Rutland Arms Inn

Hotels
8.6 (1081 reviews)
48-52 Ridgway Street , Whanganui , NZ

Free

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
Laundry
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Historic/heritage building and atmosphere
Central, convenient location
Friendly, attentive staff
Comfortable, large rooms and beds
High-quality restaurant and bar
Continental breakfast included
Cons:
Poor/weak shower water pressure (repeated across many reviews)
Some showers small or mediocre
Breakfast sometimes only continental when guests expected cooked options
Occasional minor room odour on arrival
Dining fully booked in one instance

Categories

Cleanliness
9
Generally reported as very clean; guests explicitly mention comfortable, clean rooms and no shortcomings in several reviews.
Service
9
Staff repeatedly praised as friendly, attentive and exceptional (multiple shout-outs to specific staff), indicating strong service throughout stays.
Location
9.2
Consistently described as central and ideal for exploring the city; heritage position praised and carpark directly behind the hotel noted positively.
Room Quality
8.3
Rooms are described as large, comfortable and characterful with good beds and period features, but some guests report issues (odd odour on arrival in one case) and bathroom/shower shortcomings.
Amenities
7.5
Breakfast and restaurant are positives, but recurring negative comments about very weak/poor shower water pressure and small shower size lower this score.
Value for Money
8.2
Perceived as good value by many guests given included continental breakfast and quality restaurant; some disappointment noted when guests expected a larger cooked breakfast.
Food and Beverage
8.8
Restaurant and bar receive strong praise (outstanding evening meals, craft beer selection, knowledgeable staff); breakfast generally liked when continental, though a few expected more.
Overall Experience
8.8
Overall stays are very positive with guests enjoying the historic charm, central location, friendly staff and good food; main detractor across reviews is inconsistent shower performance.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 07:01

Property Description

Elegant Suites with Modern Amenities - The suites at Rutland Arms Inn boast a beautiful blend of period and contemporary furnishings, offering a luxurious stay for guests. Each suite is equipped with a seating area, flat-screen TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi, ensuring a comfortable and convenient experience.

Delicious Dining and Relaxation - Guests can indulge in a culinary delight at the on-site a la carte restaurant and bar, serving a variety of local and international dishes along with craft beers. For relaxation, the shared lounge areas and terrace provide the perfect spots to unwind after a day of exploring the city.

Convenient Location - Nestled on the main street of Wanganui, Rutland Arms Inn is just a stone's throw away from the city's main shopping area, sports stadium, and the picturesque waterfront. With free on-site parking and proximity to Wanganui Airport, convenience is at your doorstep.

Experience luxury and convenience at Rutland Arms Inn - Book your stay now!

Important information:

Please advise the property of the number of guests staying in each room. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property using the contact details found on the booking confirmation.

Please note that the rooms are located on the 1st floor of the Rutland Building and access is via stairs only. There is no elevator available, however, the staff are available to assist with your luggage.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: WAG

Location

Guest Reviews

8.6
Based on 1081 reviews
Cleanliness: 9
Service: 9
Location: 9.2
Room Quality: 8.3
Amenities: 7.5
Value for Money: 8.2
Food and Beverage: 8.8
Overall Experience: 8.8
M
Michael • solo_traveller • nz
9
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
Z
Zana • solo_traveller • nz
8
Overall very pleasant
Pros:

Great location, friendly staff, awesome meals, nice decor and easy parking

Cons:

Bathroom needs attention. Paint peeling of the walls and ceiling

2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • extended_group • nz
9
2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
J
jack • couple • au
8
2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • couple • nz
9
A lovely heritage hotel in a heritage city.
Pros:

A really super heritage hotel. Great to stay somewhere so very local and different.
Excellent location in the central city; walking distance to everything.
Great traditional bar/restaurant and beer garden.
Comfortable bed; room nicely presented in keeping with the hotel’s history.
Excellent breakfast! We stayed with the included continental: house made muesli - absolute perfection - yoghurt, berries, toast, barista coffee. Congratulations to whoever is responsible!

Cons:

A tiny niggle: a handle missing from a cupboard; some peeling paint in the bathroom. Their handyman just needs to give the room a little attention.

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
Z
Zane • couple • nz
8
Staff lovely and friendly
Pros:

Pudding was excellent

Cons:

The bed was too firm for our liking

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
J
john • solo_traveller • nz
8
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
H
Helen • solo_traveller • au
8
Pros:

Large comfortable room, really friendly staff, hotel in excellent condition and well presented

Cons:

If I had to find a fault it would be the shower. The shower cubicle was tidy, the water pressure not great and hard to get the water to a good temperature

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
J
Jamie • extended_group • nz
8
2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
P
pamela • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Central location, free parking, lovely room

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
F
Futura • couple • it
10
Excellent spot!
Pros:

The staff were super friendly and helpful. The food at the restaurant was delicious.

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
G
Grimstone • solo_traveller • nz
9
Pros:

Central great accommodation

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
C
Carol • couple • us
10
Lovely old hotel! Very comfortable and a wonderful staff! Great stay!
Pros:

Location is perfect. Parking is free! Staff is wonderful!

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
K
Karyn • solo_traveller • nz
9
Nice place
Pros:

Nice rooms, great location

Cons:

Car parks bit tight

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
G
Gary • couple • nz
9
2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • solo_traveller • nz
9
2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
J
Janet • couple • nz
9
Comfortable great food and friendly staff
Pros:

Excellent staff, good food in the restaurant.
Ideal location right in the middle of town.

Cons:

Lots of stairs to get to the accommodation.
Staff were great to help with our bags.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
J
Jaime • couple • nz
8
Quaint hotel units beautifully decorated and squeaky clean with staff who seem like they love their jobs - so friendly a
Pros:

I loved the decor, the staff were so friendly and the restaurant downstairs is amazing great food and fantastic service all round.

Cons:

You can hear everything outside, it was a Saturday night when we were there and were woken several times by people in town.
Also the water pressure in the shower is pretty poor.

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
G
Gary • couple • au
10
It was great to experience the old world charm of Rutland Arms.
Pros:

Great old pub with good meals and friendly staff. Rooms were clean, quiet and comfortable.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
B
Blair • solo_traveller • nz
8
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee