South Rakaia Hotel

We ducked in for a cold drink on a hot afternoon while walking our dog during a caravan trip. They brought out a bowl of fresh cold water for the dog straight away, and Kevin behind the bar was great with us. Some of the locals kept the banter going too. It’s a proper old country pub, and the women’s toilet fittings are so old they’re almost retro, but the bathroom was really clean. There’s also a great mural across the road for a photo.

A great spot to meet up for a beer. The publican’s awesome and the service is excellent.

This is about the accommodation, not the bar. The room was very bare, with two beds, four bare bulbs and a sink. There was no kettle, cups or toilet in the room. The window, which served as the air conditioning, wouldn’t shut all the way. A shower curtain covered the window, and bar coasters hid damage to the walls where light fittings had been changed. I couldn’t sleep facing the wall because of what I think was a damp or mouldy smell. The bathroom and toilet facilities were awful, and I have no idea when they were last cleaned or maintained. The beds did have clean sheets, which was the best part. The tea-making setup downstairs was pretty gross too, with no clean teaspoons or milk. The photos can show the rest.

We arrived with our three little girls and realised the old hotel’s shared bathrooms wouldn’t work well for our family. The staff listened to our concerns and kindly offered a full refund straight away. We didn’t stay in the end, but their understanding, compassion and professionalism made a real difference. We’re very grateful for the lovely service.