Very nice historic house, however bathrooms are outside - just be aware about this. Soundproofing isn't that great either, we were lucky to have quiet neighbors but if they were noisier I imagine it would be pretty annoying. Everything else was very nice and comfortable ❤️

Very accomodating staff. Breakfast fruit toast was delicious, gorgeous bathroom Looking forward to staying again

It was a lovely experience

The room is spacious and the continental breakfast is great. However, there are five other rooms on the property, and foot traffic in the corridor can be quite loud at times. The bathroom is not attached and is a bit of a hike from the room.

The hotel itself was nice and the staff were friendly, but the room description was misleading. It did not clearly state that the bathroom is not attached to the room. The toilet is down the hall and up a flight of stairs, and the bath/shower is in a separate room down another hallway. Having to leave the room and walk through common areas to use the bathroom, especially at night, was very inconvenient. This setup should be clearly stated in the listing so guests know what to expect before booking. Breakfast was disappointing. There were 4 types of dry cereal and two types of bread. There was no fruit, yogurt, eggs, meats or cheeses.

I was in the Superior Room which their internal brochure describes as their "standard" room. The bedroom was nice and the bed was comfortable, although the dresser bureau had some sticky residue on it. The trouble was that my bathroom was split between the ground (shower/bathtub with a sink) and first (toilet and a borderline unusable sink), so I had to go up the stairs to use the toilet and then, because the sink tap had no space between the water and the bowl (see pictures), I would go down the stairs and down the hall to use the other sink. I've stayed in accommodation where the toilet was separate from the shower before, but never where it was on another level. Frustratingly, I was told my room was the only room with this split bathroom facility - but I was also told there were 2 Superior "Iwi Katea" rooms, so it's not clear which you'll get from the listing. When I asked if I could move rooms, because I was there 3 nights, I was told no, even though they weren't fully booked all the nights I was there. Folks might also want to know that the McSkimmings Suite's bathroom is on the first floor as well, but all beddrooms and the other bathrooms seemed to be on the ground floor. The outside grounds and gardens are really nice, and the breakfast was nice.

Fresh homemade bread, jams and marmalade for breakfast.

Great hosts, loved the location and facilities. Appreciated the complimentary mini bar and beautiful selection for breakfast. Very accommodating for an early breakfast also.

Fabulous place.

Absolutely loved our stay at the Fern & Thistle Hotel in Balclutha! The historic charm of the house is beautifully preserved, with a stunning vintage garden full of old roses and unique plants. The amenities are outstanding—from the cozy dry sauna in a barrel cabin to the luxurious hot tubs (one in the room and a massive one in the garden). The countryside views add a peaceful touch, and the complimentary drinks and local beer were a generous bonus. Our room had a super king-size bed and Netflix on the TV, making it the perfect spot to unwind. The owner is warm, polite, and clearly takes pride in every detail. A truly special place—highly recommend! Steam curls in the garden air, roses dream in silence there. Barrel sauna, warm and still, country hush on every hill. Golden beer and velvet bed, gentle words the owner said. In this house, the past is near- peace and beauty, crystal clear.

Great facility.

Fantastic stay and Darryn and Sandy are excellent hosts.

This was a gem of a property to find. The historic house and the hosts were exceptional. We were only there for 1 night, but they made us feel like friends that had returned for a visit. Absolutely recommend a stay here. And the homemade breakfast breads were amazing!

This was the most luxurious accommodation we have stayed at in a long time. Not only was it perfect and indulgent, our hosts were amazing. We appreciated every attention to detail, even treating us in the morning by our first names as we got coffee. They made us feel welcome and part of the family.

Well furnished large bedrooms. Bathroom was some way up the hallway. Continental breakfast plentiful as well as complimentary soft drinks. Quiet and peaceful in lovely large garden. Hot tub was a nice addition.

The love and respect shown for the historic property by the current owners is inspiring. There is a very welcoming and family oriented feel to the property, and their two labs are friendly and good company. I would seriously recommend this property for small group getaways, corporate or private retreats.

Wow what a beautiful setting for this glorious homestead. Stunning room (wonderful free upgrade-thank you!) with so much space and history beautifully presented. Unlimited tea & coffee & cold drinks a real bonus and the free sweet treats in the room much appreciated. Bathroom is separate but each room has its own bathroom so not a problem. The included breakfast was a great bonus with homemade breads & conserves. Radiator heating throughout the house made it so warm & cosy! Will definitely stay again as hosts very welcoming and helpful. Really interesting history of the building & the town which adds to the experience and so close to Balclutha so great for business trip.

Unique and beautiful house with wonderful hosts.

Beautiful property and excellent hosts! Had everything we could have dreamed of.

OMG what an amazing we gem! Matt was so friendly and accommodating of us and our dog. The grounds were amazing, the room was amazing and everything else was just all round amazing. I would highly recommend a stay here and we will for sure be back again. Thank you so much!