aemowens,
I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. I'll start with the facilities - I visited Cabair and OAT so can perform some basis of comparison. CTC's facilities out here in NZ are at least on a par with these, in fact I would go so far as to say they are a little better. As CTC has expanded, the facilities are getting used to capacity now which is good in terms of efficiency but there has been the very odd occasion where we have been left without a classroom. Usually this is not a problem though. The flight planning facilities are excellent - we have computers we can use to get hold of any relevant enroute info, weather, notams, aerodrome data, airways info and file flight plans. There are a number of briefing rooms for pre/post flight briefs and the larger classrooms are all kitted out with projectors and computers for all cadets. Fleet-wise, the fleet is growing as the new Alpha 160s continue to be delivered. I'm not sure of the exact number of aircraft at the moment but it's in the region of 10 Alphas, 12 C-172's, 2 Piper Seminoles and 7 DA42 Twinstars. These are all kept on our own aprons which are right outside the training centre and about a 50 m taxi from the C1 holding point from Rwy 36! As an airport to fly from, Hamilton is excellent as it does get busy and we regularly have ATRs/Beech 1900/Q300s coming in through the day as well as our 06:20 alarm clock, and Air NZ A320!
The accommoation is comparable to Uni halls of residence (although nice ones, not the £35 per week halls!). You are either put into accommodation in town (about 15 mins drive from the airport) which is perhaps not quite as plush as Clearways but you have the benefit of being right in town in excellent locations. Clearways is the main CTC accommodation and is custom built for us. Another block is due to start building in the next few weeks actually. Clearways is really nice - ensuite, kitchenette in each room with microwave, kettle and sink. There is also a large kitchen in each block shared by all with cookers, ovens and dishwashers, and a large common room with 42in TVs and Table Tennis tables. Clearways also has a small gym onsite. The only thing with Clearways is that you are 15 mins from a bar/ supermarket/ Domino's - it is right under the short final approach path for Rwy 18 so you cannot really be much closer to the airport, but at the same time is is just in the middle of a big field!
You are right in assuming you come home mid-way through your training for about 6 weeks. It is about 7 months after you first leave for NZ and it's main purpose is so that you can get the first 8 ATPL exams done. You spend 2 weeks at Bristol Groundschool brushing up and then a week at the exam centre and the rest of the time is leave. It's then back to NZ for the final 4-5 months.
The £60k is a bond goes to CTC to reduce the risk on their part for your training and covers everything apart from the foundation course including flights to/ from UK and accommodation. The Foundation course costs about NZ$12,000 (about £4200) and you are refunded for any of the 68 hours that involves that you do not use (dont expect any of that back if you do not have a current PPL though) and it's purpose is to train you to the 'Wings Cadet' standard so that you can enter the Wings scheme. Effectively, you are not a Wings cadet until you pass this phase. The standard is very high (nearly CPL level is what they are looking for from Integrated cadets now) but it they are training you to be the best in the industry so it needs to be. So the only other costs you need to cover are your day-to-day living costs. CTC give you a car and van per course which they service but you must pay the fuel. Depending how shrewd you are with your spending can greatly influence how much a year out here costs, but NZ$200 per week is more than enough - $100 is probably just do-able if you don't drink at the weekend!! HSBC will lend you up to £75k to cover the bond, foundation and living costs up to £10k but beware that the interest is fairly hefty - for £75k, you will repay about £105k I think.
There have been a couple of niggles here and there which have put a few people off, particularly when the DA20 Katanas were grounded due to fuel system problems but all in all, the training here is excellent. I have very few complaints and am confident that I will be in a better position than the competition when I finish training. Hope that has been of some help.