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The Motel is set back off the main road through the little village of Portobello. The setting is peaceful and quiet. Our 4 studio rooms have lovely views over Portobello Harbour. Our 2 one-bedroom and 2 two bedroom cottages, whilst not having harbour views, are both spacious and comfortable. All the units come fully equipped for self catering although the delightful 1908 Restaurant is situated just across the road from the end of our drive. The Hotel next door has a Bistro bar, providing good food and beer and the Penguin Cafe offers hot and cold snacks and picnics. The local shop is well stocked too. The Portobello Motel is 20 minutes or less from Royal Albatrosses , sea lions, seals, penguins and many other sea and shore birds. There are some lovely walks in the area too. Bring your binoculars for wildlife watching!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Family
Location
10 Harington Point Road, Portobello, Dunedin 9014 New Zealand
Portobello Motel Cottages
539 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The cottages are gorgeous, a great deal of thought has gone into their design and furnishing and it shows. We had everything we needed in a stylish home-from-home with a wonderful view of the harbour from the cottage's deck. The cottages are offset from each other so they are all very private, the kitchen is well-equipped, there is a powerful shower and a comfy bed. The gardens are beautiful and it was a treat to watch the tui and bellbird arguing over access to the nectar feeder. We would love to return and spend more time as we enjoyed the cottages and Greg’s suggestions for wildlife spotting. Thank you for a fab stay!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Stayed two nights in a Studio King Cottage which had everything we needed for a pleasant stay. Our cottage was tastefully decorated, spotlessly clean and quiet. The King bed was probably the most comfortable on our two week trip of NZ. The shower had great pressure plus heated lights and towel warmer. The kitchenette was well equipped. It even had a teapot for tea lovers like myself. Bonus! Enjoyed relaxing in the two stylish lounge chairs, taking in the harbour views and birds in the garden. The location was great as a jumping off point of the Otago Peninsula’s attractions. The pub at the end of the driveway was also convenient. Good counter meals. Recommend.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After staying in holiday park cabins, this gorgeous motel was a welcome change for our family of four. The location was perfect for our Elm Tour and the rooms were beautifully decorated with small touches that made our stay more personal and comfortable. The owners were also welcoming and helpful - I wish we could have stayed longer!
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Location
Service
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My lovely wife stayed one night just after Christmas. It was heavenly! The owners advised us, that if they were out when we arrived,how to obtain the room key which was very professional of them. As it was, Greg was there when we arrived. He told us where we could eat and was very friendly and helpful. The room was amazing. Spacious, spotlessly clean and with everything you needed and nothing you didn't. The bed was very comfortable and we slept extremely well. Thoroughly recommended!
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Date of stay: December 2019
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Location
Service
Room Tip:Ask for a room with a view of the water
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spent a couple nights here. The room was well appointed and bed was comfortable. Balcony view was exceptional. Nice quite restful place with a friendly owner. He has put a lot of his own workmanship into the place which makes the stay with enjoyable personal touches. As noted by others, not far from the albatross/penguin center. A couple of restaurants within easy walking distances. Overall, just a great place to stay.
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Date of stay: November 2019
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Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived a little later than planned but were greeted warmly by Jo and had a gorgeous 2 night stay in cottage 6. We didnt have a seaview but that didnt matter as we were out and about during the day. The 2 bedroom cottage had everything we needed, spotlessly clean, beautiful decor, even the portacot had a very fun The Very Hungry Caterpillar blanket! We woke to lovely birds each morning and we saw them at the bird feeders in the garden. Conveniently located 15-20min away from the Royal Albatross Centre and Penguin Place. We would stay here again in a heartbeat.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I traveled for 2 months through the South Island and this was the best place I stayed in. I so wish I had more than 2 nights. First of all you are in your own little cottage so you don't hear anything from the places next to you. The moment I walked in It felt the like home! So comfortable and tastefully decorated, the beds were covered with beautiful cotton spreads, not the slick nylon types. Everything I needed was there and the place was spotless. I think what I loved the most was how much light came into the studio...windows everywhere and sliding glass doors to a little balcony. PLUS, the Tuis and Bell birds were singing outside my balcony!! The owner was incredibly hospitable. This is the kind of place you want to stay in when you travel...and you don't want to leave!!
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Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 3 nights in one of the studios. It was clean, comfortable and very well equipped. The kitchen has a fridge, microwave and electric hob and everything you need. There is parking and good WiFi. For us the highlight was sitting on the balcony and looking at the view over the harbour. The restaurants and cafe are only a couple minutes walk away; we tried the local fish and chip shop which was really good. The Royal Albatross Centre is only 20 minutes drive away and is well worth a visit. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Choose a studio if you want a view over the harbour
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a delightful stay at the Portobello Motel. We were in cottage 5 which had its own small garden, kitchenette/dining/living room, separate bedroom and shower room. The hosts were very helpful and friendly. Thoroughly recommend this motel and a great spot, just 15 mins drive to the Albatross Centre/Blue penguins.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights while enjoying Dunedin, the penguins and the albatross. It was a great location and close to all the things on our must see list. In addition there were two great places to eat within walking distance. However, the garden outside our door is what I will always remember; a lovely county cottage garden. Waking up to the flowers and the birdsongs was an extra treat. We did have a mishap (flat tire) while driving in Dunedin and the owners were so helpful with advice and guidance.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Portobello area.
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandOtago RegionDunedinPortobello
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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PORTOBELLO MOTEL COTTAGES - Reviews (New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Portobello Motel Cottages
Which popular attractions are close to Portobello Motel Cottages?
Nearby attractions include Port To Port Cruises and Wildife Tours (0.6 km), Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary (7.9 km), and The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance (7.7 km).