We booked two rooms online from Australia based on the rating in a well known travel publication. We were not expecting much but when we arrived we were appalled! There are no words that can describe this facility other than DON'T STAY THERE!
We took one look at both rooms and immediately left, booking two lovely apartments at Peppers Resort, more than we had planned for but definitely in keeping with our previous accomodation at St Clair Beach Resort in Dunedin.
We took photos just to show people how bad it was, they will come in handy for the dispute we will have when we cancel the payment. Fawlty Towers would be far preferable than this sorry joke. I actually felt sorry for a bus load of Japanese tourists who were checking in. I will be reporting this pigsty to the New Zealand tourist folks with a recommendation they try to shut it down. What an appalling advertisement for New Zealand tourism!

Heavy rain forced us from our tent site to the only available place in town within a reasonable budget. We nearly drove on to Geraldine but we just needed somewhere dry to sort out our kit before we flew home the next day and it seemed silly to pay over the odds for the Peppers resort. We booked a budget room online and then went straight to check in. Though it was a bit early the pleasant receptionist let us check in, and upgraded us from a budget room to a standard room. I've stayed in some low rent places in my time but this place was a shocker. The most positive thing I can say is, it was a roof over our heads. Secondly, it was a handy location. Thirdly, there was a small flatscreen tv. End of highlights. We were groundfloor with no net curtain, so for privacy we had to close the heavy blinds, but some of the lightbulbs were blown. We faced a very ordinary central quad, and were situated beside the hotel laundry room which had industrial washers and driers working solidly for a number of hours in the afternoon, despite being told they would only be going for half an hour. The decor hadn't been touched by the look of it since 1983, and the textured ceiling paper was peeling off in large chunks. Signs on the bathroom wall urged people not to let the bathroom overflow as there was no drainage at all, which explained the pervasive smell of damp carpet over the chemical cleaners. The salmon pink walls were marked and grubby. The only thing saving it from a terrible review was it was reasonably clean, as far as it could be, and I didn't see any roaches. The hotel notes remarked it was soon to be earmarked for a renovation of some kind. It can't come soon enough. This was a port in a storm, literally, but I would never go back unless I absolutely had no choice. The thought of ever staying there again is actually a little depressing, even though I mean to make sure it never happens. Would hate to have seen the budget room.

The only place available in Tekapo, at a sensible price, when we booked. Stayed there once before and was initially reluctant to return - but it was the only one available in a location on our itinerary.
The ground floor room was compact and had a 1970's style of furnishings and decoration. It had Lake views through a patio door. It was tidy. But, whilst not dirty, it was in need of a full clean. There were two beds: a single and a double. They were comfortable. The beds were far too small for a tall guy - the double worked as it gave more room at an angle. By far the biggest problem was the absence of an acceptable level of soundproofing - which was not helped by a team of synchronized snorers in the adjacent room. The floorboards in the room above were very noisy, as we found when the occupants returned in the middle of the night. The shower worked fine although there were a number of notices about the possibility of running out of hot water.
Not an enjoyable experience.

Filthy room, bathroom covered in pubic hairs & most disturbingly blood stains on the curtain. What made that even worse was that when we told the receptionist upon check out, all they said to us was "Sorry about that." and then just asked for payment. Clearly they are used to complaints about this hell hole as the mention of such a disgusting lack of cleanliness was of no surprise to the staff. A truly awful experience. Shame, because Lake Tekapo is a beautiful place.