Kaikoura Quality Suites

The garden gave the kids room to run about, and it was quiet and peaceful. We stayed just one night. The room was clean, and the kitchenette was decent. Handy spot too, within walking distance of the beach and grocery store, right on the highway between Picton and Christchurch.

Our room had a dirty carpet, an awful bed, a sink stopper that didn't work, and an incomplete set of kitchen utensils. We booked through Expedia and arrived at 7:30 pm, but the door was already closed, despite an email saying it stayed open until 8. There was only a note telling guests to call a local number, so as foreign travelers we had to make an international call.

The welcome pack had loads of useful local information, from whale watching and places to eat or drink to contact numbers for services nearby. We were greeted warmly, and everything from reception to the room was clean. It was ideal for an overnight stop. The bed was good, the bathroom and shower were great, and the room had a decent sized wall-mounted TV, sink, kettle, toaster, microwave, plenty of dining ware, and a small table with two chairs. There were also table and chairs on the deck patio, and the WiFi was good. Really couldn't fault it.

We appreciated being able to wash the mud off our bikes in the rear carpark after a ride, and there are washing machines available for a reasonable charge. We had expensive bikes with us, though, and no secure place to store them, so we tied them to the balustrade outside our room overnight. The king sized bed was very comfortable, and the room itself was comfortable too. The bathroom is tiny, but okay if you're a small person. The kitchenette was great, although it adjoined another room and we were very conscious of making noise. It was a good place to stay.