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Reviews of Affordable lake edge luxury at The Willows, Lake Rotorua

Affordable lake edge luxury at The Willows, Lake Rotorua
Rotorua, Bay of Plenty Region

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 83 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 105 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 105 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous!
What a fabulous spot! We had an amazing time great for large gatherings and picturesque views. Kerry was very communicative will definately use again
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 May 2024
Thanks for the lovely review Leah. Hope to see you guys back here one day. Cheers. Kerry

10/10 Excellent

Fay K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful
Beautiful home, wonderful experience! We enjoyed every second :)
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Mar 2024
Thanks for the lovely words Fay. Glad you enjoyed yourselves. Hope to see you back one day.

10/10 Excellent

Laurie S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect vacation home
You will be relaxed from the moment you step foot on this property. Kerry is an amazing host and always answers any questions quickly. The property is nothing short of amazing. The gardens, the views and the hottub by the lakeside are all exactly what you need to feel you are on a private resort. We had a large group with lots of space to spare.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Outstanding
Beautiful location on the lake. Spacious and easily fit our family members with room to spread out in smaller groups. View from deck and kitchen were stunning. We really enjoyed this house. Kerry was very communicative.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2023
Thanks for the kind words Kenneth. All the best and hope to see you back one day.

10/10 Excellent

erin j.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing
The house was perfect for our needs.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Family House
We had our annual family Easter holiday at the Willows and loved it. The house is big enough for everyone to have their own space, location is great and the communication with Kerry made our time away seamless.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Apr 2023
Thanks for the lovely words Kirsten. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you back next Easter.

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic - Great View
Best place we stayed in New Zealand. Had everything we needed. Super location, great owner, wonderful view, Gardener showed up while we were there just to keep the yard looking great. Wish we had more time there.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar 2023
Thanks for the lovely review Mike. Hope to host you guys again one day.

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

Liked: Cleanliness
A beautiful home in a beautiful setting!
This home was a real find. Truly lakefront with beautiful gardens and outlook, our family spent a lovely week here enjoying all the amenities and the very private and peaceful setting. We had 6 staying in the house and didn't feel cramped or claustrophobic in the slightest. There are plenty of places to find some alone time. Having a relaxing spa in a secluded garden nook with views out on the lake was the highlight for me! I highly recommend this property!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jan 2023
Thanks for the lovely review Paul. It was a pleasure to host your family and I hope to see you back one day.

10/10 Excellent

Georgina J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful family holiday
This is a wonderful house for extended family. The lakeside location with kayaks and life jackets provided is perfect. And the fantastic spa is also right on the water. Amazing view. Beautiful gardens. Two living rooms. Well stocked pantry and bathrooms. NB: The listing says 3 bathrooms but we didn't read the description properly which says third bathroom comes only when you rent the extra apartment. So we only had an ensuite and a main bathroom, which we made work. The only other issue we had for boat owners to be aware of is that there is a steep, windy driveway down to the property which we couldn't get our boat down. The DVD library is the largest I've ever seen - wow! Kerry responded promptly to all our questions. A beautiful, great value property. Highly recommend!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Jan 2023
Thanks for the lovely review Georgina. Glad you enjoyed your time here and I hope to see you again one day.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah P., Auckland, New Zealand

Liked: Cleanliness
Can't wait to go back
We had a blissful week at the Willows. The property was perfect for our group, with loads of space & separate areas & bedroom configurations. The kitchen was probably the most stocked we've ever seen with crockery, glasses, mugs, cutlery etc. We are looking forward to staying here again next time we're in Rotorua.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Dec 2022
Thanks for the lovely review Sarah. I look forward to seeing you back one day.

