10 BEST Motels in Takaka & Golden Bay 🏘️ [2024]

Where to Find Motel Accommodation in Takaka and Golden Bay

For travellers who want privacy and the convenience of cooking facilities at their fingertips for a reasonable price, motels are a worthy accommodation option. Luckily, Takaka and the surrounding region of Golden Bay have many to choose from. From modern motels near Takaka town centre to cheap and cheerful stays scattered throughout the bay, you have plenty of options. Let us help you find the right one for you with this list of the best motels in Takaka and Golden Bay.

For more travel-planning advice for Golden Bay, check out The Complete Guide to Takaka and the 20 Best Things to Do in Golden Bay.

1. Mohua Motels – Upscale Motel in Takaka

Stay in contemporary motel units at the entrance to Takaka at Mohua Motels. Enjoy the conveniences of a full kitchenette to help keep the meal costs low, hot drinks in your room, unlimited free WiFi, a heatpump/air conditioning unit, Sky TV and more. Studios come in queen, king, balcony and spa bath options, while the one and two-bedroom apartments are best suited for families and groups.

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2. Anatoki Lodge Motel – Motel in Takaka with a Pool

Nestled in landscaped grounds just two minutes’ walk from Takaka’s shops and services, the Anatoki Lodge Motel offers a pleasant retreat. Choose from their studios, one- or two-bedroom units all on the ground floor and featuring free WiFi and Sky TV. While the furniture is a little old-school, rooms are well-maintained with a kitchen that’s more spacious than the average New Zealand motel. Also on the grounds is a solar-heated swimming pool.

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3. Golden Bay Motel – Family-Friendly Motel in Takaka

A cosy and quiet motel with only nine units, Golden Bay Motel is a boutique stay well worth considering. The motel offers a home away from home with their studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Not only is there plenty of parking right outside of your unit, (although it’s only a few minutes’ walk from Takaka town centre) but the other side of each unit opens up with sliding glass doors onto a spacious lawn with children’s playground equipment and a short bushwalk. There are two barbecues for guests to use also. For more family-friendly stays, check out the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Takaka & Golden Bay.

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4. The Station House Motel – Cheap Motel in Golden Bay (Collingwood)

In the neighbouring town of Collingwood, on the way to Farewell Spit and Warariki Beach, The Station House Motel offers affordable cottages for all kinds of travellers. Enjoy a mix of classic and modern decor and fixings in these renovated cottages among attractive gardens with a barbecue and seating area. You have all you need for cooking meals, which you can enjoy from cottages with a separate dining room or out on your private deck. See more like this in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Takaka.

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5. Collingwood Park Motel – Upscale Motel in Collingwood

Also in Collingwood, as you probably guessed by the name, Collingwood Park Motel borders the Aorere Estuary making for a breathtaking location. The town centre is a couple minutes’ walk from the modern studios, most with water or estuary views. Choose from three different grades of studios, from a split-level studio to a waterfront studio, or choose more space with three bedrooms in the apartment. The rooms themselves are small but are well kitted up with modern decor and fixings, which include a kitchenette. For alternative premium stays, you might want to check out the 6 Best Luxury Accommodations in Takaka & Golden Bay.

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6. The Rocks Chalets – Self-Contained Motel Units in Takaka

On the edge of Takaka town, The Rocks Chalets offers a unique motel set-up with chalets wedged between interesting limestone outcrops. All of the self-contained chalets here sleep up to four guests including the use of the sofa bed yet this place is also a good option for couples. All units have a kitchenette, a barbecue on your private patio, a spacious ensuite shower room and attractive timber interiors. Keep entertained with free WiFi, TVs with DVD players and interesting grounds of gardens and rock formations to explore. For more self-contained stays, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Takaka & Golden Bay.

