Kotare B and B — Hotel in South Island

If you happen to be driving near Geraldine . . . and want a supreme experience for an overnight (or longer) -- the Kotare B and B is your place! 5-star ratings across the board . . . since 6-star is not an option. In short: Rhys and Anne are the most attentive hosts I think I've yet encountered (and I'm in the travel / tourism business); the room and bed were outstanding; the breakfast was prepared to order . . . and healthy! And the setting: my room reminded me of a "tree house" perched on the top of a loess hill, looking both north and west to some of NZ's most impressive mountains. At night, I photographed the Milky Way from the yard. (And "the yard" . . . that was a garden and orchard that spill down the hill.) Speaking of gardens . . . herbs, flowers, and two especially fragrant Margaret Merrill roses border paths and nooks throughout the grounds. The large bedroom has a library on one side, with inspiring reads about NZ, the planet, and sustainability. Fresh flowers glowed on a small table, when I arrived (see photo). Well done, Rhys and Anne! I look forward to my next visit! (And next time, I will make a point to simply sit, look, soak it in . . . and maybe write the one great novel...

An absolutely splendid stay. My partner and I stopped over here to split up our road trip from Queenstown and Christchurch, and were warmly welcomed by Ann and Rhys. We arrived at around 9:45pm and both were still awake, happy to give us the tour of the property and welcome us in.

They have a fantastic selection of breakfast choices for you to pick from and try, and cater for all dietary needs (major plus!). Both are eager to share the best local spots and let tourists try local delicacies including food from their farm.

You’ll arrive to a room with a stocked fridge, many books, dvds and games, and a TV with Netflix.

They treat their guests with so much care, kindness, and respect, you can tell they truly want their guests to enjoy their time both at the bnb and town.

This was such a delightful experience, we would...

What a wonderful stay at Kotare in beautiful, lively Geraldine. The accommodation is spacious, clean, updated, and private with wonderful mountain and farm views and a lovely well-tended garden. The gracious hosts are engaging, helpful, and very willing to do all to make your stay comfortable and worthwhile. We really enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with them and enjoy their little paradise. Breakfasts were robust and delicious with several items right out of the garden. Geraldine is a delightful town with good restaurants, a charming farmer's market, and plenty of hiking, biking and other outdoor pursuits. Nearby Peel Forest has wonderful bird sounds and hikes of varying degrees of difficulty. This is a great place to relax and take time to enjoy the beauty and people of...