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South Sea Hotel

2.5 star property
Waterfront inn in Halfmoon Bay with a bar

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The South Sea Hotel offers oceanside relaxation with its welcoming garden and sociable bar. Guests appreciate practical touches like laundry facilities and luggage storage that make their stay both convenient and connected to the coastal surroundings.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Parking available
  • Breakfast available
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 9 of 9 rooms

View all photos for Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Seaview)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Seaview)

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Heating
Fridge
TV
Hairdryer
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Hotel Single room)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
Hairdryer
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Hotel Twin Room)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
Hairdryer
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Cottage Twin)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Hairdryer
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Hotel Double Room)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
Hairdryer
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Standard Studio, Kitchenette (Studio Units)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Studio, Kitchenette (Studio Units)

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Kitchenette
Fridge
TV
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Cottage Queen)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, Shared Bathroom (Cottage Queen)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Hairdryer
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Hotel Seaview Double plus Single

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Hairdryer
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Traditional Hotel Double plus Single

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
Hairdryer
2 bathrooms
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed
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About the area

Map
26 Elgin Terrace, Halfmoon Bay, 9846

Getting around

  • Stewart Island (SZS-Ryans Creek) - 4 min drive

About this property

South Sea Hotel

Inn by the ocean
At South Sea Hotel, you can look forward to a garden, laundry facilities and a bar. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Additional perks include:
  • Full breakfast (surcharge), a billiards/pool table and smoke-free property
  • A front desk safe and luggage storage
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All guest rooms at South Sea Hotel offer amenities, such as free WiFi.
More amenities include:
  • Wardrobes/cupboards, fridges and heating

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Exterior
Bay Motel
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast available
  • Business services
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, 140 reviews
Bay Motel

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee: NZD 10 to 30 per person
  • A bar/lounge

Things to do

  • Billiards/pool table

Family friendly

  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • On the waterfront
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No lift
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

More

  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Refrigerator

More

  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you arrive at the property after hours, you'll need to check in at an alternative location: [At the bar.]

Renovations and closures

This property is closed from 12 October 2025 to 2 April 2027 (dates subject to change).

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately NZD 10 to 30 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

National rating

For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our ratings system.

Property is also known as

South Sea Hotel Oban
South Sea Oban
South Sea Hotel Inn
South Sea Hotel Halfmoon Bay
South Sea Hotel Inn Halfmoon Bay

Frequently asked questions

Is South Sea Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at South Sea Hotel?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 8:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at South Sea Hotel?

Checkout is at 10 AM.

Where is South Sea Hotel located?

Situated on the waterfront, this inn is steps away from Bunkhouse Theatre and Rakiura Museum. Presbyterian Church Hall and Observation Rock are also within 10 minutes.

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Reviews

South Sea Hotel Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.0

Cleanliness

9.2

Location

8.8

Staff & service

8.2

Eco-friendliness

8.0

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 180 out of 383 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 155 out of 383 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 39 out of 383 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 6 out of 383 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 383 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jindina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, friendly staff and good food at the hotel
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sharon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Carolyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Superb location for any visit to Oban
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to everything and a great Pub
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The location was great, center of everything with a pub and restaurant in the building.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

WARREN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good service & amazing views
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Best place to go.

I had a great time and lovely meals in the bar also the staff where very friendly and helpful 😊
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maxwell

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our room was lovely and the service by staff was friendly and efficient.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Skyler

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel was in the perfect location! I could easily walk around town and into the national park! The cafe and restaurant had great food and was super convenient! The facilities were great and the room was very private!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Brett

Very convenient quirky, I haven't stayed in a hotel without an ensuite in a long time. Nice area upstairs overlooking the bay,with tea and coffee facilities. I would recommend staying here
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Shazia

Liked: Cleanliness
On the harbor
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Lachie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
So close to wharf, fantastic setting and views, unique. A little noisy sleeping above the bar but no trouble getting to sleep after a big days walk.uUits at rear of property were great
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Bryony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very handy to everything. Lovely views from upstairs lounge. Comfortable couches in the bar. Bed was comfortable. Staff were friendly. Good place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Catherine Lois

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to everything
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Fay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Right on the waterfront in Horseshoe Bay, handy to everything. Stayed in single room, it was clean, showers were awesome, loads of towels, plenty of toilets to use. The wee kitchen was for all to use and well stocked. All in all comfy comfy
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Checked in early no problem
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Mary

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We paid for a room that was advertised as sea view. What we weren’t told was that our sea view would be obscured, during the day, by people using the second floor porch! If we opened our curtains during the day, people using the porch and picnic tables could look right into our room. If we closed our curtains we of course didn’t have a sea view at all. We could hear conversations as if people were right in our room. This continued on into the night—people weren’t supposed to use the porch after 8 but were often there,talking, laughing and carrying on, after midnight. No one enforced the 8 rule. It really wasn’t anyone’s idea of a sea view.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

6/10 Okay

jack

Bit too expensive for the shared bathrooms. Room could have been nicer and cleaner. Heater didn't work. Weird people outside partying all night. In future would stay at the back packers instead
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Awesome food & stafff
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Geoff

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a unique experience, the accomodation was great & central to Halfmoon bay, staff were friendly & helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicky

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We love the South Sea and stay there every time we spend the night at Rakiura. The staff are awesome. Its not flash - old pub accomodation, but its traditional, clean and welcoming. Perfect views and the food is amazing.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very homely, beautiful spot and friendly, helpful staff
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
All of the above
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Everything was great no problems
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024