Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels
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Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels
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Avg. $171 /night, 3/23 - 3/24
$176
per night
$162
per night
$147
per night
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Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
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About
#1 of 1 motel in Otorohanga
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
We welcome you to Otorohanga, closest town to the world famous Waitomo Caves. The wide range of activities on offer is guaranteed to satisfy all age groups and complement any family holiday. Stay with us for friendly service, comfortable, spacious and affordable accommodation in a picturesque rural setting. All our units are fully self-contained with ample free parking & WiFi plus a spa pool and outdoor swimming pool. We are located just 1km north of the Otorohanga township on SH3.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Secured parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Wifi
Hot bath
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Room features
Iron
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
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
Budget
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Dutch, Hindi
Location
59 Main North Road, Otorohanga 3900 New Zealand
Getting there
21 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore 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.
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Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
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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.
Traveller rating
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Detailed Reviews
Liked · Location is excellent for the local attractions like the Kiwi House and the Caves. Very clean and restful with sheep singing you to sleep each night. Good amenities. Very good price last minute. (Big apartment)
Disliked · For the price do not expect the Ritz, but the good far outweighs any bad.
Disliked · For the price do not expect the Ritz, but the good far outweighs any bad.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Best for car travellers. Take plenty of plugs for chargers etc.
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.
The motel gave us one of its quieter rooms - ask for one away from the thoroughfare. The room was large, with a separate kitchen and bathroom, furnished with a sofa and a sofa bed. Plenty of sockets for our gadgets. Air condition and wifi worked well. Shower was powerful - no bathroom amenities on offer, though. Bed was comfortable enough.
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip 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 found a lovly room and a very welcoming host, for a good price !
Excelnt location. Good facilities : pool ,laundry & parking.
Very clean . Well Equipped kitchen. The wifi signal is pretty strong and the reception was kind enough to offer us two independant codes. Room 12 offers a view to downhill green trees. Washing machine and dryer are available until 1pm...this is very effective when you drop your smelly things to the washer drive for dinner and drink and then back to change to the dryer. The reception was kind enough to offer moving our laundry to the dryer while we are having our dinner at Thirsty aweta
Excelnt location. Good facilities : pool ,laundry & parking.
Very clean . Well Equipped kitchen. The wifi signal is pretty strong and the reception was kind enough to offer us two independant codes. Room 12 offers a view to downhill green trees. Washing machine and dryer are available until 1pm...this is very effective when you drop your smelly things to the washer drive for dinner and drink and then back to change to the dryer. The reception was kind enough to offer moving our laundry to the dryer while we are having our dinner at Thirsty aweta
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip 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.
When booking in with a credit card we were requested to add a bond which we refused. The rooms had aluminium deck chairs for inside furnature so was not that comfortable. The room was clean however the door is secured by one of those 1970's 2 leaver locks where everyone used to get burgled as there is only 7 different combinations. I did not feel that sefe particularly as Otorahanga is close to the prison complexes. The internet is by vouchers which provides a teaspoon of data. Thouogh it was stated to be sufficient the data was drained in 2.5 minutes using Facebook. The shower is one of those two tap design with a stainless steel pan floor and provided a measly amount of water. I decided to check out early and stay elsewhere. I visited the pool and noted the child proof gate did not close and latch on its own as per the safe pool fencing requirements. I do not see a return visit here happening any time soon.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: I did not like my room though there is mixed feedback for this location. Some like it and some do...
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.
At check in we asked-
"Did the room have wifi?
Did the room have electric blankets?
Did the room have a heat pump. (It was a cold & wet night!
The receptionist replied yes to everything.
The Wifi did not work over our stay at all. One of the electric blankets did not work on the double bed so I slept in the single bed with an electric blanket. The electric blanket worked but the bed springs were broken on one side of the bed so I slept on a "slope".
