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Makona Motel
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About
#9 of 9 motels in Whitianga
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Makona Motel has been providing top class accommodation in Whitianga for over 25 years. Enjoy your holiday or trip to Mercury Bay and the Coromandel Peninsula with a choice of 3 spacious self contained cottages plus 1 extra large unit which can accommodate your whole family or group of friends. All situated on a half acre of land in a quiet country setting. Enjoy our fully fenced, sparkling clean, swimming pool or swim in the beautiful Pacific Ocean just down the road. All units are fully furnished and self contained and each unit has a full kitchen, laundry and flat screen tv. Close to town and only 300 metres from Buffalo Beach.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Wifi
Pool
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Romantic
Location
24-26 Jackman Ave, Whitianga 3542 New Zealand
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.
Grade: 36 out of 100
36
Auckland Intl Airport
82.6 km•
See all flights
Car Hire
56 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
26 Attractions
within 10 kilometers
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews


Fabulous spiotlessley clean accomadation . If we return to new zealand we will def return here. Booked 1 night but ended up staying for 3 nights ( and could have stayed longer if was possible ) very friendly family run business and perfect location. Beautiful beach 5 mins walk away and lovely walk along beach front into a lovely town .made many happy memories here. ( thank you so much Neil and family ) xxx and thanks kennedy for taking our husband's fishing with you x
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Date of stay: February 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.
Travelled around the Coromandel in a group of 4 friends, with this property selected on the basis of sleeping arrangements, and price. The total cost was approx $160 between 4 of us, which was fantastic compared to what we were looking at spending for backpackers etc.
The property is on a very quiet back street, a few blocks back from the centre of town, and also the beach the other way.
It is hard to miss from the road - being painted bright lime green!
Once we arrived the owner came out to show us our room. The owner is probably one of the main reasons we enjoyed this property so much. Beer stubbie in hand he proceeded to chat to us in the lounge for about 20 minutes, very very friendly, and was friendly whenever we saw him around the pool etc.
The unit itself was fantastic. As there were 4 of us, we needed sleeping arrangements with 4 beds. For $160 we got quite possibly the largest motel lounge ever, with SKY, heaps of seating, a large dining table, fully equipped kitchen and laundry, a large front and back deck off the living area, and bathroom. The lounge included a beer glass collection even!
While the decor was very old (think the 80s!) it really was comfortable, clean and spacious.
The queen bedroom opened onto the front porch, with the other double bedroom, and third room with a bunk-bed and another double bed being off the lounge.
The unit was extremely quiet and comfortable - everything we needed!
To top it off there was heaps of parking, and a great little pool that was incredibly warm!
Would thoroughly recommend if you don't mind everything not being brand new, as our unit was as big as a house, and perfect for groups. There were a couple of smaller units also, which looked of similar styles. Great property as so few units, so you got the personal touch from the owner and the pool to yourself!!
The property is on a very quiet back street, a few blocks back from the centre of town, and also the beach the other way.
It is hard to miss from the road - being painted bright lime green!
Once we arrived the owner came out to show us our room. The owner is probably one of the main reasons we enjoyed this property so much. Beer stubbie in hand he proceeded to chat to us in the lounge for about 20 minutes, very very friendly, and was friendly whenever we saw him around the pool etc.
The unit itself was fantastic. As there were 4 of us, we needed sleeping arrangements with 4 beds. For $160 we got quite possibly the largest motel lounge ever, with SKY, heaps of seating, a large dining table, fully equipped kitchen and laundry, a large front and back deck off the living area, and bathroom. The lounge included a beer glass collection even!
While the decor was very old (think the 80s!) it really was comfortable, clean and spacious.
The queen bedroom opened onto the front porch, with the other double bedroom, and third room with a bunk-bed and another double bed being off the lounge.
The unit was extremely quiet and comfortable - everything we needed!
To top it off there was heaps of parking, and a great little pool that was incredibly warm!
Would thoroughly recommend if you don't mind everything not being brand new, as our unit was as big as a house, and perfect for groups. There were a couple of smaller units also, which looked of similar styles. Great property as so few units, so you got the personal touch from the owner and the pool to yourself!!
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Date of stay: January 2008Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
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 cant wait to come back two famlies of four fitted nicely into the three bedroom unit and we had all the mod cons and a complete kitchen. Laundry and sky were a nice surprise. Very nice host they were willing and able to help with everthing.
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Date of stay: January 2013
Value
Rooms
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.
