We stayed a total of 3 nights and 4 days at the motel. Overall, it’s an older place that’s definitely seen better days and could use some renovations, but the condition is generally reflected in the pricing.
Night 1:
My daughter and I stayed in a twin room on the ground floor. It was okay for a short stay – basic but had all the essentials. At $115 per night, it felt a little steep for what it offered; something around $90–$100 might be more in line. The windows let in quite a bit of cold air and outside noise, which made it a bit harder to relax. The shower took a while to heat up and the water pressure could’ve been better, but again, everything we needed was there.
Nights 2 & 3:
We moved to a two-bedroom family apartment that slept all 7 of us (2 adults, 5 kids) – it had two double beds and three singles. The cost was $608 total, which worked out to $304 per night. For the facilities, I personally think around $260 would’ve been more reasonable. But the apartment was fully equipped with a proper fridge/freezer, stove, oven, and microwave, which was super handy for a family stay.
Facilities:
The motel has two geothermal hot pools and an outdoor heated pool – a definite highlight for the kids! Pools are open from around 8am to 9pm, and the outdoor one was a favourite. The location is also great – a short walk to town and just minutes from Kuirau Park, which has lovely markets on Saturdays. Onsite laundry is available too ($4 per wash, $2 per 20 mins on the dryer).
Staff & Service:
Wayne, the new owner/manager (just 4–5 months in), was awesome. Friendly, helpful, and always happy to assist when we needed something. His hospitality made a real difference to our stay, and we appreciated the service.
Overall:
It’s not a luxury spot – the place is a bit run down and could do with some updates – but for a budget-friendly, family-sized option in a super convenient location, it’s decent. Slightly overpriced for the condition, but we’d still consider staying again, especially for the space, pools, and great service.