Frequently asked questions, answered

  1. Check-in Time. As a small lodge, with a limited number of staff, we ask guests to check in no earlier than 2:30pm. This is to give us time to prepare the rooms after the previous night’s guests have checked out, as well as to give us an opportunity to take care of any errands we need to do outside of the lodge. If you expect to arrive earlier than 2:30pm, we request the courtesy of a phone call or email to notify us so that we can plan to be here.
  2. Check-out Time. Similar to the above, we require rooms to be vacated by 10:30am so that we can get them turned over ready for the next guests to check in. If you wish to linger in the lodge before departing, you are welcome to do so, though you will need to do so in the public areas of the lodge.
  3. Dining. Many guests have said that dinner at Pen-y-bryn was one of the best meals of their time in New Zealand. We are very happy to offer dinner as part of a stay at the lodge, under the following conditions:
    1. Dinner is only available to guests who are staying overnight at the lodge. This is due to our licensing and to the constraints of working out of a small kitchen, as well as to provide our in-house guests with a peaceful and intimate dining experience.
    2. During the busy time of year (October through April) we limit dinner service to four nights per week, namely Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On the other nights of the week, we invite you to explore any of Oamaru’s excellent restaurants.
    3. We require no less than 48 hours’ notice if you wish to add dinner to an existing booking. We need time to prepare the menu, order anything that needs ordering, and arrange our schedules to allow for us to devote the time to the meal’s preparation.
    4. We need notification of any and all dietary restrictions well in advance. As a small operation, we do not keep a wide range of alternatives on hand, and we cannot change the menu once it is prepared. Even something as minor as a preference for anything other than full-fat cow’s milk needs to be advised in advance.
    5. While we are able to cater for many specialty diets, we do not offer vegan dining options.
    6. If there are food allergies that need to be catered for, we will make every effort to keep them off the menu, but as a small operation with a small kitchen, we cannot guarantee that no cross-contamination will occur.
    7. No children’s menus are offered.
  4. Children. With many antiques and fragile items around the lodge, and as a place where guests seek respite from the noise and clamour of the regular world, we do not welcome young children under the age of 13 to stay at the lodge. On some occasions, such as when no other guests are expected, we can make exceptions to this rule, but it will be under the understanding that the parents will take responsibility for keeping the children under control, and any damage that they cause will be notified to us and paid for.
  5. Activities. There is a lot to do in the Oamaru area, so we encourage you to spend enough time in the area to allow you an opportunity to make the most of your visit. Tickets for the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony (which is best visited for the evening viewing) sell out months in advance for the summer season, so it is best to book long before arrival. Be sure to download our free guide to the area to get a feel for what there is to do here.