guest info.

On the day of arrival, you will receive a personalised access code via email. This code can be used to access both the front and rear exterior doors to gain entry to the guesthouse area of the building, the roadside garage door code (if closed) as well as your allocated guest room.

Check-in is from 3.00 pm and check-out is until 10.00 am. It is important that you stick to these times as your personalised digital access key will automatically activate and deactivate in accordance with these times.

Network: TFGT

Password: Rm**wifi  [nb ** indicates your room number ie 01]

Feel free to enjoy the outdoor patio, kitchen, dining, parlour and bathrooms. We want you to feel at home. Please be respectful of others in these shared spaces. This includes: tidying up after yourself, keeping noise to an agreeable level and ensuring that these areas remain accessible to all guests. Any issues, please let the host know.

If you lucked out on an ensuite room, there are several shared bathrooms upstairs and an outside toilet next to the patio. Hand soap, toilet paper and body wash are provided. Ensuite rooms and some shared bathrooms contain hairdryers.

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Each guest is provided with clean towels upon check-in. Please discard in the 'used towel' basket in the main bathroom when you check out. 

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Be a good neighbour: limit shower lengths at busy times, hang up the bathmat after your shower and use the toilet brush as needed.

Secure uncovered parking is available at the rear of the building. For your security, the roller door shuts between 6.00pm and 6.00am. If you need to exit after hours, the door operates on a sensor to open.  If you are arriving late, please park on the street. 

Please note: there is a narrow passage to access the carpark. Vehicles that are too large (e.g. camper-vans) will need to park on the street.

Secure storage is available in the bike shed at the rear of the property. Here, you will also find plugs for charging e-bikes. The code for the bike shed is X. As this is a shared space, we reccommend you lock your bikes.

The laundry is located by the patio. There is a washing machine, dryer, and iron available for guest use. Washing detergent is provided free of charge and appliance instructions are up on the wall. The dryer is coin operated and requires 2x $2 coins per cycle.

A drying room is provided for work or tramping boots and sports equipment. 

The kitchen is stocked with all the essentials you will need to prepare and serve simple meals.  Appliances include an oven, stove, microwave, jug, toaster, and sandwich press.

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Here are a couple of tips to help you navigate this space:

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• Help yourself to coffee/tea and any of the unnamed pantry staples

• Complimentary continental breakfast is available from 6am-9am daily.

• Please name any personal food and store in the designated areas in the pantry, fridge and freezer. Any unnamed items or food left after your check-out time will be discarded

• A folder with appliance manuals is kept in the bottom drawer - please check these out before calling for assistance

• Please leave the kitchen tidy after use.  Dirty dishes should be put in the dishwasher or cleaned and put away, rubbish discarded in the appropriate bins, and surfaces wiped. 

• No eating/drinking upstairs.

The BBQ is gas-operated and easy to use.  To start: ensure that the gas is flowing by turning the knob at the bottle counterclockwise; then hold down the red ignite button and turn the main dial on the BBQ; once the flame appears, wait a few seconds and release the ignite button; finally, adjust the dial to your preferred heat. BBQ-specific tools can be found in the utensils drawer in the kitchen and the manual is in the bottom drawer. Please ensure that you clean the BBQ after use so that it is tidy for the next guest.

Rooms are cleaned and sanitised thoroughly between guests and staff will be popping in to work on shared spaces during the day. Long-stay guests will have their rooms serviced twice weekly, including fresh linen and towels. 

Each guest room is equipped with a Smart TV. Please sign into your account to access Netflix, TVNZ on Demand or Neon etc. 

Each guest room is equipped with a panel heater. To operate press the ON button. The downstairs shared spaces have centrally controlled air-conditioning which are set to an ambient temperature.

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We want our guests to feel safe and for our property to be respected. Here are a couple of things to be aware of:

• Security cameras are in all communal spaces, except for bathrooms.

• External doors are to be kept closed at all times - they must not be propped open.

• Windows in guest bedrooms should be closed when the room is unoccupied.

• The first-floor fire escapes may only be used in case of emergencies.

