10 Best Family Accommodations in Gisborne 👪 [2024]

Where to Find Child-Friendly Accommodation in Gisborne

Gisborne has sun, sea and sand: all you need is a fun and family-friendly accommodation to go with it! In between exploring the sights, like the Eastwoodhill Arboretum or Tairawhiti Museum, retreat to your spacious motel, hotel or holiday park where facilities like a swimming pool and open spaces for the kids to play are common. Check out some of our top picks for family accommodations in Gisborne in the list below!

For more travel advice, don’t miss The Guide to Gisborne for Families and the 10 Things to Do in Gisborne with Kids.

1. Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

A covered heated swimming pool with a mini waterslide and jets for smaller children, a bouncy pillow, playground, petanque course and kayak hire: there’s so much to do at the Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park! As for accommodation, families have the choice of large apartments to more budget-friendly motel units with all the essential facilities needed to enjoy a fully functional family holiday – even for the most dysfunctional families. Of course, if you’re camping, there are tent and powered sites too.

Check Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

10 Best Family Accommodation in Gisborne

2. Motel Oasis

Backed by lush green hills right in between Gisborne city and Wainui Beach, Motel Oasis offers a tranquil family-friendly escape. Stay in one of the designated family suites with interconnecting rooms should you have a larger group. Each of the tastefully decorated suites looks out onto the motel’s solar-heated swimming pool, which the kids love. What’s more, the use of the guest laundry is free!

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3. Tudor Park Motel

Set in Tudor-style buildings with timber-lined chalet-style interiors, the Tudor Park Motel is different enough to get the imaginations of the little ones racing. All rooms are conveniently on the ground floor, each with full kitchen facilities, free WiFi and parking right outside the door. Keep the kids entertained with Smart TVs with Netflix, a playground just across the street and extensive gardens surrounding the motel.

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4. Marina View Apartments

Get the home-away-from-home experience, with a little bit of luxury, at the Marina View Apartments. This apartment complex on the banks of the Turanganui River with views over the marina and out to Young Nicks Head features one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with plenty of room for families. All apartments are well-appointed with leather furniture, an ensuite with a shower and a bath, a home theatre system and a balcony. On the grounds is also a swimming pool and underground parking.

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5. Ocean Beach Motor Lodge

Escape the hustle and bustle of Gisborne city, but still be conveniently close to it at the Ocean Beach Motor Lodge. Located just a short walk from the breathtaking Wainui Beach, the Ocean Beach Motor Lodge reinforces the holiday vibe with tropical plants and palms decorating the courtyard. The apartment-style units are ideal for families with full kitchens, free WiFi, Sky TV and more. The barbecue area is a good place to relax as a family during summer. For more stays with fabulous kitchens, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Gisborne.

Check Ocean Beach Motor Lodge out:

6. White Heron Motor Lodge

Conveniently close to the city centre and with lots of space for families in their one- and two-bedroom units, you can’t go too wrong with the White Heron Motor Lodge. Boasting contemporary decor and furnishings and with most units having a king spa bath, it’s a place you can really treat yourself. Each unit has a kitchenette to prepare basic meals, while the high-speed WiFi and multiple TVs, in most instances, keep everyone entertained. See how this motel compares to the 10 Best Motels in Gisborne.

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7. BKs Palm Court Motor Lodge

Affordable and centrally located, BKs Palm Court Motor Lodge is a great choice for budgeting families. The one-bedroom units are a good place to start for families, with easy parking right out front, a kitchenette to make basic meals and even a spa bath. Why not order a continental or cooked breakfast to take the morning off? The motel is on the main road through Gisborne, making everything easy to get to. See more like this in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Gisborne.

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8. Portside Hotel – Heritage Collection

For families seeking luxury, stay in the boutique Portside Hotel by the Heritage Collection. Their two-bedroom suites give you everything you need for a convenient family holiday with the luxuries of an international-standard hotel. Enjoy the use of your full kitchen and laundry machines, bask in the ocean views from your suite’s windows or balcony, and use the on-site lap pool. For more like this, see the 10 Best Luxury Accommodations in Gisborne.

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9. Whispering Sands Beachfront Motel

Enjoy absolute beachfront at the Whispering Sands Beachfront Motel, the only motel in Gisborne on the beach. When you’re not enjoying building sandcastles and swimming at the family-friendly Waikanae Beach (as recommended in the 10 Things to Do in Gisborne with Kids), retreat to your apartment through the sliding door just off the beachside garden. Families have ample choice of rooms, with most options sleeping up to four guests, while the two-bedroom apartments sleep up to eight.

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10. Emerald Hotel

Looking for that effortless hotel stay in Gisborne? The Emerald Hotel offers well-appointed rooms with layouts suitable for families in their “Executive Suites”. Most suites are set up for a short stay with standard amenities like a TV, free WiFi, an ensuite, hot drink-making facilities, etc. The “Executive Apartment Accommodation” on the fourth floor of the hotel also includes a fully-equipped kitchen and two separate bedrooms, should you need them. Facilities on-site include an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant. Check out more hotel-style stays in the 10 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Gisborne.

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More Family Accommodations in Gisborne

That’s it for our list of the best family accommodations in Gisborne. For more places to stay, as well as things to do, check out these recommendations:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Travel Guide to Gisborne for Families.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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