Picton Beachcomber Inn

The rooms are clean, and the woman running the front desk was lovely. It's a very basic hotel, with nothing fancy, but the location is hard to beat. Ask for a room facing the water if you can, the morning view is breathtaking.

The pool area was a nice bonus, and the property was tidy and well cared for. Staff were welcoming and friendly, which made everything feel relaxed and easy. We spent three nights here and had a really good stay. Our room was clean, comfortable, and had what we needed. Right by the water, with lovely harbour views and an easy walk into town. A great, convenient place in Picton for a comfortable waterfront stay.

The only real bright spot was having ESPN on the TV for the football playoffs. The room was small, smelled off, and was basically in the parking lot. Wi-Fi was awful, which just isn't acceptable these days. We had to open the windows and curtains to get air, so light and noise came in at night. Breakfast was well below par, and it was hard to find anyone when we needed help. The employees didn't seem to have a customer service attitude. This felt more like a lower-end beach motel. Disappointing.

The Whaler restaurant was a big letdown, the meals were overpriced, dull, and lacking flavor. The rooms were very hot, and noisy if you tried sleeping with the doors open. We paid $300 per night, and for that price I'd expect better. There were false nails on the side table and a dirty bath. The place has a very central location and good views, but the photos are a little deceptive. I expected it to be a bit better. It seems like a lot of motels in NZ are like this.