My wife and I have just spent five nights at this lovely, spacious motel just three hundred metres from Buffalo Beach. It has been three years since we were last here and the standards have not dropped. The hosts always do a little bit extra, very helpful! Although the weather was unpleasant it was great to get back to our warm, comfortable one bedroom unit after a day of walking and exploring this amazing part of New Zealand. This motel I highly recommend to overseas travellers or New Zealanders, it is undoubtedly one of the best valued motels in New Zealand, don't miss out on this little gem! My wife and I from Wellington will be back!
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip 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.
We actually found Makona Motel very late afternoon but on meeting Neil with his bubbly informative personality viewing the accommodation available we couldn't resist. Yes it is a little dated but every thing was there that one could possibly need. Plenty of room & well laid out. Amazing views out the kitchen window both morning & night. We only stayed one night but felt very much at home it has a homely feel. We really appreciated Neils knowledge & chats. Would stay again for sure. We really enjoyed our stay.. Thank you see you on our next trip back to NZ Thanks Neil. Lynne & Les ( stayed 2ndMay2017)
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Date of stay: May 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
We were looking for places to stay in Whitianga and fell lucky with this place. You'll not find a cleaner place, nor more hospitable hosts in this area. The decor isn't modern, but it doesn't detract from what is an ideal spot from which to visit the area. We enjoyed it greatly because it's in a quiet area while also being close to the town. Thanks!
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip 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.
Run by the owners, our room at this motel iwa spacious and had a 'well-tried-and-tested' feel about it. It was not the latest in modern designs, but was well equipped and even had a washing machine (although we didn't use it). Whitianga is an expensive place to stay, and some other establishments wanting a minimum of more than one night. We thought this was good value, and only stayed for one night. It's right on the rear edge of town, so very quiet - but a short distance to the waterfront.
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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 have been staying annually at Makona Cottages since 2001. We consider the hosts Neil and Renee as friends. We have just spent a few days there enjoying the beach and restaurants. Glorious weather. Our Unit was/is very comfortable, clean, affordable, secure, well-equipped with everything you could need, and hosts even provided sun umbrella for the beach. The laundry facility and clothes line are so convenient. There is a lovely swimming pool on site. It is a quiet street only about 150 metres from Buffalo Beach, and an easy walk to town. We shall be back again of course.
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Date of stay: December 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Talk to the hosts about that as they are very helpful and obliging.
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 recently had the pleasure of staying at the Makona Motel in beautiful Whitianga. My little one bedroom cottage was homely, comfortable and spotlessly clean. Years of experience had contributed to ensuring everything one might need had been thought about and catered for. Neal and Renee were a joy and the very high standards of the accommodation was a credit to them. I highly recommend this little gem of a motel and I will certainly stay there again.
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Date of stay: February 2018Trip 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.
What a great motel, everything you'll need and more, 2 full size beds, one in a separate room with more wardrobe space than most motels have room space. two televisions, one in the master bedroom, very comfortable 5 seat settee, big kitchen, with a full size 4 ring electric cooker and oven, large fridge and freezer, every utensil you will ever need, food processor, slow cooker, I could go on, Bath , toilet sink and shower in one place which gives you an idea how big the room is, utility room with a washing machine and a dryer, oh and a de-humidifier, and a fan.Outside you have a bench table and chairs with an umbrella, and access to a pool, not huge but a blessing on the hot humid days. I could go on forever about this place. I travelled from England and this motel was recommended to me, you won't find it on any of the search engines, like booking.com and trivago, but best book in advance.
Last but not least, you will receive the nicest of welcomes from Neil and Renee, who cannot do enough for you
2 minute drive to the beach, 5 minutes drive the the town centre with an abundance of shop choices.also in comfortable walking distance
Last but not least, you will receive the nicest of welcomes from Neil and Renee, who cannot do enough for you
2 minute drive to the beach, 5 minutes drive the the town centre with an abundance of shop choices.also in comfortable walking distance
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Date of stay: January 2018
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.
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"Units well spaced on property and are private, all get sun. Off the main road and very quiet, a short walk to beach and shops."Read full review
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandWaikato RegionCoromandel PeninsulaWhitianga
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Frequently Asked Questions about Makona Motel
Which popular attractions are close to Makona Motel?
Nearby attractions include Shakespeare Cliff Scenic and Historic Reserve (3.1 km), Combat & Fun Zone Adventure & Family Park (6.9 km), and The Lost Spring (0.8 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Makona Motel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, free parking, and internet access.
What are some restaurants close to Makona Motel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Purangi Winery Pizzeria, Blue Ginger, and Kaizen At Go Vino.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Makona Motel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.