10/10 Excellent

Jessica S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family time!
We are grateful for Kerry’s warm hospitality! The house was a perfect getaway for our family of 9, with lots of room to spread around and very cozy. Our teens love the kaya and the younger kids had a lot of movie selections. Kitchen was well stocked and the garden was lovely. Views from upstair room was stunning! We had a great stay and if we ever head back to Rotorua we would love to stay here again! Thanks Kerry ☺️
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Dec 2022
Jessica and her family were delightful guests and would be welcome back anytime.

10/10 Excellent

George Y., Auckland, New Zealand

Liked: Cleanliness
Great
Beautiful location, lovely garden and lake view. Room for the whole whānau and then some with even more space left over. Would stay here again. Thanks for having us
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Dec 2022
Glad you enjoyed your stay George. Hope to see you again one day.

8/10 Good

Steve K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location and good facility
Great location and good facility.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Merrin J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Large luxe lake house!
Fabulous place! Spacious, premium views of the lake. Great dvd and cd collection. Great kitchen with even better views! Beautiful garden . 5 star property! Kerry is a Friendly, helpful and gave great recommendations for cafes/ restaurants
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Sept 2022
Thanks for the lovely review Merrin. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you back one day.

8/10 Good

carrie y., New Zealand

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent location
Had everything we needed and more.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

John v.

Liked: Cleanliness
Private, peaceful haven
We had an amazing family time at the Willows!! We felt very comfortable in this warm and roomy house!!! Plenty space for all of us!!! The adults enjoyed the spa pool, while the kids watched DVDs or the canoes on the lake!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brandon P.

Liked: Cleanliness
5 star family relaxation
Beautiful house, beautiful views and Kerry(host) was awesome and had lots of fantastic recommendations to do in the area which did not disappoint.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Val H., Tauranga

Liked: Cleanliness
Birthday Celebration. Well stocked kitchen. Everything there that we needed. Great place to stay.
The property was perfect for us to all be together with separate space for the children to watch a video (or the adults)
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

kiri d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Luxury wand comfort.
Beautiful home with panoramic views of the lake. Short drive to Town. Made use of the hot tub and the TV room. Kerry was a welcoming host and very easy to communicate with. Gave clear instructions on check in and check out. Offered some great ideas of activities and best places to eat in Rotorua. We will definitely be back. Thank you Kerry.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome home with very a very cool back yard
Loved this place. Spa is awesome the house it's self is large and spacious. Gardens are stunning along with the view. Kerry was awesome checking us in.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Esther C.

Liked: Cleanliness
So beautiful
Very relaxing place to be, warm, comfortable, great for a family get together. Kerry is a wonderful host. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful
A great place to stay, with everything supplied for a wonderful holiday.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Chris & Adele A., London

Liked: Cleanliness
Terrible weather but great stay.
Had a fabulous time with 2 families at a great sized house. Everything we needed & more - heaps of movies, space to spread out, beautiful spa, brilliant location. Toasty warm place & Kerry was great to deal with. We’ll be back!

10/10 Excellent

Greg M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent
Great stay and a great host
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Lydia B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Warm and happy
Warm. Lots of room. Beautiful location.

6/10 Okay

Jared M., Auckland

The Willows - 4/9 Jan 2021
Great location, right on the lake, place is really private and the house is spacious and ideal for a bigger group. Media room is great for the kids and spa was fun. Everything though is very tired. We had issues with white ware, a leaking roof, uncomfortable beds, missing or damaged bathroom hardware and pantry issues among other things. The place needs maintenance done on it asap otherwise others will no doubt have these similar experiences. At the price we paid we expected a better standard. Great spot but a slightly underwhelming experience overall. Could be amazing with some improvements.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jun 2021
The house is being refreshed where needed following a couple of years of under investment and COVID related austerity. The roof has been repaired. The whiteware issues were repaired immediately, new curtains and blinds have been ordered, the bathroom is being renovated, new lighting is being installed and a new spa has been installed overlooking the lake and city.

10/10 Excellent

Hineihaea M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful stay
Great host, great location, great house. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and we'll gladly be back! Perfect place to stay, kick back and relax! Highly recommended.

