We stayed at Barnacle Bill's for 2-nights while in Kaikoura to see the sperm whales (NZ$150). It was a gem, perched on the top of a bench amongst rolling farmland yet only a short walk (15 min) or drive (less than 5 min) from town. While there were no amenities in the local area, nothing was far away and any inconvenience was more than made up for by the peace & quiet and the proximity to the peninsula walkways (the owner, Liz, will drive you to the seal colony, halving the walk along the coast and back) & the water tower view point. There were only 2 options here, the larger “lodge” and the “cottage,” both in the same buildings. While my impression from the internet images was of a rustic retro-hippy throwback, fortunately nothing could be further from the truth. The cottage was clean, comfortable & modern, spacious in all aspects. Entered from a broad deck with a sitting area (2 chairs & side table) facing a flower garden to one side and table & 4 chairs with an ocean view to the other, you walked into a carpeted sitting area with 2 love seats, coffee table, small stereo and a cabinet with a DVD player and wall-mounted TV. To the side was a large kitchen with an L-shaped vanity, oven & stove, full fridge & freezer and all of the cutlery, pots, etc. Two moderate-sized bedrooms were off to the right, one with a comfortable queen bed, the other with a double & twin. The bathroom, off to the left, was huge with a large vanity, toilet in a separate alcove, and a spacious shower with great water pressure. There was a door to the back garden with its grass, flower beds, and bbq. Further back and to the side were fields, home to the owners pet pig, a huge good-natured beast and a favourite with neighbours who stopped by with food. Kaikoura itself is a moderate sized and very pleasant sea-side town with a lot of conveniences – restaurants, pubs, a supermarket, and plenty of attractions. Barnacle Bill's was a great place to see it all: spacious and comfortable in a great location with a super hostess and at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended.…