At check-out I informed the receptionist that we were not happy with NO wifi and an electric blanket not working and having to sleep on broken springs and suggested that when they repaid our bond (at check-in we were asked to pay a $100 bond!) perhaps a discount would be in order! This never happened!
We do believe that a discount should have been made! Shocking service!
"Did the room have wifi?
Did the room have electric blankets?
Did the room have a heat pump. (It was a cold & wet night!
The receptionist replied yes to everything.
The Wifi did not work over our stay at all. One of the electric blankets did not work on the double bed so I slept in the single bed with an electric blanket. The electric blanket worked but the bed springs were broken on one side of the bed so I slept on a "slope".
At check-out I informed the receptionist that we were not happy with NO wifi and an electric blanket not working and having to sleep on broken springs and suggested that when they repaid our bond (at check-in we were asked to pay a $100 bond!) perhaps a discount would be in order! This never happened!
We do believe that a discount should have been made! Shocking service!
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: Don't stay! There are some really good motels in Te Awamutu
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.
Booked online for a one night stay in the family unit for 23/1. However, due to the poor customer service and quite frankly bad attitude from the manager, our stay was canceled and a last minute booking elsewhere had to be arranged. Upon arriving in Waitomo earlier then expected, a phone call was made to Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels asking if there was any possibility of an earlier check in to which we were told quite bluntly and rudely “no, as they had a busy night prior and there would be no chance the room would be ready before 2pm”. The fact the room wouldn’t be ready for an early check in was fine but the way we were spoken to over the phone was nothing less than unaccommodating and hostile. Despite this we turned up to the venue for check in after 2pm only to be questioned by the same manager on if our request for a portacot had been cancelled and told that motel policy doesn’t allow for families to bring their own cot into the rooms. This would mean we would be charged $20 for cot hire. Yet again, both my mother and I were blown away with the attitude of the manger and the way she was speaking to both of us. After expressing our dissatisfaction with her customer service skills we were asked bluntly “what we want to do and told that going ahead with the booking didn’t seem feasible” so due to this, our party of 7 left. Both the conversation about early check in and the situation with the portacot were minor details and there would have no problem whatsoever had we been spoken to in a professional and respectful manner. Im not the type of person to normally write reviews but this experience was a major down point on our family holiday. I have never come across someone in this type of role as indifferent and unaccomadating towards customers. Would not recommend this venue to anyone and would tell future guests to steer clear if they value good service.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip 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.
We stayed for one night at this Motel and would never ever repeat the experience. When we checked in it was fine but when we went back there late at night there were insects all over the place. In the morning after little sleep we complained to the Manager/Owner who did not seem at all surprised. He did say however that this had not happened before. There was no offer to reimburse or anything else at all. I told him I would report the matter but please note this Motel is not listed on the Motel Association of New Zealand [MANZ] who I did contact wheh we were back in the UK. When we left the Motel in the morning we spoke to another couple who had a similar experience. It was really bad as it seemed the insects came out at night. They were in every room and even dropping off the ceiling. Inexcusable even if it was a seasonal insect as no deterrent had been used. Even worse was the attitude of the Manager/Owner. Avoid this place at all costs!!!
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Date of stay: March 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
This basic motel is located near your Waitomo caving glow worm experience (20 min drive). Your stay will be supplemented by many unexpected winged six legged creatures that fly in through the screen less, permanently open windows in the kitchen and bathroom. I woke up to a beetle buzzing and charging into my face. Furnishings are simple and antiquated. The stove looked like the one on "I love Lucy." I pulled down the covers of my bed to find several strands of some stranger's hair in it. This place is conveniently located near the caves. It's a budget stay with a low price. The owners are cordial and friendly. Due to the bugs and the lack of cleanliness, I would stay elsewhere.