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7. Pohara Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park – Beachfront Holiday Park with Motel Units in Golden Bay

An excellent and affordable holiday park in Golden Bay featuring motel units, Pohara Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is located right on Pohara Beach between Takaka and the Abel Tasman National Park. Stay in self-contained motel units with all the essential amenities at your fingertips or one of the units/cabins or camping sites with access to the holiday park’s communal facilities. There are configurations to suit a range of groups, from couples to families of five, while magnificent positions right by the beach. See more beachfront stays (of the romantic kind) in the 10 Best Romantic Accommodations in Takaka & Golden Bay.

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10 BEST Motels in Takaka & Golden Bay 🏘️ [2023]

8. Golden Bay Holiday Park – Parapara Holiday Park with Motel Units

On the road between Takaka and Collingwood, Golden Bay Holiday Park not only offers cheap basic cabins and camping sites but self-contained cabins and apartments moments away from the beach – ideal for those seeking motel accommodation! The modern apartments with private decks overlooking the beach are a favourite choice for groups, while the self-contained cabin provides a cute getaway for couples by the forest.

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9. The Sandcastle – Pet-Friendly Motel in Golden Bay (Pohara)

While not officially a motel, The Sandcastle in Pohara allows guests to enjoy fully self-contained accommodation amidst tranquil gardens. Offering a selection of freestanding cottages, this affordable accommodation has something for couples up to groups of six. The main chalets have a full kitchen and private bathroom facilities, while the Mongolian yurt has shared bathrooms but a unique feel. Enjoy exploring the gorgeous flower gardens with sculptures, make use of the barbecue and pizza oven, play table tennis, use the yoga hall and more. Find this accommodation nestled on the hillside between Takaka and Abel Tasman. Check out more small-scale stays in the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations in Takaka & Golden Bay.

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10. The Innlet, Country Apartments and Cottages – Cheap Motel in Golden Bay (Pakawau)

Get off the beaten track by staying in the comfortable and reasonably priced The Innlet, Country Apartments and Cottages. Again, it’s not an official motel but it does offer private apartments and a cottage, most with cooking facilities and a private bathroom (or bush bath). There are plenty of other options too, such as the main guesthouse which has double, twin, family and dorm rooms. What’s more, you can book a camping site here to enjoy the lush native forest surroundings.

Check The Innlet, Country Apartments and Cottages out:

[CLOSED] Pohara Beachfront Motel

On the way to the Abel Tasman National Park, the Pohara Beachfront Motel offers easy access to the sand along its walkways. The most abundant room types are one-bedroom and two-bedroom units provided at extremely reasonable rates, while there are also a couple of studios available. Rooms feature either kitchenettes or full kitchens where the beachfront walkway to the shops and cafes is just outside of the motel. Units are well-presented with fresh decor and some feature private decks with sea views.

[CLOSED] Pioneer Motels

Don’t worry about it getting too crowded here at the Pioneer Motels in Collingwood, which features just three units ideal for groups. Choose from either a three-bedroom unit or one of the two-bedroom units with a mix of renovated and basic ensuites, shockingly bright bed linen but more than enough space for a comfortable self-contained stay. The kitchens have a microwave and a fridge, as well as hot drink-making facilities.

[CLOSED] Totara Studios

Affordable motel-style accommodation for couples, a couple of friends or solo travellers, Totara Studios features just three self-contained studios a short drive from Takaka. Enjoy spacious gardens surrounded by mature totara trees (a native tree), as well as access to an undercover swimming pool in summer. Cook meals using the full kitchen where you can dine on your private deck or on your classic-yet-elegant indoor dining furniture.

[CLOSED] Apartments on Abel

Enjoy all the creature comforts at one of the most affordable motel-style accommodations in Golden Bay. Apartments on Abel is located in Pohara and offers a range of apartments and self-contained units. You’ll find studios on the ground floor in a twin and double set-up with a kitchenette for light cooking, an ensuite and sliding doors opening up onto the garden. One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments are on the floor above with a full kitchen, lounge and access to a shared balcony.

More About Motels in Takaka and Golden Bay

That’s it for our list of the best motels in Takaka and Golden Bay. Don’t miss any of the highlights in Golden Bay by having a look at the following guides:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Guide to Takaka.

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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