Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge 4.5 stars

I'll start with the good. This lodge is super convenient to the National Park. If you want to stay close, this is the closest to the park gate. There are some lovely short walks available right at the lodge, and it's a nice setting. No breathtaking views from the room or lodge, though you can expect to see wildlife like wombats and wallabies roaming the grounds. Inside our Pencil Pine cabin was nice - but nothing really flash (or reflecting the price). Take note though, there is no TV in the room. The last time I stayed somewhere like that was a backpacker hostel. Nor is there any WIFI. Take a book. I had one, and there were some cast off books in the bookcase. However, unless the second installment of 50 Shades of Gray is your bag, make sure you have something to your tastes. The outside of the cabins are very underwhelming - they certainly don't stick out, instead blending into the bush in a school camp sort of way. I was really looking forward to some meals here. I did my research - I checked on the Accor Plus website and both the restaurant and tavern were listed. I also checked on the Accor Plus Dining Exceptions website, and the property was not listed at all. This was why I didn't opt for a breakfast included option when booking my accommodation. I was very frustrated when I went to book dinner at the restaurant, to be told that they won't honour an Accor Plus card because they only offer a set menu (guys, you could maybe offer a la carte too!). Either way, it's deceptive conduct and very poor form. So, we ate in the Tavern. It was fine. Nothing particularly good or bad, though the place does get very busy. They at least take an Accor Plus card. For breakfast, the only option is the restaurant. It's not a set menu, instead a very underwhelming buffet, at $40 per adult. They still won't take an Accor Plus card at breakfast - so seem to make up the rules as it suits them. I raised this with a few staff members, and nobody steps up to be accountable. So, I called Accor Plus. They informed me that they were aware of the "issue" and were working to rectify it. They actually suggested trying another Accor restaurant for breakfast - like in Launceston. That was over a week ago, and nothing has been updated. So they either treat their customers with contempt, or they realise that deceptive trade practices benefit their business. I'm preparing a complaint with Tasmania's consumer regulator. This is not me being a pain - I pay a lot of money for Accor Plus membership and dislike it when companies don't play by their own rules. Would I stay here again? Probably not. I'd try one of the other places nearby. I stayed at several other Accor places during my trip to Tassie and they all asked for feedback and reviews (all were excellent by the way). But not Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Peppers Cradle Mt Lodge is a convenient lodge to stay at when exploring Cradle Mt walks. Despite the cabins being out dated they are well appointed, spacious , warm and clean. The wood fire furnace makes the cabin warm as it can be very cold at Cradle Mt. We enjoyed dinner at both restaurants, the bistro for more casual and The Highlander for a set menu with a higher price tag. The roads that lead up to the cabins need resurfacing.

This is an amazing location to explore Cradle Mountain. The trip to the national park is so very well organized by a frequent bus shuttle. The hotel is cosy but very dated. Hence needs to up its game especially with furnishings. Very pricy for what you get. Our cabin was cosy and warm. Bed very comfortable. We didn’t eat in the restaurant just in the tavern. Food was good. But not great. ! We did our own breakfast and lunch.

If you eat here don't order a pizza. Terrible bought in base that wasn't even cooked and hardly any cheese. My husband got his meal 20 mins before my pizza arrived. Staff are more bothered about socializing with each other than clearing tables.

So disappointed, staff made us feel unwelcome, we were treated like children on a school annual outing. Within five minutes of registering with the receptionist we were curtly informed that there was a) no internet in our room (nobody informed us about this in advance), b) the communal area where internet was available shuts at 22:00 and c) no room for us to have a meal in the restaurant for the two nights we were staying(!). This should have been communicated to us but they didnt bother. There was room in the Bistro but the menu including burgers and pizza wasnt for us so we had to drive to another hotel which in my mind was unacceptable having forced to leave our room to drive for dinner elsewhere. We were also instructed that we ‘could’ have breakfast only from 08:00 as the restaurant was fully booked so we couldnt have an early hike start. Breakfast itself is basic at best, no vegetables in sight, runny scrambled eggs with gloomy staff to boot. At breakfast, we were shown to our table and told immediately that the first coffee was free and there on after we’d have to pay. The whole experience from the minute we entered Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge was one of negativity, staff are the most unfriendly we’ve come across during our Australia trip, we felt completely unwelcomed here. Needless to say, we are never coming back and nor should you.