Stayed with my family = Jan 2008. Rental Farm Cottage cute and cosy - great location - easy/quick access to town. The grounds were AMAZING. FREE access to their Farm Park was a fantastic bonus. The kids didn't need to go anywhere else!
(We visited Kaikoura mainly for the Whale Watching, BUT the kids didn't really understand or appreciate what it was, so it was a waste of money!)
HOWEVER, they're still talking about the FARM PARK months later (they'd forgotten about the whales as soon as they got over the sea sickness!!!)