Civic Motel

Clean room, but the aircon felt like it dated from 1975. At $180/night, this was one of the worst value-for-money stays I've had, though that's modern Oz. It's a proper old-school motel, with a burnt sign, jailhouse exterior and prison pool. Very Grafton. I've changed my rating and service score from 3 stars to 1. Hospitality isn't your industry.

After six hours stranded beside the highway from 2am to 8am, we were desperate for somewhere safe. Our traffic incident left us waiting for a tow truck, and our insurance “roadside assistance” wasn't much help. We knew mechanics wouldn't be open on Sunday's, and I called nearly every motel. Most had no vacancy or couldn't check us in early. My mother is 70 and very sick, and we were on our own, so we just wanted to get somewhere safe. I was so upset I can't remember whether Jodi said they were booked out, but after I explained what had happened, I believe it was Jodi who said she'd see if she could arrange something, as long as we were okay with a double bed. I could cry writing this because I'm so grateful. We had no time to check the room online and couldn't be fussy. I'd never stayed at a motel before, and true crime documentaries had made me scared of them 😂. I was relieved and surprised that it wasn't like that at all. The room looked lovely and was immaculate. The shower and bathroom were beautiful and so clean, and the crisp white sheets looked and felt brand new. My back hurt after sitting by the highway for six hours, so that soft, comfortable bed felt wonderful. We don't know what we would have done without your help, Gary & Jodi. You restored my faith that there are still good people in this world. You were our guardian angels. Five stars doesn't feel like enough, and I hope your good karma comes back to you full circle. Thank you so much, Alexandria and Angie

The key safe was a brilliant idea, so I didn't have to rush to arrive. The room was very clean, and the bed was surprisingly comfortable. I was pleased to find complimentary bottles of water in the fridge instead of the old water jug. It's centrally located, with shops within walking distance and a hotel and bistro directly across the road that I'm hoping to try next time. A lovely stay all around.

For a budget motel, this is fantastic. The location is super handy, the rooms are neat and quiet, and the staff are friendly and helpful.