My partner and I stayed at Willowbydowns for 3 nights in January. We felt like we were staying at an Aunt and Uncle's home, who were just taking care of us for a few days (of course, until it was time to pay!). Overall, we did enjoy our stay in Willowbydowns but if heading to Queenstown again, we would choose to stay in Queenstown itself.
Hospitality : Pam is an exceptional host. Pam geniunely wants you to get the most of your time in Queenstown and will spend time with you to organise (make calls, check weather) or plan an itinerary. She also kindly called up the local pharmacist for medical advice when I was sick.
Great breakfasts: Pam offers poached eggs, toast, a range of cereals, yoghurt and fresh fruit. Yum, healthy and will definitely keep you going for a few hours.
Family feel: During the 3 days, the house had family members popping in and out, children playing and running around. When we came home, we would chat about what we had been up to and Pam would tell us stories about her family. Plus, as it is a BnB, you obvoiusly sleep in a room just upstairs, in an attached extension of the main house. Not ideal for those who may want a more private, secluded accommodation option.
The room: Very clean, comfy, small TV and private bathroom. Perfect!
Property / Location: The most memorable aspect of our stay at Willowbydowns was the farm. The property is home to nearly 100 sheep & lambs, two alpacas and many chickens. it's a beautiful property and you do get an amazing view of the mountains from the front of the property and also upstairs in the room.
The downside of staying in Arrowtown is the distance from Queenstown. Arrowtown is about 15 minutes away, so it did burn up quite a bit of petrol driving in and out every day. There are shops and restaurants in Arrowtown, but Queenstown has much more to do and see - definitely better to eat out in Queenstown. Then again, you do get to live on a farm and away from the noise and action...so depends what you're looking for.
If you want to stay somewhere out of the hustle and bustle of Queenstown and want to stay in a house with a friendly couple keen to chat to after a day of fun and activities, this is a great place to stay. Thank you Pam and David, it was a pleasure getting to know you and your family.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC