stayed for 3 nights in january 2013 as part of a 2 week north island visit
if it were only about location, this place would easily rate a 5 but its not.
first the good:
the location is unbeatable. it is close to everything and just far enough away from from the madding crowds to be serene. its walking distance also means personal transport is not a must as tour companies are happy to pick up at the door.
we had the top floor seaview studio which afforded great comfort and views. if the 3rd bed could be optional, it would be great as that would afford greater space in the room itself (back to that in a bit).
it did appear to be recently refurbished and had the basic necessities. had an adequate laundry and free wifi was good
the not so good:
like most accommodation in regional NZ, it feels and looks dated with superficial, cosmetic changes to the original establishment (and certainly not cheap....booked thro' agoda which was slightly less than directly through the motel itself. paid less per night for a king premium room at skycity in auckland!!)
the parking bays are really small and causes some concern especially with a rental vehicle
no help in getting luggage to room up the stairs. getting a workout after a 7 hr drive from rotorua, not the best way to start off a stay for me.
first 2 nights were great on the balcony (which is a feature i particularly look for booking accommodation and am happy to pay extra for) but the last night was a disaster. a new family arrived and spent much of the day and night (until about 11.30pm) smoking on the adjoining balcony which is pretty much one open space seperated by a narrow privacy screen. this meant we had to close our balcony door and swelter inside as the smoke and smell made the outside most uncomfortable. as ashtrays are provided on the balconies, we had little choice (have made a mental note to ensure future bookings are at clearly designated non-smoking accommodation but as that is generally the norm now at better establishments, it was an oversight on my part).
do watch out for the slippery stainless steel(??) floor in the shower

overall, not a bad stay.

As many NZ places to stay this place is a bit dated. The advantage is that our room at least was very big with several sitting areas. Most rooms do not have sea views as the property is side on to the road. Maybe ten minutes walk to town centre. Very clean and exceptionally well equipped. Pleasant staff.

We stayed 2 days in top front unit ,neat clean & very comfortable. Equiped with everything required for your convenience. Beach front Motel ,good views of bay from your balcony.
5 minute walk to town centre,convenience store &fish &chips nearby.
Would highly recommend staying here.
Parking bays a bit tight,but plenty across road if required.

Peaceful, excelent stop over at a nicely equipped, comfortable, beach front Motel with free Wi-Fi to connect with friends, check mail, plan trips.

Meet the most pleasant owners and manager with a gentl & friendly pet named Coal.