If the alarm sounds, please evacuate the property immediately via the nearest exit. The congregation point is outside the roller door to the driveway. The fire action notice can be found at various points around the building, alongside fire extinguishers. Please follow all instructions from our team and/or the emergency services in event of an emergency.

Frozen chef-prepared meals can be purchased to enjoy during your stay. The menu rotates but expect classics like spaghetti bolognese or Thai green chicken curry. Please see the sign in the kitchen for current offerings and prices. To order, text your meal selection in the morning to 027-316-8384 and it will be ready in the kitchen fridge that evening, for you to heat in the kitchen microwave or oven.

We like to think that Timaru is a hidden regional treasure! Here are a couple of our favourite local spots and some info on the nearest amenities. The vast majority of our recommendations are within walking distance of The Fort Guesthouse.

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Cafes

• Bunker Coffee is open downstairs between 6.30 am to 12.30 pm Mon-Fri for coffee, pies and cheese rolls

• Mrs M's Cafe (209 Stafford St) offers fresh-made cabinet and kitchen meals

• Arthur Street Kitchen (8 Arthur Street) hip coffee shop with local art and keto options

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Restaurants 

• Speights Alehouse (2 George St)

• Cappadocia Turkish Kitchen (86 Stafford St)

• Punjab Indian Tandoor Restaurant (44 Stafford St)

• Sukhothai - great curries (303 Stafford Street)

• Saikou - premium Japanese dining (2 Sefton St East)

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Bars

• The Bunker Pub, our onsite venue, offers a chill local vibe with a pool table and darts. It is open 4-9 pm Mon-Thurs, 4 pm-late Fri, 12 pm-late Sat-Sun. 

• Hector Blacks (129 Stafford Street) is a quirky taxidermy-themed bar with a great cocktail list

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Amenities

• Roberts Pharmacy is the nearest chemist (45 Heaton St) 600m

• Countdown is the nearest supermarket (9 Browne St) 500m

• Caltex is the nearest petrol station (32 Stafford St) 150m

• Timaru Medical Centre is the nearest doctor (45a Heaton St) 600m

• Timaru Police Station is just around the corner (20 North St) 250m

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Things to do

• Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre (2 George St)

• Caroline Bay Beach (

• NZ Raptor Experience (55 Redruth Street)

• South Canterbury Museum (4 Perth St)

• Aigantighe Art Gallery (49 Wai-Iti Road)

• Timaru Botanic Gardens (Queen Street)

We kindly ask you to read our house rules and keep them in mind during your stay

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General Notes

​- Our complex is strictly for adults (18+) due to the additional bonus of the on-site Bunker Bar

- No parties or events allowed without prior written permission

- No smoking/vaping is permitted inside the building

- No pets are permitted inside the building

- Guests are responsible for the behaviour/conduct of anyone they allow onto the property; guests are not permitted within the bedroom areas or past 10pm

- No excessive noise. All guests are entitled to quiet enjoyment

- Please respect check-in and check-out times

- Respect our fixtures/furnishings. You will be liable for any damages

- Excessive cleaning will incur a fee

- Do not rearrange furniture

- Respect other guests and their property

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Bedrooms

- No eating, drinking or cooking in bedrooms

- Please turn off the lights and heater when you go out

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Shared Spaces

Shared spaces are defined as all areas that guests have access to that are not a bedroom

- Please ensure that you leave shared areas tidy, e.g. wash and put away dirty dishes following cooking and hang up the bathmat following your shower. 

- Additional cleaning fees may be applied to guests who leave a significant mess in shared spaces

- Please do not leave cooking unattended in the kitchen. This is a fire hazard and you are liable for any damages caused and the call-out fee if the alarm is triggered

- Personal property that is left in shared spaces is left at your own risk - we are not responsible for the theft or damage

- No sleeping in communal areas

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Change/Cancellation Policy

You may cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before 2pm on the day of your arrival. You will be charged the total price of the reservation if you cancel within 48 hours before 2pm on the day of your arrival. If you don't show up, the no-show fee will be the same as the cancellation fee.

Customers' credit cards will be charged in full at time of booking ~ 100% payment will be collected.