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Criterion Boutique Hotel

2.0 star property
Hotel in Oamaru

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Photo gallery for Criterion Boutique Hotel

Bar (on property)
Exterior
Bar (on property)
Interior
Exterior

Reviews

6.8 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

View in a map
3 Tyne St, Oamaru, Otago Region, 9400
  • Place, Steampunk HQ
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Oamaru Harbour
    ‪3 min walk‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Double Room

Standard Double Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Double Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Twin Room

Standard Twin Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Family Room

Family Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Room

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Twin Bed and 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Studio Suite

Studio Suite | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Studio Suite

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

About the neighborhood

Oamaru

Located in South Hill, Criterion Boutique Hotel is next to Auto Museum and Steam Train. This 7-room hotel welcomes guests with conveniences like free in-room WiFi.

What's nearby

  • Steampunk HQ - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Oamaru Harbour - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • North Otago Museum - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles

Restaurants

  • ‪Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Coast - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Indian Kitchen Restaurant - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Harbour St Bakery - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬13 min walk

About this property

Criterion Boutique Hotel

Hotel in Oamaru
Staff members can help with accommodation requests, and provide front-desk service during limited hours.
Guests can stay connected with free WiFi.

Similar properties

Exterior detail
Brydone Hotel Oamaru
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Breakfast available
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, 576 reviews
$78 nightly
The price is $90
Feb 1 - Feb 2
Total with taxes and fees
Brydone Hotel Oamaru

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from noon - 8:30 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • This property doesn't allow pets

Property payment types

Important information

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 and debit cards; cash is not accepted
  • Check-in: 2:00 PM—-midnight
  • Check-out: 10:00 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
The front desk is available during limited hours.

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • No parking is available onsite.
  • This property accepts credit cards and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. 

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • There are no elevators.
  • No cribs or infant beds are available.
  • No rollaway or extra beds are available.

National rating

Property class, provided by our rating system, is based on property type, amenities, and services.

Frequently asked questions

What's there to do near Criterion Boutique Hotel?

This hotel is situated in South Hill, just steps from Steampunk HQ and Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct, and within a short walk of Oamaru Harbour. You'll also find North Otago Museum and Janet Frame House less than a mile away.

How much does it cost to stay at Criterion Boutique Hotel?

As of Jan 13, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Criterion Boutique Hotel on Jan 22, 2026 start from $53.83, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is parking available on site at Criterion Boutique Hotel?

No, there isn't parking available at the hotel.

Does Criterion Boutique Hotel have a casino?

No, Criterion Boutique Hotel doesn't have a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at Criterion Boutique Hotel?

No, there is no indoor pool at this hotel.

Does Criterion Boutique Hotel have a hot tub?

No, there isn't a spa tub at this hotel.

Does Criterion Boutique Hotel have a restaurant that serves breakfast?

No, Criterion Boutique Hotel doesn't have a restaurant that serves breakfast.

Does Criterion Boutique Hotel allow pets to stay for free?

No, pets aren't allowed at Criterion Boutique Hotel.

Does Criterion Boutique Hotel have connecting rooms?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this hotel.

Can I book a room with a balcony at Criterion Boutique Hotel?

No, at Criterion Boutique Hotel, there aren't any guestrooms that list a balcony.

Criterion Boutique Hotel Reviews

Reviews

6.8
Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 15 reviews

6.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

6.4/10

Amenities

6.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

tony

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Very small room for two people. Shared bathrooms ok. Very quirky and historical. A nice adventure
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Shiu

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness
Floor in my room 16 is about to collapse sorry but this is the fact was a cheap stay work out for us
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Mary, Rancho Cucamonga

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

Lukas

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was an absolute disappointment. Staff and I assume the owner don’t take responsibility for their broken and non-functioning stuff. Have a very short temper and are not very friendly towards their guests. Would certainly not recommend at all and beware anyone else of that. Also do have a feeling that owner takes down negative reviews
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

4/10 Poor

Bradley

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The bed was hard enough to qualify as construction material, the curtains let in every bit of light, and the TV barely worked. For what they charge, you’d expect a bathroom in the room and a screen that does more than static. It’s in the Oamaru Victorian precinct, and it shows, the place feels like it hasn’t been touched since the 1880s. If you’re into old pubs, weird stories, and things that may or may not go bump in the night, you’ll probably have a laugh. If you came for comfort, sleep, or anything modern, the ghosts will enjoy your suffering more than you will.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Gregory

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Although the rooms are small. The bed was comfortable and fresh. The kitchen and bathroom could be cleaner but were still satifactory
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Trudy

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Staff weren't available when we arrived at appointed check-in time. When they did arrive, we were told which room we were in and that the key was in the door. No details were given about the facilities, wifi, how to get in if we were out after hours, etc. This was also the noisiest hotel that I have ever stayed in, and I've traveled all over the world. Very little soundproofing inside (we heard another guest's alarm going off for more than 5 straight minutes at 5:30 am) or outside (road noise, nearby church bell tower at every 15 minute interval). Cute historic building and very walkable location, but probably wouldn't stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Luke

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

marivic

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Rebecca

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
The guy who runs this is really nice and the beds have nice linen and the room is clean enough. While the rooms were in good condition, they were small and we booked the room because the listing said a bathroom was among the room amenities. There were two clean bathrooms on the other side of the floor. It might be good to specify “shared bathroom” in the hotel description. If the kitchen were clean and free of clutter, I would have rated this 3 stars despite the amenity listing discrepancy. Unfortunately, the kitchen was unusable owing to a large box dumped on the cooker, other equipment left on the side by the sink and dirty dishes left there from when we checked in a few minutes before 2pm until we checked out just before 10am. I went to wash the dishes, but I couldn’t find a cloth, only dishwashing liquid. Food from the restaurant was stored in a deep freeze and a fridge was switched off. Another fridge freezer was switched on, but this would have benefited from being cleaned. I know the owners are new, so leaving this as constructive feedback.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Anna

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Levi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
if you love a victorian vibe place this a hotel to stay. Me and my partner really love the place and their foods are superb.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Joseph

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenny

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Linens are exceptional quality and very clean. Cannot praise this place highly enough. Exellent value for money. In the heart of the Heritage area. Jenny and Maryanne
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing building and warm, friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025