We stayed here lately as a couple. Our river side room was gorgeous, and the location really is stunning... just be warned that the roads are truely treacherous getting here. When you feel like your have gone too far along the road... keep going, its ages away!! The staff were almost patronising to our response when we innocently asked had there been another way to get there (we were afraid we had taken the scenic route). .and this same member of staff was quite rude as she showed us our room.

We loved the room and the products in the bathroom were fab (especially the mint soap).
We had dinner included in our rate. The coomon room inside the lodge is gorgeous, big spacious and cosy. However the food was absolutely rank :( it was a mish mash of salads (which could have been nice), roasted spuds that would take a tooth out and some horrible beef. In fact, the only good part of the meal was the gravy. The food really let this place down. After having explored the gorgeous scenery and walks after we arrived, we were dying for the food but it was such a let down.
On a positive note, there is a good bar with a good range of drinks :)
I would reccommend this place as it has great activities, however I would have booked in a dorm with a group of people, and brought my own food to cook there (it has these facilities).
To me, it feels more like the kind of place you would go with a group of friends for an activities based weekend, rather than a romantic getaway with a partner. It should maybe stick to that (the spa suggests that it would be couples and older-aged people friendly, but it is not).

Stayed at river valley with the kiwi experience so hadn't chosen this lodge but was very pleased that someone had chosen this place for us! The surroundings are beautiful, so peaceful. Would recommend using the 'flying fox' across the river and hiking up the hill to a point which has a sign to say you climbed all the way to the top! Beware-flying fox can be dirty so dont make the mistake I did and wear white on it! Food at River Valley was lovely and atmosphere in the evening is really nice with a fire in the middle of the room, people having dinner and playing cards - really relaxing. Would recommend doing the white water rafting trip that you can book with the lodge. The guys that run the trip are great and the experience was amazing, although a little scary! Staff at the lodge are very friendly and helpful. Only slight thing to note is that this is a lodge in the countryside and there are bugs - dont let this put you off but just to make you aware that this is something that is inevitable!

Despite paying $175 for a River View room it was so small we couldn't swing a cat, it was very basic, no wine glasses, uncomfortable bed, Mosquitos and the cockroaches must have come as optional extras - which we didn't chose. Skylight in ceiling didn't have a blind so sun woke us up at 5am. Disappointing that you come to a lodge and find everything is a extra. 9 hole golf course which was so poorly maintaned it was unusable, walking tracks over grown. Food wasn't that great either, very little choice unless you liked rather tough chewy beef.
Very pleasent staff.
Sorry, not a place we could recommend to anyone in its present state.

We saved this for our last week of 6 weeks in NZ and are so glad we did. We booked a luxury ensuite for 6 nights which had a huge and very comfortable bed, and heated floors in the bathroom (which I *love*). We booked the package with all meals included as we knew it is very remote without option to eat elsewhere, however there are various accommodation options from dorms and bunk-rooms to the above mentioned luxury en-suite, and there is a small kitchen with the possibility to self-cater, as well as 'pay as you go' meals in the lodge. The kitchen staff do a great job making a variety of sandwiches, salads, quiches etc for lunch plus a roast every night plus yummy puddings, and the breakfast options are also impressive. The main lodge 'communal' room has a fire, a bar, board games etc and has a 'hostel-y' feel to it, in a good way. There are a lot of 'Kiwi Experience' people passing through (they get brought here on the bus) so if you want to go budget you probably want to book ahead, and consider how you want to spend your money - the organised activities are fantastic; rafting, hiking, horserideing etc and there is also yoga in the mornings, the option to have a massage treatment etc. You can also do self-guided walks. So think about whether your priority is activities, nice accommodation, home cooked food etc and book your stay accordingly. The staff are all incredibly professional, entertaining and thoughtful. I love the comment below that it is 'like summer camp for grown-ups' - what a great idea and bang on as a description of River Valley Lodge!