The Hurunui Hotel, Hurunui

This hotel holds the longest continuous liquor licence in New Zealand. The hotel feels as if it has seen it all, and definitely for a long time.

We stayed the night upstairs in one of the bedrooms, typical old-style with shared bathroom, but perfectly comfortable. Dinner at the pub downstairs was excellent pub fare. Worth a stop on the way through, although on a very busy road.

The Victoria Railway Hotel of Invercargill

This stunning hotel was built in 1896 and is is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Invercargill area that is still being used for its original purpose. The whole building has been restored, complete with dining room for guests. We enjoyed our dinner and a very comfortable night's sleep.

South Sea Hotel, Stewart Island

Right on the waterfront in Oban, this hotel commands everyone's attention when arriving on the ferry. Originally built as a boarding house, it was converted to a hotel in the 1960's. The food is excellent, the best place to eat on Stewart Island.

Danseys Pass Hotel

The road over Danseys Pass has beautiful scenery, but is not the easiest to drive. So when the hotel appears around a bend, it is a most welcome sight. We spent a very pleasant afternoon and evening (including an excellent meal) in this lovely old hotel. We slept in the oldest part which was built in 1862. Newer additions have been built very sympathetically to the original style and the whole effect is a solid safe haven in an area of remote wilderness.
Visit date: 31 March 2019

Ranfurly Hotel, Ranfurly

Ranfurly suffered a a series of fires in the 1930's, which resulted in a new art deco style of building in the town. The hotel is a beautiful example and a great place to stop over while doing the Otago Rail Trail. The restaurant served us with excellent meals, perfect after a long day riding.
Visit date: 25 March 2019

Wedderburn Tavern, Wedderburn

The Wedderburn Tavern is very conveniently located close to the Cycle Trail near the summit which is about halfway through the Otago Rail Trail. We had a simple, but tasty lunch to encourage us on our way.
Visit Date: 25 March 2019

Blacks Hotel, Ophir

Blacks Hotel is a reminder of the beautiful Art Deco era. Set in a very historic village, this maybe one of the newest buildings! The village is a showpiece from the gold mining days, with a historic gem of an original Post Office.
Visit date: 24 March 2019

Chatto Creek Tavern

The Otago Cycle Trail is dotted with beautiful old pubs from the gold rush era. We found one on our first day's riding and enjoyed relaxing in their garden. The Chatto Creek Tavern was built in 1886, and is a welcome sight with it's historic building and warm welcome.
Visit date: 23 March 2019

The Pier Hotel, Kaikora

The Pier Hotel was built in 1885 opposite the original wharf. It is the typical wooden, two story hotel, so popular in that era. Today, the old wharf is only usable at high tide, due to the 2016 earthquake. Reminders of the earthquake are the stunning white rocks lifted from the seabed.
The restaurant is justifiably popular and we only just managed to get a table. Our en-suite room was comfortable, but obviously from a different era.
Visit date: 9 December 2018

Brydone Hotel, Oamaru

Set in the historic heart of Oamaru, the Brydone Hotel is quintessential Oamaru. Built of Oamaru limestone in 1881 and set among the wonderful stone buildings that have survived to make Oamaru a unique town centre.

Our room was in a newer wing, but eating in the historic hotel was a pleasure. We could imagine this town in it's heyday, with the bustling port.
Visit date: 8 December 2018

The Royal Hotel Featherston

The Royal Hotel Featherston, one of only two hotels in New Zealand allowed to display the Royal coat of arms, was built in the late 1890's after the original hotel burnt down in 1893.
In the last two years it has undergone another transformation and been totally restored and furnished in Steam Punk style. The result is amazing and it's fantastic to see the old hotel come to life again.
We stayed a night in a very comfortable room and enjoyed a delicious dinner on an extremely cold evening.
Visit date: 10 October 2018

The Mission Estate Winery, Napier

The Mission Estate Winery was originally founded by a group of Marist Brothers who sailed for New Zealand in 1838. Their stunning seminary was built in 1880 and today is a fine dining restaurant as well as a wine cellar.
We biked there on one of the many cycle trails around Napier and after a delicious lunch, enjoyed their wine tasting.
Visit date: 10 September 2018

Maungaturoto Hotel, Kaipara, Northland

Maungaturoto Hotel is old enough to imagine it has had an interesting history, but this hotel has had more drama than most. The expiry date on a liquor licence in 1902, meant the hotel had to transported from Auckland in less than favorable conditions. It was nearly lost at sea twice as it was brought across both the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours and the liquor licence was nailed to the door on the final day before the licence expired.
We arrived at lunch time, to find an artisan bakery operated out of the hotel and were able to buy fresh from the oven Hot Cross Buns - delicious.
Visit date: 7 April 2018

Horeke Hotel, Hokianga Harbour

Horeke Hotel was the first hotel built in New Zealand. Built on the Hokianga Harbour, it operated to serve the labour force in New Zealand's first shipbuilding yard.
Today it is a very quiet remote spot, but very conveniently located on the Coast to Coast cycleway. It's a great spot to relax over lunch and admire the harbour view or the lovely timber interior.
Visit date: 6 April 2018

Rangiriri Hotel, Rangiriri

Rangiriri Hotel gives the feel of stepping into an English country pub. The decor and seating booths give it a wonderful atmosphere. But as well as this, the food is excellent, definitely worth stopping at. Originally built in 1866, only 3 years after the nearby land wars site in Rangiriri and rebuilt in 1905, This hotel has seen a lot of history.
Visit date: 18 February 2018

Esplanade Hotel, Devonport

The Esplanade Hotel, right opposite the Devonport wharf must be one of the best locations we have stayed in. Built in 1903, and set among period shops and houses, it has a gracious old world air.
We spent a very comfortable night, after enjoying a meal in their restaurant. The township with waterfront, navy base, ferry ride to Auckland and the historic gun batteries at nearby North Head is a very pleasant place to spend a day or two.
Visit date: 21 January 2018

Mansion House, Kawau Island

Mansion House is the ultimate in Historic Houses in New Zealand. Originally the mine manager's house on Kawau Island, Governor Grey purchased it in 1862. It later became a hotel and became quite run-down. Today it has been restored by DOC, and is a stunning place to visit. We had a great lunch at the cafe, and although this is not actually in the house, I had to include this magnificent historic house, especially as it had once been a hotel.
Visit date: 20 January 2018

The Sterling Hotel, Waihi

The Sterling Hotel in Waihi, is one of the remaining reminders into Waihi's prosperous past. It was moved to Waihi from  Hikutaia in 1895, as at that time there was only one hotel in Waihi. Today it serves pub food, totally in keeping with it's past life.  
11 January 2018

Hampden Hotel, Murchison

This 19th century hotel also dates from the gold mining era. Today it has been thrust back into more prosperous times by the closure of the coastal highway through Kaikoura. Murchison has been changed from a quiet rural backwater, into one of the larger towns on the new inland route to Christchurch. We decided the old hotel would be a good lunch stop and enjoyed an excellent pub-style lunch on their sunny patio.
Visit date: 22 April 2017

Walter Peak Station, Queenstown

Although the present homestead at Walter Peak was rebuilt in 1977 following an extensive fire, it was rebuilt with a very similar exterior to the original homestead built in 1902. We took the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw across the lake for a superb buffet lunch. Everything about the excursion was extremely well done - from the viewing platform inside the Earnslaw to observe the steam engine at work, to the farm tour and amazing lunch which is a real showcase of New Zealand produce.
Visit date: 19 April 2017