Donegal House

Hotels
8.4 (999 reviews)
258 Schoolhouse Road , Kaikoura , nz

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great food
Beautiful location
Comfy accommodations
Cons:
Room cleanliness issues
Dated room aspects

Categories

Cleanliness
8
Some concerns about room cleanliness with mentions of bugs.
Service
8.77
Outstanding, friendly, and accommodating staff mentioned multiple times.
Location
8.51
Great setting and beautiful gardens, peaceful location.
Room Quality
8.15
Comfortable rooms, but some dated aspects mentioned.
Amenities
8.39
Good facilities but suggested enhancements like a microwave.
Value for Money
8.35
Good value for the price considering the overall experience.
Food and Beverage
8.59
Fantastic food and drinks in a pleasant atmosphere.
Overall Experience
8.47
Very enjoyable and relaxed stay with good recommendations.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 00:40

Property Description

Tranquil Lakeside Retreat

Nestled on 6 acres of stunning lakes and gardens, Donegal House provides a serene escape.

Irish Hospitality at Its Best

Enjoy the charm of a traditional Irish bar, delectable dining options, and a sunny terrace for relaxation.

Local Experiences Await

Let our tour desk arrange exciting activities like swimming with dolphins or exploring Maori culture.

Ready to experience the perfect blend of nature and comfort? Book your stay at Donegal House now!

Important information:

If you expect to arrive outside reception opening hours, please inform Donegal House in advance, using the contact details found on the booking confirmation.

Please note that due to the recent earthquake, some roads are closed and alternate routes may need to be taken to access the property. For further information please refer to the New Zealand Transport Agency's website.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 4 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 2 years old to 16 years old stay for NZD 20 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for NZD 20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 999 reviews
Cleanliness: 8
Service: 8.77
Location: 8.51
Room Quality: 8.15
Amenities: 8.39
Value for Money: 8.35
Food and Beverage: 8.59
Overall Experience: 8.47
A
Anthony • solo_traveller • nz
9
Pros:

Good Vibes

Cons:

Atmosphere off whole property

2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
D
Demi • extended_group • nz
10
Great stay, lovely staff, amazing food.
Pros:

Friendly staff, great location. The property is well-looked after. The parking is right infront of the room which is great. There is spacious parking.

Cons:

Some lights werent working but nothing major. The covers for some of the light switches were missing.

2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
C
Clark • family_with_children • nz
10
Pros:

Super friendly staff. Great restaurant and service. Very comfortable room..

2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
T
Terrence • couple • nz
10
fantastic stay, great meals, great service and great value for money, highly recommend
Pros:

absolutely fantastic meal we were served quickly which was a shock as the place was full with
100 plus people, we had a party of 10 for dinner and all meals were great value large in servings and delicious.

Cons:

a bigger sign and perhaps signs at key intersections, we did not realise the Accom was set in a rural setting so we initially thought the GPS was sending us in the wop wops. a few well placed signs would be reassuring.

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
S
smee2004 • couple • nz
9
Value for money. Very very good.
Pros:

Really good value for money. Would loved to have had the time to stay longer, and explore the beautiful grounds

Cons:

I didn't "not like" anything. Normally when booking I would go for more space, particularly in the ensuite, but I cannot fault the facilities in terms of value for money and the excellent staff and food. I booked based on a strong recommendation and was not sure I would enjoy it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

2026-05-26 • via Nuitee
R
Rochelle • extended_group • nz
9
A hidden gem...we would definitely stay again.
Pros:

Our room was very clean and comfortable, with a lovely relaxing view across the expansive garden. The food and drinks in the restaurant were great. Lovely big open fire place, where we sat and played cards over a few drinks with friends. The staff were outstanding. Very friendly, welcoming and accommodating.

Cons:

Nothing, everything was perfect.

2026-05-24 • via Nuitee
R
Robin • couple • nz
7
Pros:

Dinners were great but no breakfast facilities

Cons:

Lack of breakfast facilities and the curtains are in need of more hanging hooks

2026-05-24 • via Nuitee
J
Joe • couple • nz
8
Pros:

Nice atmosphere. Food was tasty. Staff were helpful.

Cons:

Room suffered from crying windows i.e. excessive condensation.

2026-05-21 • via Nuitee
L
Laby • solo_traveller • nz
10
Absolutely awesome.
Pros:

The staff were very accommodating. And really friendly. And made me feel very welcome. And the food I had was delicious. And very good size portion. Thanks for the great hospitality.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
B
Brown • solo_traveller • nz
10
Pros:

Another great stay at such a great place.
Really comfortable bed, warm room, beautiful meal and friendly staff.
Recommend Donegal House 100%!

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-14 • via Nuitee
G
Gillian • solo_traveller • nz
9
2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
S
Sally • solo_traveller • au
10
Pros:

I loved the gardens and the atmosphere for dinner, great food, and wonderful staff.
My husband loved the donegal guineas and the history of the place

2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
J
Jo • family_with_children • nz
9
2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
G
Gillian • solo_traveller • nz
9
2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
L
Léa • family_with_children • fr
8
Une joyeuse soirée
Pros:

Un lieu authentique dans une auberge familiale.
Les chambres sont confortables mais surtout l'accès au bout du couloir au restaurant rend la soirée plus simple. Cuisine 100% local, qui est délicieuse.
Je vous recommande absolument de manger dans leur restaurant, la cuisine est délicieuse et le personnel, adorable. En prime, vous aurez peut être la change d'avoir un feu de cheminé.

2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
A
Anderson • solo_traveller • nz
8
2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
K
Kerry • solo_traveller • nz
10
2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
B
Brendon • couple • nz
9
A different sort of motel - a strong warm family vibe.
Pros:

LOVED all the Irish stuff, Very interesting to see all the large photos in the bar & restaurant depicting family members over many decades, both in NZ and Ireland. Quite a 'Roots' experience, well documented for all to see. Thought provoking. A good dinner (crumbed prawns , seafood chowder & garlic bread, Donegal stout [from Co. Donegal, Ireland]) in the restaurant. Great views towards the majestic, snow capped mountains.

Cons:

The decor in the rooms is a bit tired but that is no show-stopper. The tv definitely needs to be upgraded so as to provide streaming services like TVNZ+ and Netflix that folks can log into with their own accounts.

2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
R
Rolf • couple • de
8
Empfehlenswert
Pros:

Außerhalb gelegen, sauber, alles da. Parkplätze vor der Tür (Motel)

Cons:

Sehr große Anlage mit viel Betrieb

2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
E
Emma-Jane • couple • nz
8
Pros:

Really pretty location and gardens, very comfortable and homely. Friendly welcoming staff.

Cons:

We didn’t manage to get a table for dinner, we weren’t expecting it to be fully booked. It would have been good to have some warning that it was necessary to pre-book.

2026-05-03 • via Nuitee