Amber Court Motel

A handy spot in Te Anau, with the lake an easy walk away and town not far on foot or by car. The motel was roomy, had good parking, and the kitchen was clean and well equipped, with utensils in good shape. Kind staff, too. The radiators and heated blankets kept us warm.

I ended up keeping the reservation, even though I had come down with a serious flu the day before and was bedridden and unable to move. When I called to cancel, Jeff refused. He offered to return 50% if they managed to sell the room, then said he might withdraw that discount if I left a bad review. I found that dishonest and a shady way to handle a situation outside my control. I also wondered whether they would really have wanted me to show up and risk exposing them and other guests. I had to cancel plans with other businesses because of the flu, and they were all understanding and cancelled without questions. Jeff’s response wasn’t what I experienced elsewhere.

I liked that this was a small family-run place, with parking right by the room and no parking hassle. The room was spacious and practical, with enough kitchen gear to make simple food, fast internet, clean comfortable beds, and the heating and cooling equipment we needed. I stayed one night in Te Anau for the Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise tour, and would recommend the motel.

The price felt a little high, even for peak tourist season, but I had a good stay at a place that worked well during the Sounds to Sounds Brevet in Te Anau. The staff found a secure place for my bike in their garage, which I appreciated. My room was clean and comfortable, with what I needed to put together an easy dinner. Laundry was straightforward to use and reasonably priced at $2 per wash or dry.