Donegal House

Hotels
8.4 (880 reviews)
258 Schoolhouse Road , Kaikoura , nz

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Free beach shuttle
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
BBQ facilities
Luggage storage
Fax/photocopying
Tour desk
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.

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 880 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
M
Mariona9696 • couple • nz
10
Pros:

Todo, muy bien ubicado, limpio, el jardín precioso y sus vistas, muy buen restaurante para cemar allí mismo

2026-02-14 • via Nuitee
S
Susan • couple • nz
8
2026-02-14 • via Nuitee
L
L • couple • gb
9
A quiet night just off the beaten track.
Pros:

They don’t do breakfast but are only 5 min from town where there are ample cafes.Breakfast would be good but quiet location and surroundings only 1 km from SH1 are a good compromise as much town accommodation is on noisy SH1.Evening meal was excellent.
Didn’t have pets with us so not sure on their pet policy.

Cons:

Probably breakfast on site but it was not really an issue.

2026-02-14 • via Nuitee
K
kelloway-tarrant • couple • ca
7
Based on photos I was expecting to be more modern.
Pros:

Food was good.

Cons:

Worn facility and furniture in the rooms.

2026-02-13 • via Nuitee
C
Charlotte • family_with_children • nz
9
2026-02-13 • via Nuitee
J
josephine • couple • gb
10
Amazing hotel
Pros:

The stay at Donegal House was amazing.
Food excellent and very plentiful.

Staff so helpful and friendly. Special thanks to Tia and Ross who made our stay so special.

Grounds absolutely beautiful.
Recommend completely.

Cons:

Little bit out of town but we were very lucky to get lifts in Courtesy bus

2026-02-12 • via Nuitee
C
Claudio • family_with_children • ch
10
Pros:

Accoglienza e disponibilità del responsabile

Cons:

Non avendo automobile 🚗 viene difficile muoversi perché non c'è Uber e difficile taxi e mezzi pubblici non ci sono

2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
W
wouter • family_with_children • nl
7
Pros:

mooie rustige omgeving

Cons:

locatie is erg toe aan een renovatie

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
C
Cristina • solo_traveller • nz
10
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
H
Heather • couple • nz
8
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • couple • nz
6
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
P
Philipp • couple • ch
7
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
F
Fred • couple • nz
6
2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
T
Tessa • couple • nz
10
Pros:

Staff here are friendly and welcoming. We keep coming back. Great relaxing place with fabulous meals

2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
M
Maureen Patricia • couple • nz
7
2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
L
Lloyd • couple • ca
10
Pros:

Liked the history of Donegal House and the Kaikoura area. The room was very comfortable and the restaurant and bar were outstanding.

2026-01-29 • via Nuitee
H
hollows • family_with_children • nz
10
Pros:

The atmosphere.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
V
Vivienne • solo_traveller • gb
10
We really enjoyed our two nights here. The staff were amazing. Loved seeing all the pictures in the bar of the family hi
Pros:

Friendly staff, great food(lots of it!) and lovely clean room

Cons:

Nothing

2026-01-27 • via Nuitee
A
Aryan • family_with_children • nz
7
2026-01-27 • via Nuitee
A
Amy • solo_traveller • nz
8
2026-01-27 • via Nuitee