Hotels Near Yellow eyed penguin colony in Oamaru

We had an absolutely wonderful stay with James and James at Pen y Bryn - I would recommend making this part of your stay for anyone visiting Oamaru. We were welcomed so warmly on arrival, and helped with our bags. They also upgraded our room which was a great bonus. There were delicious freshly made cookies and a great range of drinks waiting in our room. The modern bathroom (with underfloor heating) was huge, and the room felt very luxurious. James was so helpful in telling us where to go to get best views of penguins and lending us his binoculars. In the morning, breakfast was incredible, by far the best breakfast I have had in a hotel. Everything fresh and homemade including granola, jams and honey, followed by a spot on cooked breakfast. The room is also this gorgeous Victorian space. James was great to chat to and both were perfect hosts. Thanks so much for making our stay so special!

We stayed here to experience the old building. One night in the Spa suite and it was wonderful. The bathroom with spa is a lovely, heated room and the bed in the old part was very good. The old lift still works and the sweeping staircase is grand. If you enjoy history then the nostalgia that staying in the old section of the hotel brings is great. The double hung windows still work and let in a wonderful breeze. We arrived on a Sunday night, the restaurant was closed, fortunately opposite the hotel is Fat Sally’s a popular bar and restaurant serving great food. 5 stars for the experience of the old world

Really great find in Oamru, alternative would be a motel or motor lodge as there does not seem to be any international hotels here. The hotel is in a converted building - It was once a bank amongst other things and is very typical of the stunning stone Victorian Buildings that Oamaru has become known for. Centrally located it is only a few minutes walk to the Victorian Quarter, Stem Punk and the blue penguins. Staffed by a really good team, the daily rate includes a continental breakfast which is more than adequate and was a bonus. The rooms are spectacular decorated in themes, The Skiers Room, The Polo Room, The Mountaineers Room, and the walls are decorated in interesting memoriabillia, I had the suite which was very nice and spacious and even though it was one the main road (glimpse of the harbour) the windows are double glazed and it is very peaceful. Would definitely stay here again and happily recommend it. I wish the owners who have developed the property all of the best.

WE HAD VIEWED THE PHOTOS ON THEIR WEBSITE AND MADE A BOOKING TO STAY ONE NIGHT. AFTER ARRIVING AND PAYING FOR THE ROOM - (OUR MISTAKE) WE WENT INTO THE ROOM WHICH SMELT TERRIBLE. THE BATHROOM AREA, SHOWER AND TOILET EITHER WAS CRACKED AND OLD LOOKING OR DIRTY. i COULDN'T TELL.WHICH. THE BOTTOM OF BOTH WERE CRACKED AND BLACK LOOKING. WE LEFT AND STAYED AT ANOTHER MOTEL. THE MANAGER DID OFFER US ANOTHER ROOM THERE OR ANOTHER ROOM AT HER OTHER MOTEL, BUT I THOUGHT IF SHE WAS HAPPY RENTING OUT THAT ROOM FOR PAYING GUESTS AND THOUGHT THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE, I PRESUMED THEIR CLEANINESS STANDARD WOULD BE THE SAME. GIVE THIS MOTEL A BIG MISS.

My wife and I took a self drive touring holiday on South Island New Zealand from the 17th March to the 11th April 2023. Apart from the first 2 nights and the last night where we stayed in a hotel in Christchurch we were self catering and stayed in accommodation that offered cooking facilities. I have reviewed each of the hotel/motels we stayed in. The following reviews cover the accommodation and some of the facilities/visits we made on the trip. If you would like to view the rest of the reviews please click on my username and all my reviews will be listed. Day 3 of our self drive tour of South Island March/April 2023 The Mews Oamaru. 5 stars We stayed at The Mews on the 17th March for the 3rd night of our self drive touring holiday of South Island. Welcome. The Manager/Owner was friendly and gave us information on where to view the penguins, and told us of a blues festival on in the town. He greeted us and presented us with a small bottle of milk to enable us to make a cup of tea. Service. We were only there for one night and we did not have the room serviced. Location. The Mews is within walking distance of the centre of Oamaru. Comfort. The room we had was a King Studio with a Spa Bath. The room was a good size and contained a king bed and a separate single bed. The bed was very comfortable. It contained a good sized TV, a small dining table, a kitchenette with fridge, microwave a hotplate and cooking utensils. We were able to park right outside our unit. Cleanliness. The room and bathroom was clean. The bedding was also clean. WiFi. The Wifi was very good and I was able to stream UK tv programmes using a VPN. Conclusion. This is a nice motel, clean and welcoming and the spa bath was an added bonus. We would stay here again if we came to Oamaru again.

This was my second stay at AAA. Another great experience… The studio studios are extremely spacious & clean. Everything you need for a comfy night. There’s a full kitchen in you want to cook (cooktop elements & microwave, crockery, fridge etc.), or it’s an easy walk to the town restaurants and several takeaway options nearby. Excellent value for money.

We were made to feel so welcome. The room was incredibly spacious and spotless. Teas, plunger coffee, hot chocolate and fresh muffins as a welcome; so personal and special. Appreciated that we could drive right up to the door and limit bag movement. The kitchenette allowed us to prepare really well for the next part of our trip. Heated and electric blankets - we had to turn them off after a short time. Out of a large selection of Motels, I suggest you just choose this one and save yourself time.

They were amazing. Fitted me in at the last minute after my booking agency double booked me somewhere else. Room was very clean, and had everything I needed. Ground floor also, it was set up for complete disabled occupant and would have fit the bill nicely. Easy parking and a great restaurant on site. 5 stars!

I have had the pleasure of staying at the Colonial Lodge Motel, in the northern end of Oamaru, twice in the last month or so. On both occasions I was very impressed by the reception staff who were both friendly and efficient. But this was just the start of what was to be great experiences. The motel facility on both occasions was sparkling clean, yet managing to appear inviting and homely. The rooms I stayed in were well supplied with everything I could need and consumables were of good quality. On my last visit i stayed 2 days and was delighted to find that tea, coffee, and cookies were replaced each morning. The bed was truly luxurious and this word stays as a lasting memory of the whole experience. Thank you to the whole team who create such a nice place to stay.

The room is next to the street, so it is not easy to find the entrance door. I drove around twice to figure it out. The room is clean and tidy, and the transportation is convenient. The Wi-Fi signal is weak and average.