Complete Without These!)

Look, was this itinerary perfect? Nope. Did I stick to every single detail? Absolutely not. Did I have moments of sheer, unadulterated panic? You betcha! But that's the beauty of it, right? It's messy, imperfect, and uniquely mine. Wanaka, you were incredible. And Wanaka Heights Motel? Thanks for the (mostly) comfortable base camp. Until next time!

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Wanaka Heights Motel Wanaka New Zealand

Escape to Paradise: Wanaka Heights Motel Awaits! (Or Does It?) - Frequently Asked Questions (and My Sanity Check)

Okay, Seriously, What's the Deal with Wanaka Heights? Is it actually paradise?

Alright, alright, let's be real. Paradise? That's a big word. I mean, I went, and I survived (barely, sometimes felt like). It's... Wanaka. New Zealand. The mountains are stunning. The lake? Absolutely breathtaking. BUT... let's just say "paradise" might be a *tad* overstating it. Think "very pretty, with some potential for mild existential dread if you're overthinking things like I tend to do." It's a motel. It's in Wanaka. It's the starting point, not necessarily the whole damn trip.

Here's the thing: the brochure showed *sun-drenched faces, kayaking, and Instagram-worthy breakfasts.* My experience? Found them. Maybe. It depends on the lighting and the availability of decent coffee. The "breathtaking views from every room"? Pretty true, though some rooms *really* only offer a view of the parking lot, so, ya know… check the details. Actually, I'd ask for a room on the other side of the building. Because, blech, parking lot.

What's the Motel Itself Like? Is it Clean? Like REALLY Clean? (Asking for a friend…who is me.)

Okay, this is crucial. Cleanliness is, like, the bedrock of a good motel stay, right? Okay, so the Wanaka Heights... it's... clean enough. Honestly... cleaner than my own apartment, most of the time. But don't expect a sterile, hospital-grade experience. I'm talking "reasonable motel clean." The sheets seemed fresh. The bathroom... well, it was there. It wasn't *gleaming*, but it was functional. My friend (who, again, is me) is slightly obsessed with cleanliness, just to be sure, I ran a wet wipe across the light switches. Okay, I *thought* they were clean. I'm still not sure.

They did leave a little packet of instant coffee. A little too convenient, if you ask me. But I'm getting off topic. The rooms are, for the most part, of a reasonable standard. Just make sure you're not expecting a five-star hotel. It's a *motel*, people! Embrace the reality.

What's the Location Like? Easy to Get Around?

Location, location, location! Wanaka Heights is... fairly well-located, I guess. It's not smack-bang in the middle of the town, which is sometimes a good thing, sometimes not. It's a 5 to 10-minute walk, maybe, into the main drag. Which means you're close enough to get your morning/afternoon coffee fix. AND, you can stagger back after a few wines.

BUT, if you're planning on, say, hiking up Roys Peak (which I recommend... if you're not afraid of heights and have the stamina of a mountain goat, unlike me), you'll probably need a car or a taxi. So, think about that before you ditch the rental. Oh! Also, the walk into town is *slightly* uphill on the way back. Just saying. Your legs will thank you. Your wallet may not, though.

Is There Anything... Meh... About It? Any Downsides?

Oh, honey, where do I even start? There were a few "meh" things. The wifi was a bit spotty. Which, honestly, might be a blessing in disguise. Disconnecting might be great, and if you are, I encourage it! Then again, I was also trying to binge-watch a terrible reality show on the rainiest day, so I was slightly annoyed.

Also, *the noise*. Wanaka is a very touristy place (even if you are there when it feels dead), so there were a few times noise, especially from the road, got to be… well, a noise. A couple of nights, I could hear the music from a place. Also, the walls are a bit thin. You know, the usual motel suspects. Prepare yourself. Bring earplugs. Or embrace the background music of other people's lives. It can be a lesson in mindfulness.

What About the Breakfast? Glorious? Or ... Just Breakfast?

Breakfast. Ah, the most important meal of the day. Or is it? Depends on the day, I suppose. At Wanaka Heights, breakfast can be... basic. Don't expect a gourmet spread. There's the standard continental fare: cereal, toast, maybe some fruit. If you're lucky! I'd honestly head into town and find a proper cafe. A decent coffee and a smashed avo is worth more than gold. I saw so many cafes, I lost count.

Here's a little anecdote: One morning, I *really* craved a proper cooked breakfast. I ordered the full works - eggs, bacon, the whole shebang. The bacon was, well, it was bacon. But the eggs? Perfectly cooked. The coffee, though... *chef's kiss*

But seriously, plan for some decent breakfast options in town. Especially if you're a breakfast snob like me.

Is it Worth the Price? Good Value for Money?

Okay, let's talk money. Is it worth it? I honestly can't answer that for *you*. It depends. But, I'll try. Think about what you want, and how much you are willing to spend. The price was reasonable. It wasn’t the cheapest place in Wanaka, and there were definitely fancier options. But, it was clean, reasonably in a good area and the views. Some of the rooms had a pretty good view.

On balance, if you are looking for a no-frills yet functional motel with good views, then it is well worth it. Yes, it is worth it.

Anything I Should Definitely Pack? Any Must-Haves?

Oh, yes! PACK. Essential things. First, earplugs. Seriously. Noise. Secondly, maybe a snack stash. I'm a big snacker. The instant coffee wasn't enough. Thirdly: Check the weather and pack accordingly. Waterproofs! Wanaka weather can change on you faster than you can say "sunshine."

Also: a book, a journal. Something to keep you occupied. You may have downtime. Possibly a sense of ennui. A sense of place and self. Something to help you remember why you went. And if you are going in winter, layers, layers, layers!

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