Nelson Palms Motel

The sensor light outside our room kept switching on through the night. Even with the blinds closed as much as possible, it lit up the whole room like the headlights of a modern ute shining from behind, and wrecked our sleep. That’s why I’ve rated it 4/5. We had a tidy, modern twin room with tiles instead of carpet, plus the usual bits like a hair dryer, soaps, iron, kettle, mini fridge, and broom. There’s a BBQ to use too, and check-in and check-out were easy with a lockbox. A few smaller gripes: the NRL grand final made things noisy at 9pm, and the rooms weren’t as soundproof as we’d hoped. The price jumped to $300 for a basic room over the long weekend, normally $220, and Saturday bookings required at least two nights. I’d like to do just a Saturday and Sunday at Nelson Bay, but with a 9-5 job I can’t manage more than that. I understand the business model, just having a whinge.

The location is handy, with restaurants, shops, and the beach all a short walk away. I’ve stayed at Nelson Palms Motel several times and keep coming back. The staff are friendly, check-in is easy, and the rooms are clean, cosy, nicely designed, and equipped with what I need. It’s a relaxing place to return to after exploring. Whether I’m in town briefly or for a longer visit, I always feel at ease here. It’s become my usual place to stay, and I recommend it.

Nelson Palms is so well placed that you can walk to shops, food, the beach, and pretty much everything else. We felt at home in the lovely room, and the staff were helpful and friendly. Parking and access were easy too. A real gem, and we’ll choose Nelson palms again on our next Nelson Bay trip.

We didn’t see anyone at reception over the long weekend, but Ryan was quick to respond by text, and the system worked well. Some guests might find that off-putting, though small business owners need family time and a chance to recharge too. Our family suite was a well designed three-bedroom place with quality finishes, comfortable bedrooms, plenty of storage, and lots of room in the living and dining areas. I’d wondered if the advertised photos were from when the rooms were new, but they matched what we found and the place has clearly been maintained really well. The kitchen was the most complete I’ve seen in a motel, with a full-size fridge, oven, grill, microwave, dishwasher, plenty of dishes and utensils, a kettle, and a pod coffee maker. We barely used the shared private courtyard, apart from rinsing beach gear and drying clothes, but it’s a nice space. It’s easy to drive to local attractions. This wasn’t a budget stay, but I felt we got what we paid for and would definitely come back.