Awatea Park Motel

We chose this motel because there were 4 of us and we wanted 2 bedrooms rather than the fold out couch in the lounge. It is an older motel with dated decor and furniture, but it is clean and has had a fairly recent coat of paint and newish curtains. The interior windows/frames could do with a clean. The beds were comfortable and decent size bright white towels. There was no body wash for the shower - there was 1 full and 1 half empty motel sized bottles of shampoo and hand wash. These were not replenished on our second day. The grounds behind the main building are really scruffy with lots of junk which was our view when we walked out the door - it really needs a clean up. All things considered, this was great value for money at $205 a night for the 4 of us.

I was struggling to find accommodation over a weekend when there were several busy events on in Palmerston. I was pleased to find Awatea Park Motel was available. For your money you get congenial hosts, a nice-sized bedroom with a small but well-equipped kitchenette (fridge, electric hob, kettle, toaster, microwave, utensils) and a bathroom with a hot shower like a water-blaster (fantastic after sports activities!) Parking and wifi provided. Some reviews have pointed out that the rooms and furnishings are a bit old and dated- but they are clean and fully functional. Maybe the kitchen cupboards could use a lick of paint. And the curtains across the French windows needed to be 4 inches wider. But the place compares well with others for price and the city centre is walking distance (took me 15 minutes). Would stay again.

3 of us staying in Unit 1 (2 single beds, 1x double). It was clean and tidy, but we unfortunately encountered some ants in the kitchen (possibly attracted by something sweet and sticky left out on the bench), but they were easily taken care of. Otherwise no complaints. The manager was happy to help out with a couple of small requests. I'm not sure why so many people complain about motels being 'dated' because of the colour scheme and furniture just because it's not modern, but it's all in good shape and not tatty. The only- very slight- problem was the glass table and coffee table tops and not having anything provided to put down hot plates/cups, but we improvised. Quiet surroundings overall but we could hear some boy racers out on the main road. Adequate heating for the cold nights. Beds very comfortable. Backs onto a very pretty park/reserve. Would stay there again.

On the website it says no WINZ or emergency housing accepted. I later realise this clarification is needed, because it’s hard to imagine anyone but the desperate staying here by choice. It’s remarkable that someone choose to be a hospitality professional and then go so such extremely little effort. The oven in our room was a cheaper model. In 1982. Nearly 42 years ago. Remarkable. The smell here reminds you of a clothing recycling bin after a fresh rainstorm. It emanates from the parts which are never cleaned, under the bed, beside the bathroom unit. The sounds alternate between duf duf music through the walls, and the constant big bore exhaust note of boy racers. The lights hang off the walls. The switches are cracked. The heater rattles. You realise something has gone terrible wrong when you find yourself here. Run. Run while you still can.