10/10 Excellent

Bronwen H., Auckland, New Zealand

Liked: Cleanliness
A little bit of heaven in Rotorua
Fabulous experience from the welcome, the house and the amazing garden. We were a family of 11 from 18 months to a Nana. Something for everyone and the best equipped house I have ever stayed in. Highly recommend.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Gill W.

Liked: Cleanliness
A great place for a family holiday
This is a big house at the lake edge (kayaks and a dinghy supplied). Very roomy and comfortable. Grreat communication with Kerry the owner who was welcoming and helpful. Would not really rate it as 'luxury' (it has more of lived-in feel) but it's great for an extended family gathering with kids. The kitchen is really well supplied, good laundry, nice spa pool, heaps of DVDs. We had an excellent time.

8/10 Good

Hilary T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Superb position and views
This house is in a perfect position, overlooking Lake Rotorua. You can see the sunrise over the mountains at the other side of the lake and the clouds of steam from the vents over there as well. The property is very quiet and relaxing. There are lots of nooks and crannies in the garden, which make great spots for laying, partially, in the sun, just relaxing and thinking deep thoughts whist watching the swans swim by. The 65"tv is great for entertainment and there is a vast range of DVDs available to watch. We enjoyed our time at The Willows and are only sorry it was cut short by having to return to England before the corona virus travel restrictions bit. We will be back, in the future, to finish our trip.
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Dolores H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location. Very roomy house. Beautiful yard Loved our stay
Just minutes from so many attractions. And after a long day it was so great to come back to BBQ and then relax in the hot tub or enjoy a movie in the movie room. Also Loved canoeing on the lake
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Patrick K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent place to stay
The house and grounds are beautiful. Really enjoyed the kayaks and lake access. Heaps of movies for the kids on a rainy day. Kerry is an excellent host.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Thanks for the lovely review Patrick. Hope to see you back one day.

10/10 Excellent

Todd J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful gardens on the lake
The property is filled with beautiful gardens and flowers. It is nestled back in a quiet neighborhood, situated on the lake. Black swans and ducks swim by the house all day. There is plenty of room for a large family- it sleeps 11. There are thousands of DVDs to watch-but we were never home to watch them. It is located 8-10 minutes from Rotorua downtown. Everything you need is provided. You have access to kayaks and canoes, linens, and a washer and dryer. It doesn't have AC, but the house cools down nicely with the windows cracked in the evenings. It was perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Thanks for the lovely review Todd. Just to clarify, there is Air Conditioning. It is the cooling function of the gas central heating system.

10/10 Excellent

Graeme N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Highly recommended
Fantastic accommodation, very accommodating owner. Highly recommended

10/10 Excellent

Craig C., Auckland

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful spot on the Lake
This is a great holiday House for the family, good weather or bad. Kerry is a fantastic host, very friendly and accommodating.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Barbara M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful
Kerry the owner nice guy. The house was lovely and warm had 2 fires going. My family totally enjoyed the accommodation the lake and garden, our dogs loved being there thank you so much Kerry.

10/10 Excellent

Miki B., Omaha, Nebraska

Loved our stay. The house is amazing and the location is perfect for relaxing.
Kerry was amazingly helpful and so accomodating our extended family had a wonderful holiday.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Richard C.

Simply marvellous
If you're looking for a peaceful, relaxing venue - with direct access onto the lake then this is just the ticket. We had an idyllic time, kayaking, relaxing on the deck - enjoying the view, the sunsets, the spa and the impressive home cinema set up. The location is quiet and not over looked. It's also close to all the major attractions - if you can tear yourself away from relaxing by the lake! Highly recommended and the owner was very quick to respond to all queries. Would absolutely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Karen W.

Perfect for our family get together
Loved spacious feel lots of areas for different groups to mingle. The second lounge perfect for the children to chill. Great view of the lake & enteraining to watch the kids kayak
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019