Hello Christine J and thank you for the review and the comments which emphasise the positive points about this motel. The room you choose is a popular choice for many of our guests, yes it’s compact but so is the price. Likewise, other rooms are bigger, and so is the price! Bathrooms are all the same reasonable size though and they do have lots of bench space. Some rooms do require going upstairs but we have just as many rooms that don’t so if anyone has any issues, advance notice may help us to help you! Yes we are the last accommodation before heading out of town (village) south but we are also the most central motel, only 2 minutes walk to everything on the main street.
As for that siren, yes your explanation is correct. The Volunteer Fire Brigade is an indispensable part of life in small town New Zealand and everyone accepts the occasional siren because one day it may be themselves who requires help. Great to see that the siren increased your subsequent awareness as you traveled around rural New Zealand, something you would have known earlier if you had read the information provided in the compendium in your room.