About Manor House Backpackers
Manor House Backpackers was created when two adjacent 1920's early colonial New Zealand homes were converted for use as budget accommodation. The fine buildings and unique architectural features have been beautifully preserved by the owners and enhanced to ensure that guests have a very comfortable and laid-back stay. Features exclusive to Manor House are:
- Minutes walk from the city centre
- Sunny location nestled amongst bushes and trees
- Off-Street Parking
- Large spacious rooms with big windows
- Stained glass & unique curved bay windows
- Ornate plaster ceilings
- Adjacent to Market Reserve parkland
- Closest hostel to Otago Peninsula wildlife and Carisbrook Sports Stadium
- Quiet location - awake to the sounds of birds not traffic
- Beautiful and relaxing garden, BBQ area and deck
- A happy cosy environment created by friendly hosts and guests like you
Manor House
Designed and built in 1920 as the Thompson family home, pioneers of the soft drink industry in New Zealand. The unique architectural features such as the curved wire balustrade entrance, curved wooden bay windows, Ornate plaster ceilings, stained glass entrance door and windows, and original antique light fittings create a relaxed historical elegance.
Tonkinson House
Designed and completed in 1924 by Mandeno and Fraser Architects for Mr Tonkinson, a prominent Dunedin lawyer. It is an unusual two story design featuring a large entrance conservatory with stained glass, an impressive wooden staircase to the first floor with the usual array of living, lounge and guest bedrooms. The kitchen has a pantry that still has the original sugar and flour bins complete with sifter, a working coal range and, of course, what stately home would be complete without a maid-call system.
About Us
Manor House Backpackers is owned by Ros and Nigel Levick, and operated by their excellent, youthful, staff, and of course the star of the show, Diesel the cat.
The desire to create Manor House was born from a love of travel and meeting lots of interesting people. From about 1986-1988 in Australia in particular, and a few other European countries they experienced the start of what turned out to be the explosion of international backpacking, which in the following 10 years became a phenomenon.
It seemed inevitable that New Zealand with its stunning scenery, compact geography and laid back people would rapidly evolve in this exciting new market.
Dunedin had already gained an international reputation as one of New Zealand's best kept secrets because of its history, architecture, respected University, beautiful harbour, picturesque setting and close proximity to the Otago Peninsula - “the wildlife capitol of New Zealand”.
In 1990, Manor House was created to provide a quality budget accommodation experience for exciting, adventurous, and very mobile independent world travellers, the type of people that they had had the good fortune to have met on their own travels.
Welcome. We look forward to having you stay.
28 Manor Place
