45 On Avenal Motel

The bed was comfortable and the location was good, but there’s a lot that needs improvement. The rooms are extremely basic: no dishcloth, dish rack, microwave-safe dishes, bowls, or extra kitchen items beyond plates, and no towel rails in the bathroom. I could have put up with those basics, but I need to mention them for others. The laundry situation cost them a possible extra 18 days of accommodation. A room sign said a key was available, but I was told the laundry was for staff and the guest one was broken. A washing machine is a washing machine, and I was the only guest there for most of my stay. They suggested a laundromat 10 minutes up the road, but I had no car and would be working seven days a week, so that wasn’t practical. I tried to help bring in more revenue, but they weren’t willing to meet me halfway. There were no onsite managers while the owners were away, which worried me as I was travelling alone. I wanted to contact the owner directly, but couldn’t find an email address.

A quiet spot, about a 10-minute walk from the city, with a great shower. The staff were friendly, and the basic rooms seemed fair for the price. They fitted me in at the last minute, which I appreciated. If you want affordable accommodation without anything flashy, it’s ideal.

The staff were pleasant and it’s handy to the CBD, but I’ve never stayed in a unit this dirty. I showed the office staff photos of the thick sludge in the middle of the shower, and nobody seemed very interested. There was heavy dust everywhere, and the cupboard shelves hadn’t been cleaned.

Three of us stayed for four nights while travelling to Stewart Island and around Southland. The staff were wonderful. For just $20 more, we changed to a two-bedroom unit, which was spacious and comfortable. It was clean and tidy, quiet at night, and hassle-free, so we slept very well.