Kakatu Retreat

The location worked well, but the stay felt far too expensive for what was provided. Calling it a B&B seems like a stretch when breakfast is just continental, with nothing hot. The shared bathroom had a hospital feel, and there was no real service since check-in and breakfast were both self-serve. Our room also had such a strong cleaning-product smell that opening the window barely helped.

We had a great weekend with nine workmates from around New Zealand. South Bay was handy for fishing, and the Kaikoura golf course was close by too. The views and sunset were amazing. The rooms were superb, with separate beds and ensuites for everyone, and we made good use of the fantastic shared kitchen and BBQ area.

Mary and Stephen were so welcoming and helpful. There was plenty of room for our group of ten, and we all found the beds really comfortable. The place was exceptionally clean and felt very upmarket. We stayed for two nights, had a fabulous time, and thought it was well worth staying.

The breakfast was stale bread from the freezer and stale granola. After I complained, they offered a NZ$20 refund, which was ridiculous. I asked for 50% back, and they said they would give it to me, but still suggested I was lying. I haven't received anything. I was assigned the family room, which turned out to be a garage. That wasn't advertised on booking.com, and I have photos as evidence. They told me the day before arrival, when the booking was non-refundable, so I couldn't cancel. When they replied to my complaint, they flat out lied that the garage conversion had been advertised. There was absolutely no customer service. This place is a fraud. Don't book here. Check Google reviews first.