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Chalet

Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting

Photo gallery for Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting

Winter wonderland
Exterior
The spa is lovely at night time.
Curl up next to the fire on the couch
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 9124 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Castle Hill, Canterbury
  • Place, Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Kura Tawhiti Scenic Reserve
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Place, Porters Ski Area
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Downstairs Double bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Bed

Upstairs bunkroom

+1
3 Single Beds and 2 Single Bunk Beds

Upstairs double bedroom

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting

Enjoy our mountain retreat for either winter or summer adventures. Our cosy house is the perfect base for a family looking to ski, mountain bike or walk in the outdoors. Recover afterwards either in the spa pool or relax in front of the log fire, with a good book or a movie on the projector screen. Our house is children and pet friendly, with a large trampoline that you can supervise your kids on from either the dining room or the kitchen. A big sunny deck with rocking chairs for afternoon snoozing, or watching the kids play swingball. We have tennis and golf gear, which you are welcome to use on the local court and rustic 9-hole course. BBQ on the deck, whilst listening to outdoor speakers playing vinyl from our extensive record collection. Our place is quite retro, which means it is easy to relax in and we have a big collection of climbing and tramping magazines in our bookshelves. Spa has a $50 cleaning fee. We can supply linen at $20 per bed, or you can bring your own.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

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House Rules

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children under 5 are free, but let us know.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 1 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses solar energy
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Castle Hill

Located in Castle Hill, this chalet is in the mountains. Porters Ski Area and Mt Cheeseman Ski Area are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cave Stream Scenic Reserve and Kura Tawhiti Scenic Reserve. Make sure you don't miss outdoor adventures like mountain climbing, rock climbing and mountain biking.
View more Chalets in Castle HillOpens in a new window
Map
Castle Hill, Canterbury

What's nearby

  • Cave Stream Scenic Reserve - 2 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Kura Tawhiti Scenic Reserve - 12 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Porters Ski Area - 22 min drive - 17.4 km
  • Mt Cheeseman Ski Area - 22 min drive - 35.7 km
  • Devils Punchbowl Waterfall - 48 min drive - 62.8 km

Getting around

  • Christchurch International Airport (CHC) - 73 min drive

Restaurants

  • Flock Hill Lodge
  • ‪Porters Cafe - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).

How much does it cost to stay at Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting?

As of 14 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting on 6 May 2026 start from NZ$200, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting?

On-site parking is available at the property.

Where is Cosy family and pet friendly chalet with spa in a fabulous scenic alpine setting located?

This family-friendly Castle Hill chalet is located in the mountains, within 3 mi (5 km) of Cave Stream Scenic Reserve and Kura Tawhiti Scenic Reserve. Porters Ski Area is 10.4 mi (16.7 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

John C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyable stay an property well presented excellent instructions provided for users owner communications excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely cabin and great location.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Stephen W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was lovely, beautiful views from the lounge and kitchen .Warm fire.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Renee R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely little chaletbeds were comfy, place was cosyclose to Arthurs pass which was great for hikingloved every moment
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Location was great for us, Castle Hill itself was a great little place, safe for the children. Kitchen was full of everything we needed and hot tub is just what you need after a da of walking
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Madeleine M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent communication with house owner and detailed house booklet made for an easy stay. Very cosy, homely house in spacious setting - family and pet friendly - highly recommended
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vicki H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay, super warm, lovely retro vibe
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A really great stay and place. Cosy and charming, awesome location, pet friendly (big tick for us!). An excellent place to get away and feel very relaxed.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shelley P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A lovely home with a wonderful atmosphere and heaps of character. It was cosy when the weather was cold, but stayed cool on a hot day too. It was super-relaxing and our dog loved it. The spa pool was added bliss. This is a great spot for a mountain get away.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

lars s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

GREAT SPOT

lovely place to stay, plenty of firewood and great spa, thanks
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cheridan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our host Dave was easy to conjugate with and provided lots of information. The stay was warm and tidy. Lots of things to entertain the kids and kitchen was well equiped.
View from the kitchen, some snow on the mountain Christmas nighy
Lounge
Side of the house towards the main road
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Bogdan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good bach to spend a few days in, one bathroom was not enough for 8 people unfortunately. Perfectly fine for a 6-person group.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shelley H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay at the house. Despite the wild weather, we really enjoyed the hot tub and cozy fireplace. Would love to return again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matt J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A delightful chalet, with so many things on offer. Comfortable, in good order and very helpful owners. The surrounding area is breathtaking, with many walks in the gorgeous landscape.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Beatrice S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
David and Mel were very accomodating to our needs, they were very responsive and flexible with check in/check out. The cabin itself had a lot of equipment such as spa, sports equipment, movies and games to entertain guests. We enjoyed our stay very much.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shaun T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Our stay was fabulous, comfortable beds and good amenities. Beautiful rustic home.

The weather was amazing and children and Dads played outside on expansive property. The view from the kitchen was superb
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

michael s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Castle hill bach

Beautiful location and a great cozy bach
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Gendie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sunny and very well heated with fire and electric heaters. Pet friendly. Teens enjoyed the games etc as weather was not so good.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Conall M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter get away

Great cosy house for a few days to unwind. Beautiful scenery and perfect pad to hunker down during a storm, fire lit, record playing and boardgames out.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quirky stay in the Canterbury alps

A quirky little cottage with ample bed space for family groups. Pretty quirky interior with distinct 1970s and 1980s vibes (with fitting vinyl collection!) Our family greatly enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sue I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

Easy
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kalana K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wow

Thank you for the lovely place... Looking forward to book it again....
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hayden W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our valentines day getaway was great.

We really enjoyed our time there . The house was lovely and exactly what we were expecting was clean and tidy and we loved the amazing views of the mountains and especially the stars at night in the spa pool. We liked it so much we want to bring our kids next time during the winter and have a holiday in the snow! Very happy thank you very much
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2025
Thank you Hayden. You'll be welcome back anytime. Winter school hols book up fast, so get in early. Cheers Dave
Verified

10/10 Excellent

shane b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Break away at Castle Hill

Magic setting, house just as it says on the listing with everything you need and a dose of technology detox for the kids. Mixture of walks available in area ranging from novice to expert.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Koren v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Old friends & kids catch up in Castle Hill

The house was fantastic. We had 4 children with us, they loved the trampoline, collection of games and books, and the projector screen made for a great movie afternoon. The spa was a treat, under the stars in the freezing cold listening to the frogs. The fireplace inside was so toasty. Castle Hill is close to multiple ski fields, the famous rocks and Arthur’s Pass. Lots to explore and do for all age groups. It was a shame there wasn’t more snow, we’ll have to come back! Dave was brilliant, great communication and we felt very welcome. We would highly recommend this house.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Dave Nicholl

Host profile image
We are a family of five and we love sharing our holiday home with other like-minded families. It's a great base to do activities in the Craigeburn ranges. Our kids have all experienced skiing and biking around the area and are now mostly grown up. We don't currently get to use it so much ourselves as our kids are at that age where they want to be in town near their friends. For this reason, we are happy to have renters enjoy the place.

Why they chose this property

Our house is one of the first to be built at Castle Hill and is older in style. That said, it's really relaxing to stay in and has all the essentials a family would need for a good holiday.

What makes this property unique

We love having a spa in the evening and watching the amazing night sky. Our teenage kids spend hours in it with their friends, which means we can have some quiet time to ourselves inside.

Languages:

English
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