ABOUT THE FERN & THISTLE
The Fern & Thistle is Balclutha’s only luxury accommodation and features Lesmahagow, the magnificent villa built by sanitary ware ‘king pin’ Peter McSkimming in 1914.
Named after his wife’s home town in Scotland, Lesmahagow sits on 6,000m2 of private landscaped gardens and surveys the local surrounds of Benhar, which the McSkimming’s built as NZ’s first feudal town in the late 1800’s to service their extensive factory operations.
Lovingly restored and reopened to the public in 2020, the property is now equipped with many modern conveniences such as central heating, a commercial kitchen, WIFI, a quality coffee machine, sauna and a fresh water hot pool to relax in after a day exploring the Clutha area.
For those looking to escape from the world or host a special event, the grounds provide a perfect back drop for events such as parties, weddings, family gatherings and ample photo opportunities. With room rates starting at just $140 a night, why not book The Fern & Thistle for your next Balclutha getaway.
Our Facilities
Complimentary Drinks
Enjoy complimentary drinks from our communal drinks fridge, including beer, cider and a range of softdrinks
Continental Breakfast
Your room tariff includes access to a continental breakfast including homemade bread and jams, cereal, yoghurt and fruit
Free WIFI
The property is equipped with Starlink internet- providing up to 256mb/s download speed uncapped
Coffee Machine
The property is equipped with a DeLonghi automatic coffee grinder as well as a large assortment of teas and instant coffee options
Sauna
Relax in our new barrel sauna made from aromatic Canadian cedar wood that seats up to 6 people
Hot tub
Enjoy a long soak in our gas fired hot tub under the fairy lights and stars
Luxury Suites
The McSkimmings Suite
The historical master suite, this room provides optimal comfort and escape
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The O’Malley Suite
A superior room situated overlooking the gardens, the O'Malley suite oozes charm
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The Iwikatea Room
Our standard option, but still offers superior comfort for the budget conscious
View DetailsAvailable for Events
Our beautiful grounds provide the perfect back drop for your next event. Whether you need a private space, a lot of space or just someone to take care of the food and drinks, our staff will make your next event a memorable one without breaking the budget
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Zachary Hopper2023-07-26After years of traveling and risking the of the track boutique Bnb's this has got too be the pick. The best part of travel is being able to experience "how the locals live" and to be able to talk and engage with the people who actually live here The Fern, is a lasting memory of yesteryear, with a long lost art of Real hospitality. I'm convinced that the owner would actually give their shirts of their back of you asked. Coming from the ritzy Sofitel in QT to this i can say that if that was a 5 Stay hotel then this has got to be up there with the big boys in quality. If you made it to the end of the review its a-lot of words to just say. It's a bloody good place to visit not just stay. Enjoy. And Cheers for the after dinner Chats its nice to engage with real people who care about others.TheCheddarist2023-02-28Absolutely fabulous retreat in a very quiet historic village. Fascinating history, beautiful rooms and gardens. Really friendly owner, lots of generous extra touches.Each bedroom has it's own very generously equipped bathroom at the far end of the hallway. The gardens are a testament to the origins of the property, with lots of ornate brickwork,roses and comfortable outdoor space. With just 3 rooms on offer, it never feels crowded.Verified Hotel Guest2023-02-22Positive: It's a beautiful old building with lots of character. The designs in the woodwork are amaizing. Negative: Bed was great looking, but not comfortable and very noisy. Hot breakfast was offered and forgotten. Heater couldn't be turned off on 80° F day. Hot tub needs an hour and a half notice to use. Bathroom looks directly into children's room, very awkward.Brayden Anderson2023-01-20Matt & Brooke where honestly terrific, really welcoming and inviting. The hospitality was top notch with the Hosts accommodating our needs. The Bedroom was vintage and fitting for the place with lovely heating all around the house. We got the optional Breakfast, which was delicious. The hot pool was very inviting, unfortunately we didn't have the time to make good use of it, but it's definitely a huge plus. The location is a little drive to the beach, which makes for a great trip out. Overall the service me and my partner recieved here was outstanding and we are already planning on going back. Really worth the price and time. Thankyou Matt & BrookeYane Cruz2022-12-14A luxurious place to stay :) I must say one of the best.Kristi James2022-10-13What a wee gem! This place has so much soul and character and the rooms were immaculate. Incredibly well appointed and the sauna was a nice touch! Loved it to bits!Jenny Chisholm2022-10-13Perfect house to accommodate a group of us over a weekend. Attention to detail. Lovely grounds. Fantastic rooms and bathrooms. Everything you need was available. Hope to return again one day soon.Dan Steele2022-07-10Lovely Homestead, clean, great service and interesting history. Complimentary chocolate‘s and drinks were a bonus, the home-made bread and preserves for breakfast hit the spot. Will be back for a look around the Catlins. CheersDaphne Lewis-Mannix2022-07-04Friendly people, amazing accommodation. Very reasonably priced for what you receive. First class and the bonus is it's pet friendly. Highly recommended.
