Abelia Motor Lodge

The unit had a hotplate and microwave, and it was easy to get to some attractions. The Nelson classic car museum is only minutes away and well worth a visit. Keep in mind that some rooms are up two flights of stairs, though staff carried our large bags. Abelia lodge sits on the main road, and the noise means you have to keep the doors and windows shut.

The website photos are badly out of date. The furniture and soft furnishings are the same, but now worn, stained and grimy. The bed linen was faded and thin, the carpet was worn with a large red stain in the main bedroom, and there was a noticeable bad smell throughout the unit that I couldn't identify. The coffee table had a broken leg. There was no telephone, alarm clock or wall art. I took the photos on 1 January 2026. In the second bedroom, there was a hole in the wall, a loose safety rail on the top bunk, and a shredded, dirty, mouldy net curtain. The bathroom light fitting had no cover, exposing wiring, and the sink had permanent stains. Old screw holes showed there used to be a heated towel rail. Now there are five hooks literally nailed to the bathroom door for towels, and one was broken. We were told towels would be changed every two days, but at 4pm on the third day they still hadn't been replaced. The kitchen cabinets were broken, and the microwave smelled. A sign asked guests to wash their own dishes, but there was no tea towel. About the only thing that seemed to work properly was the Ecomist, or similar brand, insect spray unit.

The view from the first floor was lovely. A very helpful man met us and insisted on carrying most of our bags up to the room. I could only have managed one bag at a time!

The rooms had everything we needed, whether for a short visit or a longer stay, including Sky, kitchen utensils, a hair dryer and an iron. They were very clean and spacious, and there's a nice deck with a BBQ as well. We had a great time at the Abelia Motor Lodge. The owners are lovely and always ready to help.