Bright Highland Valley Cottages

This is our 13th year staying at this property. We have decided (as a family) to not return. Think about that...delightedly happy for 12 years, and then cannot stand the idea of returning!!! It was once a wonderful owner/operated place with 4 cottages. Greg and Christel were the last owners before it became a series of six cottages (and a house) managed by a real estate agent. Hence, the place is much busier!! It is no longer a wonderful place to stay (and my previous review is no longer valid). We arrived (cottage #4) to find a stream of ants and left over biscuit crumbs that needed to be attended to ( this is obviously disappointing). There was not enough crockery for a family of 4 (it is a 2 bedroom unit with 4 beds!!) The 2 burner induction cooktop is new, but replaced a 4 burner cooktop and it is difficult to use...and does not fit two pans at the one time (and there is not the option of using a bbq!!). There was once a large, under cover communal bar-b-que, and the owners/body corporate have decided to remove this. Why? Who would know, but this is obviously disappointing. Who would have thought that cooking food on a bar-b-que in the middle of summer would be impossible? This evening, we had to kill a small collection of cockroaches (x 4). The bathroom sink does not drain properly. The other guests....what can I say...sharing the small pool enclosure with a number of people that smoke (even though the sign upon entry to the pool area says 'no smoking') so that my children are breathing in second hand cigarette smoke is less than wonderful. We had an annual revolving booking for 11 years, but even that was difficult last year....real estate/holiday agents!! We shall not be returning. The place has sadly gone downhill in every conceivable area....cleanliness, upkeep (think lawns being mowed, or not!), ease of booking, bbq area (non existent), and guests' behaviour etc. People now park their cars where they want, as opposed to 'doing the right thing' when the property was an owner/operator establishment. If you read my other reviews, you will realise that I rarely write a critical review....it is not something that I normally do. Not coming back sums it up!

I can’t recommend these cottages enough. Everything was great about them. Decor, cleanliness, proximity to town. There was everything in them that you would possibly need. The only criticism would be the outdoor lighting. We arrived at night, and had trouble finding them as the road sign wasn’t lit. There was also poor lighting outside the cottages.