We've stayed in Twizel a few times, but Menards cottage is our new favourite place to stay.
The previous stop in our trip was a large soul-less house, so the cottage was refreshingly completely opposite - compact, cosy, and bursting with character.
Jason welcomed us on arrival, and we knew immediately that we'd love this place.
While outside never made it above freezing, inside was toasty & very warm. I liked the inside/outside temperature display on the wall. The beds were comfy, the shower pressure was great, and the full kitchen meant we didn't have to eat out every night. There's good wifi, an array of books and dvds to keep you amused, and an impressive collection of music available too. Close enough to Twizel (around 15 min drive), but far enough out to feel like you're in the middle of nowhere - with great views in a picture perfect setting.
A fantastic place to stay for the 3 of us (plus dog). Our only gripe was with mother nature not playing the game - we didn't have a night of clear skies to be able to appreciate the night sky right in the middle of an international dark sky reserve. But that just means we have a great excuse to come back later - which we definitely will be doing.