Dusky Lodge

"Located just off a busy state highway, the property can be a little tricky to find at first. Parking is limited on-site, but there’s plenty of free street parking nearby. The cabins are clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. I stayed in an en-suite cabin, which was very convenient. There was a single stray hair in the bedding, but overall everything felt tidy. Note that the cabins are upstairs with no lift, so keep that in mind if you have heavy luggage. The shared kitchen and lounge are spacious and well-equipped with all the essentials, and there’s also a great outdoor BBQ area. Facilities include a small pool, jacuzzi, and sauna, plus an on-site pizza place open from 3–8 pm. Restaurants are nearby and in town, and laundry is just a short drive away. One thing to be aware of is that the walls are quite thin and the wooden decking carries noise, so you may hear other guests at times"

Cubby House Stay Kaikoura

"This is the first time I've written a review that's taken so long, all to better help promote the host. If I had to pinpoint the most memorable part of my 14-day New Zealand trip, it would be this Airbnb experience. If you're only going to New Zealand for one place, you absolutely must stay here for at least two days, because even one day will make you want to go back. On a budget, the beautiful scenery, abundant high-quality food, amusement park rides, zoo experience, art exhibition, and free English listening lesson (the host's enthusiastic introduction lasted at least one lesson) already made it well worth the price. However, the impact of the experience is invaluable; it's truly unique. Touching and fun moments overwhelmed my senses one after another throughout the day, a stark contrast to the standard services of self-driving tours. For example, some guesthouses provide uniformly sized, clean "free-range eggs." But here, you'll find a cute egg-shaped cage filled with eggs of various sizes and colors, some still showing signs of freshness (you know what I mean). We even cracked open a double-yolk egg! The next morning, when the landlady took us on a tour of her "zoo," we discovered the eggs' special nature: each hen had a name, all were beautiful and robust, lived in the world's most beautiful chicken farm, free-range under two enormous pine trees, able to stand high and gaze at the distant mountains at any time. The landlady came to hug them every day; they even had their own swings, villas... The eggs laid by such happy chickens were indeed delicious. Scenes like this continued until we left: a fireplace burning brightly as soon as we entered in the evening, a cabinet full of board games, a wealth of video games, an antique piano, paintings left by guests, lambs with different hairstyles, a pig that thought it was a dog, a cow and an ostrich, a gluttonous calf, a deer that recognized a cow as its father, a cage of parrots of various breeds, the landlady's son was incredibly handsome yet shy, and the landlady's mother was practically a witch, possessing the patience and wisdom of a 60-year-old and the passion and energy of an 18-year-old. She and her family had nurtured and managed all of this. When she introduced herself as having six children, we fell into deep thought. If travel is about experiencing the ultimate in various things, then coming here is about experiencing just how far the ultimate in life can extend. Comparing this to our usual ability to handle everyday tasks has given our whole family pause for thought."

Lemon Tree Lodge

"The host was very nice. Knowing we needed to check in early, they cleaned the room beforehand and came to greet us, telling us about nearby supermarkets, attractions, etc., and the breakfast they prepared was also very plentiful. The room was clean and spacious, with a beautiful little garden. You could see the snow-capped mountains and the sea from the room. At night, you could open the door and peek out to take pictures of the starry sky, and in the morning, you could even photograph the sunrise over the sea. Transportation was very convenient; it was less than a 10-minute walk to the whale watching spot or the Intercity bus stop."

Bella Vista Motel Kaikoura

"It's a motel and you get what you paid for I assume that if you choose this motel you will get a car because is a bit far from the beach and walking road"

Inn the Bay Bed & Breakfast

"The property was in a great location across from the waterfront. We stayed in the room with the Queen and Single beds and the facilities were amazing. The property has a shared living room but the other guests that were checked in were friendly and approachable. Thank you to Kylie who made my sister and mine's stay at Kaikoura magnificent!"

Ocean & Mountain Views 3-bedroom Home

Bendamere House Bed & Breakfast

"My wife and I booked this on a whim based on the reviews in Tripadvisor and we were not disappointed. We stayed in the Hamptons which was on the ground floor which faced the garden with views out to the sea and the mountains. Great room which consisted of a king size bed and a single bed as well. Nice facilities to use with a small nook for making coffee and tea. Breakfast was a nice affair. Don't pass on Julie's ham and cheese croissant as this was delicious. It was nice to talk to Julie and Kerry as we could appreciate their love for their family, Kaikoura, their property and Kerry's love for fishing."