Mackenzie Motel

A lovely place to recharge for a night. Our unit was cozy and comfortable, and much nicer in person than the pictures suggest. It had been updated and was very clean. The hosts replied quickly, and check-in couldn’t have been easier.

Shops are an easy walk away, and the surrounding area is nice. The rooms are on the small side, though they do come with kitchenware and bathroom supplies. There’s no stove. The bigger room has a comfortable bed, but the smaller one has a small single. Four people could manage, but it would feel a bit cramped.

I stayed one night between Christchurch and Twizel, and for a stop like that this worked really well. It was good value compared with places around Lake Tekapo, which is nearby and much pricier. Geraldine Fairlie Lookout is about 15-20 minutes toward Christchurch, and I’d recommend it for stargazing. The dark sky there was one of the nicest I’ve seen in New Zealand, maybe anywhere. Going out to look at the stars ended up being a bright spot after a night with little privacy. In the economy section, the walls are extremely thin. I was in the middle room and could hear movement, footsteps and voices from both sides. One neighbor talked on the phone at a normal volume from 9 p.m. until after midnight, then snored all night; it sounded like they were in my room. I could also clearly hear the other couple whispering. Light sleepers or anyone who needs privacy should know about this, though I’m sure staff or volunteers would have tried to help if I’d stayed longer. The staff, all women, were warm and hardworking, and everyone there, including guests and volunteers, was respectful. The grounds were pristine. Booking and getting the key from the entrance lockbox were both easy, and there was plenty of parking. My room was clean and nice, though there was a carpet stain that might bother some people. Economy rooms share two toilets and two showers, and there’s no running water in the room, but a tank with plenty of water was provided. Nearby there are fuel stops, groceries and restaurants. The location is handy without paying Lake Tekapo prices.

The backpacker rooms get the afternoon sun, and with no air conditioning they stay really warm well after sunset. We had to wait a few hours for ours to feel comfortable. Using the room fan to blow air from the propped-open fridge helped a little. Staff leave the doors open to cool things down, even though signs ask guests to keep the shared bathroom doors shut so insects stay out. We hadn’t realized these rooms shared bathrooms. It’s cheaper than Lake Tekapo, and could be a welcome change if you’ve been camping in a camper or RV. If you’re used to motels or hotels, though, it may be a tough sell. I’d avoid the backpacker rooms.