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Date of stay: April 2015Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Before arriving here (room #3 but not sure any other room looked any better) we had not been expecting much as we had struggled to find decent accommodation in the area, and we were not disappointed. The manager and his wife were absolutely charming (they were looking after the place for someone else), the motel was very convenient for the Caves, the place was clean and the wifi was free. This is where the positives end. The room was a 1970s or maybe even 1950s throwback with nothing apparently done or added since then from the Lino tiles on the floor, to the plastic sink in the bathroom and the polystyrene tiles on the ceiling. The room smelled extremely musty and we could not get rid of it and the owners had very kindly provided a large can of fly spray to zap all the flies that inhabited the room with us. Everything was old, threadbare and worn out and we were distraught when we came into the room. The kitchen equipment was archaic, from the electric stove with old fashioned rings to the worn out plastic bowls. We were reluctant to cook or eat off the equipment. We had been in NZ for 6 weeks and this was the worst place we had stayed in by a huge distance. On speaking to the manager he said he was sorry and did not disagree with anything we said. We had originally booked in for two nights but after spending the first night there could not face going back, wrote off the charge for the second night and headed to Auckland 24 hours earlier than we had intended and did not begrudge paying for some decent accommodation. Needless to say we will not be going back.
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Date of stay: February 2015Trip 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.
Response from Willem D, Owner at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels
Responded 25 Feb 2015
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We appreciate your comments and are sorry to hear that the accommodation did not meet your expectations.Glad to hear that the managers were helpful and you found the property clean. We are a traditional style motel, as the photos on our website indicate and the price does reflect this. We cannot change the age of the property but do make improvements as finances allow eg recently repainted, re-carpeted and new beds.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I would recommend finding alternative accommodation elsewhere (perhaps 10 minutes up the road at Waitomo).
The pictures on the websites are of the other half of the motel across the road. There is a chance that like us, you'll be given a room with the motel operators living above it. We were woken up on and off throughout most of the night and very early hours of the morning with footsteps/banging, talking, toilets flushing, etc, coming from above us.
We are glad we only spent one (very restless) night here. Our review would have been satisfactory if this wasn't the case.
The pictures on the websites are of the other half of the motel across the road. There is a chance that like us, you'll be given a room with the motel operators living above it. We were woken up on and off throughout most of the night and very early hours of the morning with footsteps/banging, talking, toilets flushing, etc, coming from above us.
We are glad we only spent one (very restless) night here. Our review would have been satisfactory if this wasn't the case.
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Date of stay: July 2016Trip 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.
Response from Willem D, Manager at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels
Responded 3 Aug 2016
It is true that our Website has pictures of the other side of our Motel as it is newer than this side where the reception is.I don't see any reason why this Guest was miss guided so to say.When Guests arrive they either have booked specific rooms(we have rooms to suit most sort after ones ie singles, doubles, cheap as ones etc) or have the right to choose which unit they preferred depending on availability.This Guests choice was only the cheapest in spite of others being available. Our Cheapest is true enough the one under the Managers Quarters. When we have a guest in there we are very much aware of their presence and every care is taken not to disturb guests. On the night in Question, I made every effort to accommodate her and even helped her do her Laundry which is usually done by guests themselves. There was no instance where I and my husband made unruly noises and toilet flushing at night. I am disturbed to read these on Trip Advisor and not from the Guest while here before leaving. If her complaint had been legit I, in all honesty, would have endeavoured to compensate her or given her a more expensive room at the cost she was prepared to pay(the cheapest)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
"I did not like my room though there is mixed feedback for this location. Some like it and some do not."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
$147 - $171 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandWaikato RegionOtorohanga
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingOTOROHANGA AND WAITOMO MOTELS | UPDATED 2025 Motel Reviews & Price Comparison (New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels
Which popular attractions are close to Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Nearby attractions include Ōtorohanga Kiwi House (1.1 km), The Thirsty Weta (1.4 km), and Kiwiana Leisure Park (1.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
Is parking available at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Thirsty Weta Bar & Eatery Otorohanga, O Cafe, and Castle 91 Indian Restaurant & Bar.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Otorohanga and Waitomo Motels?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and Dutch.