Putaruru Hotel

We made a last-minute stop in Putāruru while passing through, despite the lower Google rating, and had a great stay. The building is older, but the facilities are complete, and having an ensuite at this price was more than I expected. The staff were very friendly, with several good restaurants nearby. Incredible value for money.

The staff were great and even stayed late so we could check in after Christmas. The beds are a little springy, but not the worst I've slept on. It's a nice place, even if it's dated. You can tell it's been around a while, and I wish I could have seen it in its prime.

The room was clean, but very old-fashioned and in need of some care. The thick pillows weren't great, and the mattress felt springy, made noise, and transferred movement to the other sleeper. Outside, there's a busy road and rail line, and with no cooling except the windows, the noise could keep you awake. Add a leaky gutter and blinds that bang against the wall in even a slight breeze, and sleep is hard to come by. It might do for one night if necessary, but I wouldn't recommend staying longer, except perhaps as a last resort.

They stayed open late for me, which I really appreciated. I arrived late and left early, so the basic bed, toilet and shower were enough. I'm under 6' and my eyes were above the shower head, but the water temperature and pressure were good. It drained unbelievably slowly, though that wasn't really my problem. I could hear the road and noise from the hallway leading to the shared kitchen, but it didn't bother me. The rooms are dated and there's a fair bit of road noise, but it's a solid budget option and good value.