Western House
Bed & Breakfast
ABOUT
NZ School Holidays are coming up! Do you like feeding chickens and ducklings? Running around? A hot tub? Playing yard games? Table tennis? Reading books, puzzles and toys? Would you like to stay where there are all of those options (chickens and ducklings currently still under construction) as well as have a river a short walk away and the A2) cycle trail at your doorstep? Then, come and stay with us.
We are perfectly situated for day trips to Tekapo, Queenstown and Dunedin. Enjoy a day out with a gourmet hamper for those staying multiple days.
Book now to stay over the summer holidays! We are open over Christmas.
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Western House Bed and Breakfast
0275016534
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Western House is a gorgeous heritage-listed house sitting just 3kms outside of Kurow and directly on the Alps to Ocean (A2O) Cycle Trail on SH83. We cater to motorcycle groups, cyclists and independent travellers and pride ourselves on being family friendly. Our generous breakfasts are included in the room rate and we offer a range of breads, cereals, fruit grown on the property, home-made preserves, muffins, and pancakes. Optional dinners and a packed lunch are available at additional cost. Much of our fruit and vegetables come from our garden.
At Western House, we have an outside hot tub which costs $60 per group. Enjoy the rural views looking towards Kurow and admire our historic water wheel.
Soak in the tub in the evening and appreciate our Dark Sky area where the stars, Milky Way and sometimes planets and satellites are clearly visible.
We have dogs, cats and a lot of hens, roosters and ducks, many of which you can hand-feed. If you visit in Spring, you may be lucky enough to see and pat the neighbours’ calves and to enjoy our baby chickens.
We have a small sandpit and playground suitable for younger children (parental supervision required) as well as a range of toys, games, and books.
We are also very happy to share the extensive history of the property with you and we have many historic photos. Follow this link to a slideshow about us: Slides
You can also follow us on our Facebook page: Western House Facebook
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OUR ROOMS
In the main house, there are three queen rooms, all of which have their own bathrooms. The beds can be configured to suit singles or families. We also have a studio room which has one queen bed and a single bed.
We have single mattresses as well as a portacot should families require them. Children who sleep in the same room as their caregivers are free.
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We are able to work in with other accommodation providers so that larger groups can be split between us.
We also can provide a gourmet hamper for those going out for the day. Stay more than one night and you will receive a gourmet hamper or perhaps, depending on the season and your inclination, a fishing day licence for one person.
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OUR SERVICES
Breakfast
Our generous breakfasts are included in the room rate and we offer a range of breads, cereals, fruit grown on the property, home-made preserves, muffins, and pancakes. Optional dinners and a packed lunch are available and additional cost. Much of our fruit and vegetables come from our garden.
Free Wifi
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All areas of Western House have access to free Wifi. The TV in the lounge has Freeview and a Chromecast for Netflix.
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Fishing.
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We are 15 minutes walk from a great fishing spot on the Waitaki River where in season you can catch trout and salmon. We can lend out fishing gear and arrange day tickets.
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Daily Housekeeping
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Fresh towels are available every day. Please let us know if you need anything. We also have laundry and drying facilities should you need them.
Hot Tub
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At Western House, we have an outside hot tub which costs $60 per group. Enjoy the rural views looking towards Kurow and admire our historic water wheel. Please let us know at least 2 hours before you want to use the hot tub. Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult in the hot tub at all times.
Garden
We have gardens around the house which you are welcome to use. There are several areas with outside seating to relax in. Feel free to pick fruit from the trees when it is in season. We have a sand pit, swing and a play area in one corner. Children must be accompanied by an adult by the waterwheel at all times.
GALLERY
The waterwheel viewed from our hot tub
Guests having dinner
THINGS TO DO
Fishing
Our local fishing spot is a fifteen-minute walk from the house and our guests have caught Rainbow trout and sea-run salmon there. The world-renowned fishing canals are only an hour’s drive away. Read more about the fishing in the area here ... and here.
Masseuse
If you need a massage we have a local masseuse who can come along. Contact via their Facebook page.
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Facebook page link here: Masseuse
Western House Pets and Animals
We have dogs, cats and a lot of hens, roosters and ducks, many of which you can hand-feed. If you visit in Spring, you may be lucky enough to see and pat the neighbours’ calves and to enjoy our baby chickens.
Local Walks
Apart from fishing during the season, there are plenty of lovely local river walks, as well as Kurow Island to explore. The more adventurous and fitter people enjoy a vigorous walk up Kurow Hill.
Lots to do in the Waitaki Valley
Go for a walk, catch a jet boat, ride the cycle trail, sample the local wines and more.... These 3 articles give some great ideas:
What to do in the Waitaki Valley
Just up the road, in Duntroon, many people enjoy visiting the historic forge. Children can have a go in the forge and have their photo taken and it offers blacksmithing lessons to adults. These need to be booked in advance. There is also a Wetland Walk that is lovely as well as Vanished World. The Vanished World Centre is free for children under 12. It provides a unique look at how the area was millions of years ago when it was all under water and when giant penguins, whales and sharks ruled supreme. There is a ‘dig room’ where people can dig for their own fossil which they can then take home. Lynda is a volunteer at this centre.
Fossils and Geology
Stay at Western House, which has also been the base for a French documentary film crew and visit some of the places where films have been set. These include the stunning Clay Cliffs:
Omarama Clay Cliffs
Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail
Western House is a welcome haven to weary cyclists completing the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, either in a group with a company or as individual traveller. People enjoy the comfort of a home-cooked meal, the option to buy some of the local wines from us and a hot tub. We also can book a local masseuse to come to the house if people need some extra pampering. Find out more about the trail here:
Local Activities and Cafes
Kurow township has cafes, two pubs and great facilities for children. There is a bike park, skate park and children’s playground. The River T Estate Winery is 2kms away from Western House and we highly recommend popping in for one of their legendary wine tastings or a platter with local cheeses and fruit.
River Cafe has a range of eat-in or take away options and it is almost impossible to resist a fish n chip picnic by the river on a hot day.
Otematata
Otematata is approximately 20 minutes from Kurow. A picturesque town, it has an extensive interlinked series of wetland walks. We thoroughly recommend a trip there.
Omarama
Omarama lies approximately 40 minutes up the Waitaki Valley from Western House and is a stop over on the Alps to Ocean (A2O) Cycle Trail. Home to paragliding and sight-seeing flights for the more adventurous, it also offers a few eclectic shops that are well worth a browse as well as a petrol station, Four Square supermarket and public toilets. Stop at the Wrinkly Ram for a snack, drink or meal and take a photo of the wrinkly rams with the mountains in the background. Oamarama also boasts hot tubs for those wanting some relaxation.
Kurow
Kurow is the birthplace of New Zealand's Social Security system which began out of the concerns of 'three wise men' - the local school teacher, doctor and church minister, about the suffering of the dam workers, itinerant workers, the unemployed and their families in the 1930s. The town is an agricultural service town with a population of under 500. There are two pubs and a range of cafes. Take the time to visit Maudies, a small antique/second hand shop. Kurow is a fabulous place for children as it has a fenced playground, a skate park and a bike park. There is the Kurow Island to explore as well as the Kurow Wetlands.
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Twizel
Twizel was built originally to house hydro dam workers and has since grown to be a great small little town with a population which swells during the summer months with holiday makers and tourists. There is a range of shops including cafes, two Four Square supermarkets and a shop jam-packed with everything that you didn't know you needed or wanted until now! Take the time to visit the tiny Twizel bookshop to stock up on holiday reading.
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