Castle Hill

Welcome to Smylies Accommodation

 

We hope you enjoy your stay with us, for your safety and enjoyment please read this information

  • Office hours: 8.00 am to 9.00 pm.
  • Departure time: 10.00 am. Late check-out is available until midday at $20 extra, please inform staff before 9.00 pm
  • Internet: Wireless is available, Smylies is the only business on Fibre in Springfield, check the poster on the wall for the login password 
  • Fire safety: Your units have fire extinguishers fitted and smoke alarms. Smoking is not allowed inside.

 

  • We have lots of plugs fitted with USB ports for your convenience or ask for the approved extension boxes.
  • There are spare pillows and blankets under your king bed on either side in roller boxes
  • A hairdryer is in your unit, some units in the basin, some beside your bed 
  • There are ashtrays outside your door.
  • Conduct: please be considerate of others, turn your phone down at night
  • Damages: please notify us of any breakages or faulty equipment
  • Equipment not functioning? let us know if the equipment is not working so we can rectify it for you.
 

Book Accommodation

Set on just over 2 acres, it offers plenty of space for rest and enjoyment.  It has been extensively renovated with all modern facilities., we are the only fibre connected building in Springfield 

The main building rooms  are configured into twins, doubles and dorms. Our motel units are set up as studios, one 2-bedroom family unit and a 3-bedroom Cottage.  All our double beds are super king which can be split into singles with prior arrangement.

We can cater for groups of up to 35 in shared accommodation with dinner and breakfast provided.

There is an extensive collection of English and Japanese books to be found on the bookshelves and in the TV lounge, we have a good collection of videos (yes we still have one of those) and DVDs and Fibre strength internet.

Other facilities available:
  • Ski tune-up room/storage room
  • Drying room with dedicate bootdryer 
  • Dining room for in-house guests
  • Ski and board rental
  • Clothing hire
  • Nutcracker and harness rental for the Rope Tow ski fields 
  • Bouldering/climbing mat rental, shoes and castle hill climbing guide
  • Wireless Fibre  internet
  • Mini climbing wall to stretch your muscles
  • Full recycling facilities to minimize yours and our carbon footprint
  • Pet-friendly motel unit
  • And with 3 kids ourselves we are most definitely a kids-friendly accommodation provider

 

 

Facilities:

 

Library: Our library is in the main building; it has an extensive collection of English and Japanese books.

Speciality literature includes car magazines, Science fiction and Japanese manga

Garden: have a wander. All the fruit and veggies are not sprayed in any way so if you are tempted to try some you can do so safely.

DVDs: There is a good collection of DVDs’ available in the TV lounge. You can watch DVDs in your room.

Laundry: there is a coin-operated laundry (2x $1) behind the main building (east side) washing powder is provided in a green container, the dryers need 4x $1 coins or the washing line is free.

Recycling:  it is important for all of us to travel responsibly and one aspect of that is recycling.

Please leave glass and cans rinsed on the bench if you are there for 1 night or in the recycle bins provided by the garage or for hostel guests in the kitchen. For long-stay customers, the recycling area is noted on the map.

Dining room: If you would like a meal then please check with the Office upon check-in.

In the winter we serve meals daily, in the summer when we have groups and pre-booked only.

Dinner is served from 6.30pm onwards until 8.00pm and breakfast from 7.00am until 9.00 am (please reserve breakfast the evening before)

During busy times a set menu is prepared with sitting times controlled by the chef [please check with reception]

The menu varies from Japanese [not only raw fish] country cuisine to New Zealand meals.

Breakfast can be continental, cooked or Japanese depending on your taste buds.

Ski and Board rental

 

We have a range of rental equipment including clothes, skis, boots, poles and snowboards. and pride ourselves on the best prices.
We also carry Nutcrackers and harnesses for the club fields.

Please check with reception for rates or look under rental winter.

Tune-up room:
In the rental building, we have a tune-up bench for repairs and waxing, please clean up after yourself.

Transport:
We provide a daily shuttle to Porters and the other fields depending on numbers.
Also for walkers, we can organise your transport so you can do one-way walks and not have to worry about your car.

Other options are East-West Shuttles and Tranz alpine train.

Animals:
At the back of our property, you will find Anzac  the Alpaca and Kuni the Pet garbage disposal unit who likes all food except lemons and raw onions and 2 little kuekune pigs with the name of tiger and salt'npepper 
She has been trained to sit but do watch your fingers as she cannot see very well. Kids ask your parents to come with you.

Climbing wall:
There is a mini climbing wall in the carport for your use and weights and rowing machine in the laundry. Please be safe and make sure you know your limits . No falling off the wall without permission

 

Activities within 6 km:

  • Rubicon Valley Tourist Centre does horse riding for beginners to experts
  • Alpine Jet is the place to be for jetboating and they also have a museum attached to their office so you can enjoy a ride and learn the history of the jet boat. Alpine Jet does jetboating from 30 minutes to 1 hour
  • Quad biking or 2 wheels
  • Kowai Bush: lovely black beach bush for a short wander and walk around Lord's bush 
  • The Tranz Alpine experience, is one of the six best train journeys in the world

Activities within 35 km:

  • Mt Torlesse / Korowai Tussock land park
  • Castle Hill bouldering and walking, we have rental mats and shoes available
  • Cave stream (note you will need head torches to see, rental from office $2 per torch)
  • Craigieburn Park
  • Wharfedale Track
  • Porters ski area
  • Lake Lyndon
  • Golf at the Waimak or Glentunnel golf clubs (2 Right hand sets, 1x left hand set available for hire )

Activities within 85 km:

  • Washpen Falls ($10) a great little spot for a short walk 
  • Arthurs Pass
  • Lake Coleridge loop (travel over the porters pass, turn left at Lake Lyndon, head to lake Coleridge and return via Terrace Downs, white cliffs and Glentunnel)
    Maps are available from the office to borrow for the day.
  • Fly fishing
  • Lure fishing