Poshtel

Ōamaru's Poshtel has to be one of the most unique accommodation options around New Zealand. In keeping with one of the town's most notable personality traits, Steampunk, it’s filled with antiques and relics. The fascinating, grunty decor is paired with conscious design details, which put this hotel into a league all its own: quirky yet luxurious.

In the lobby, you’ll be greeted by local hosts Shelley and Aidan. Their hospitality and the space’s warm lighting, leather couches, interesting art and larger-than-life Macrocarpa table will immediately give you a sense of what this place is all about. The pair will welcome you and show you to your room - each one has its own theme, here.

The Antarctic Explorer Suite, for one, tells the story of the South Island as “the final stepping stone for early Antarctic expeditions”, and the items found inside “hark back to the to the days when determined men set off on journeys that pushed them to their limits and sometimes, tragically, beyond.”

Be sure to reserve a bit of time during your stay at Poshtel to simply wander around. The lobby, the hallways, the downstairs Mark Cross gallery and the hosts themselves all have stories to tell. There’s an array of Māori and Pacific art to explore, Zane Gray novels to read, sporting memorabilia and repurposed machinery to tinker with. You could spend months here and still have more to explore. 

In your room, you’ll find smaller details that give Poshtel a palatial feel. The historic windows have been double glazed to preserve the building’s personality but keep you cosy at the same time. The thick, woollen carpet is comforting underfoot. The shower’s water pressure? Unreal. Every bed is fit for a king with soft cotton sheeting, plush pillows and merino throws. Whittaker’s chocolate and fresh milk for your in-room coffee kit are other lovable details.

Whatever you’ve come to Ōamaru for, you’ll find Poshtel to be an experience in and of itself. It’s extremely central, and Shelley and Aidan are happy to guide you as you seek out the rest of the best here in the Waitaki.