Penguin Seaside Motel

The room itself was excellent and everything worked. Still, it felt odd to have nobody around. At 2pm we got a text from somewhere with the room number and access code; entering it in the magic key box released our key. Thankfully that worked, as there didn't seem to be a backup plan. There was no reception, personal welcome, office, or usual tourist information, just a sign. It's all very automated, and no doubt very cost effective.

After a week on the road, we were glad to have laundry facilities. The motel is in town, an easy walk from the shops and cafes. Our room was spotless and laid out well, with everything we needed, and the bed was very comfortable.

We spent a week here over Christmas while visiting from Qld. The motel was the cleanest I've ever stayed in, and the location was perfect. Penguin Pantry, which has the best coffee in town, is right across the road. A+ guys.

The key process was very impersonal: enter a PIN and the key drops out of one box, then leave it in another when you go. The office stayed closed throughout our visit and I never met a host. I wandered the street looking for a meal and saw a potential guest, apparently a worker seeking accommodation, wait outside the closed office for 45 minutes in the wet and cold, then another 45 minutes in his vehicle before driving off in the dark.