Donegal House

Hotels
8.4 (993 reviews)
258 Schoolhouse Road , Kaikoura , nz

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Free beach shuttle
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
BBQ facilities
Luggage storage
Fax/photocopying
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 993 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
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
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
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
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
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
G
Gillian • solo_traveller • nz
9
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
K
Kerry • solo_traveller • nz
10
2026-05-07 • 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
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
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
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
J
Jo • couple • nz
8
Good room, walk through corridor to restaurant - fabulous meal
Pros:

Lovely quiet setting

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-01 • via Nuitee
L
Léa • family_with_children • fr
8
Très bon séjour
Pros:

Établissement familial au cœur d’un écrin de verdure à l’abris du flux touristique du bord de mer, idéal pour passer quelques jours en familles.
Leur restaurant est délicieux avec un personnel au petit soin ce qui rajoute des points positifs à ce logement.

2026-04-29 • via Nuitee
K
Kourtney • couple • nz
4
Beautiful but not peaceful
Pros:

The view was spectacular and staff were helpful and knowledgeable

Cons:

This was not a peaceful location. People were walking up and down the hallway and outdoor decking into the night and in the early hours of the morning, the sound reverberated into the room, it was very loud. People could be heard talking right outside both the inside and outside door at all hours as well and the doors opened and shut really loudly. On the final morning, staff were shouting, talking loudly and laughing loudly in the hallway, outside and in the neighbouring rooms well before checkout time, we came for rest and sleep and this was not achieved. I was more tired than I was before we came. I have 6 kids so am used to noise but this was ridiculous. There was also light coming under the door from the hallway, we had to stuff a jacket alongside it to block out the light. And there were dead bugs all over the bathroom ceiling and no extraction fan meant it saturated after one shower, we had to wear slippers into the bathroom to stop our feet getting wet.

2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
V
Val Butler • solo_traveller • nz
8
Pros:

Excellent dinner menu

Cons:

The pillows were not that comfortable

2026-04-26 • via Nuitee