Peaceful view, firm bed, no padding under the carpet that was over a cold cement slab, and not well thought out overall. We'd hoped to stay several days but couldn't possibly do so. A lamp on one side of the bed only?

This place is fairly new and overlooks a nice peaceful bay but it is almost as though they took the things they wanted from various places but didn't think it through for guests. It's built like a bunker but they didn't bother to put padding under the carpet and it was cold. We put on the heater and it was so noisy we couldn't sleep. I had called the innkeeper from another town and she wasn't so friendly when we arrived although she had several empty rooms. Not only was the room cold but the bathroom was like an ice box in the night. When I told the manager the next morning I was awaken by noise she told me "no one has ever complained about that..."

People on this site raved about this motel but I would give it a c-

Great restaurant down the road within walking distance and a great location to get a jump on seeing the albatross colony at the end of the peninsula.

Owner was very friendly and helpful. The views were great, the room clean, comfy and well equipped. Only two slight niggles, the bathroom fan especially at night and the small car park, otherwise could have stayed here even longer than we did. Blue Penguins obliged by coming into the beach at about 9.30pm, and some Albatross flew over the car park at the Royal Albatross Centre.

The owners Mary and Gerrald were wonderful and could not do enough for us, they rang and booked us on the tours we wanted to do with no extra charge, the unit was more like an appartment which was immaculately presented, had the best unit upstairs with our own private balcony which we enjoyed a glass of wine and fresh local fish and chips. there is free wi fi in all rooms and a large flat screen tv to watch the rugby games. new and comfy king size bed and with heat pump to supply us with heating. Mary and Gerrald were rewarded with a 4 1/2 star excellent award from trip advisor.. which they deserve!!! :)

We stayed here for one night during RWC 2011 (England vs Romania), having flown 10 hours and driven five more to get there. The motel was clean, modern, well equipped and managed by a friendly owner.
We had a ground floor studio with one queen and one single, comfortable beds, simple and no frills kitchen unit, and above average bathroom with large "wet" area from shower, which unfortunately spilled out to the front door. Large glass frontage faces across the quiet road onto the beach, very pictoresque but also very cold when we were there !
Heater was more than enough to compensate, and large flat screen TV was a good bonus.
Next door is a friendly cafe with great coffee and all day usual high standard kiwi breakfast.
Sign outside the front says 2km to albatross and penguin beach, which we didn't have time for, but given the outside temps, didn't surprise us.
At NZD 175 prices were probably up for the rugby tourist crowd, but anyway was ok value compared to our other NZ motels on this trip.