Where to Find the Best Hotels and Alternative Accommodations in Gore
Gore is a town full of surprises. But what may come as no surprise in this lesser-known South Island destination, known as the rural heart of Southland, is the lack of hotels! Because there are only two accommodations that could almost be classed as hotels in Gore, we use this list of the best hotels in Gore to recommend some alternative accommodations too. Check them out in the list of the best places to stay in Gore!
For more trip-planning advice, check out The Complete Guide to Gore and the 15 Best Things to Do in Gore.
1. Croydon Lodge – The Best Hotel in Gore
Croydon Lodge is the only four-star hotel in Gore. You’ll find it nestled on park-like grounds on the edge of town, boasting modern elegance in its interiors across its on-site Blazing Copper Restaurant & Bar to its guest rooms. Keep things more affordable in the “Standard Rooms” with ensuite and tea/coffee-making facilities or upgrade to the “Superior Rooms” with more polished fixtures and plush bedding with feather toppers. Those celebrating a special occasion may even want to take it a step further with a stay in the “One Bedroom Suite” with a lounge and an ensuite with a separate bath and shower. Rooms are also family-friendly with plenty of layouts to suit groups of three and four.
Check Croydon Lodge out:
2. Melody – Boutique Hotel in Gore
A boutique hotel in the centre of Gore, Melody features just four ensuite king rooms. Each is spacious and well-appointed with a stylish fully-tiled walk-in shower ensuite. Other room amenities include hot drink-making facilities, a microwave, a mini-fridge, free WiFi, and a TV. The hotel provides a reasonably-priced stay for solo travellers and couples.
Check Melody out:
3. ASURE Oakleigh Motel – Gore Accommodation with Spa Baths
Due to Gore’s limited offering of hotels, consider some of the alternative accommodations like ASURE Oakleigh Motel. The motel is one of the most upmarket motels in town, providing an array of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Spa baths are a feature of some units, should you desire a bit of pampering, or stick to a budget with the other shower units available. Studios are your closest to hotel accommodation, featuring breakfast- and hot drink-making facilities, while other units have a full kitchen. Check out more accommodations like this in the 5 Best Motels in Gore.
Check ASURE Oakleigh Motel out:
- ASURE Oakleigh Motel on Booking.com
- ASURE Oakleigh Motel on Trip.com
- ASURE Oakleigh Motel on Expedia
4. The Reservation B&B – B&B Accommodation in Gore
Another type of accommodation that’s quite abundant in Gore is B&Bs. The Reservation B&B offers affordable double rooms with shared bathroom facilities, as well as a more luxurious suite and apartment with an ensuite. Set among three acres of gardens with farm animals, the B&B offers a peaceful stay on the rural outskirts of Gore. The B&B features a house bar pouring a range of beers, wines and local Hokonui Moonshine. Enjoy your beverage out on the attractive deck with a barbecue and pizza oven or in the warmth of the B&B’s lounge. What’s more, breakfast is included in the rate.
Check The Reservation B&B out:
5. Hokonui Bed & Breakfast – Cheap Accommodation in Gore
One of the affordable B&Bs in Gore, Hokonui Bed & Breakfast offers lodging for couples to families. The modern accommodation is set on 12 acres of farmland on the outskirts of Gore. A Kiwi full-cooked or continental breakfast is included in the rate of your room, which could be a double, twin or family room. Two of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms while another has a separate private bathroom. Guests have access to a large open-plan lounge and kitchen, as well as extensive lawns and a barbecue area. For alternative but affordable places to stay, also check out the 9 Best Budget Accommodations in Gore.
Check Hokonui Bed & Breakfast out:
6. Esplanade Motels – Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Gore
And for the most diverse and comprehensive accommodation in the area, Esplanade Motels offers a range of uniquely designed one-, two- and three-bedroom units sleeping two to six guests. Interiors are a mix of contemporary refurbishments and a touch of the well-maintained old-school, featuring full kitchens with an oven, free WiFi and Sky TV. While cooler evenings are best spent in your warm unit with an electric heater, summer can be enjoyed out in the small grassy barbecue area. What’s more, the motel is a short stroll from the town centre and allows pets.
Check Esplanade Motels out:
7. Riverlea Motel – Accommodation in Gore Town Centre
A well-located motel close to the town centre of Gore, Riverlea Motel is modern and family-friendly. With mostly studios and one-bedroom units sleeping up to two, this is an ideal motel for couples and solo travellers, while there are only two two-bedroom units for families/groups of up to five. Every unit has decent cooking facilities, with the larger units featuring a full oven. Keep entertained with streaming services, Sky TV and free WiFi, or walk to the town centre with its eateries, cinema and museums as featured in the 15 Best Things to Do in Gore.
Check Riverlea Motel out:
8. Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage – Popular Holiday Home Near Gore
An affordable holiday home just outside of Gore, Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage is worth considering for couples, solo travellers or small families. This one-bedroom holiday home has all you need, including a kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom with a double bed and a lounge with a sofabed. Enjoy the surrounds of rolling green hills with cows in the adjacent paddocks for a true rural experience. See how this holiday home compares to the 10 Best Holiday Homes in Gore.
Check Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage out:
9. Pukeko Nest Homestay (201 Waimumu) – Cheap Homestay Near Gore
One of the cheapest accommodation offerings in Gore (apart from the campgrounds), Pukeko Nest Homestay, also known as 201 Waimumu, is a rural retreat just 5km (3 miles) from Gore. There are two rooms available, a twin room and a queen double room each with a private bathroom or ensuite. Rooms are quite compact but homely and well cared for. A continental breakfast is included in the price, which is enjoyed in the shared lounge which also has a smart TV.
Check Pukeko Nest Homestay out:
10. Charlton Motel – Self-Contained Accommodation in Gore
Enjoy an alternative location in Gore at the Charlton Motel, which is just a short walk from the Gore Multisports Complex with its hot pools and ice rink. There’s accommodation here for just about everyone, including studios sleeping up to three guests, one-bedroom units for up to five guests, and two-bedroom units for up to seven! What the motel units lack in style and decor, they more than make up for in useful facilities, such as a full kitchen, an ensuite, and warmth with double-glazing and electric blankets. There’s also free WiFi and Sky TV available.
Check Charlton Motel out:
11. Southland Organic Farmstay – Farmstay Near Gore
Tucked away in the rolling countryside between Gore and Invercargill, Southland Organic Farmstay offers an affordable rural retreat. The farmstay offers a delightful room with a double bed, ensuite shower room and access to self-catering facilities. It’s the perfect place to disconnect from the world, helped by the fact that there’s no TV and the WiFi is a little unreliable. Nevertheless, all of this is replaced by stunning rural views. What’s more, a continental breakfast is included in your stay.
Check Southland Organic Farmstay out:
12. Ellie’s Villa – Three-Bedroom Holiday Home Near Gore
An excellent holiday home in Mataura, a short drive south of Gore, Ellie’s Villa offers affordability and privacy. The family-friendly holiday home sleeps up to six guests across three bedrooms and boasts quirky modern decor. The charming older home also has a spacious fenced-off garden. Keep warm with the installed heat pump and cook up a storm in the well-equipped kitchen.
Check Ellie’s Villa out:
13. River Retreat – Family-Friendly Holiday Home in Mataura
Families or two families travelling together may want to look at River Retreat. This unique four-bedroom house boasts a striking white facade that’s easy to spot on the streets of Mataura, just a short drive south of Gore. The house is white inside and out, enhancing the light-filled and tastefully designed interiors. The property also has large landscaped gardens that are lovely to relax in on a summer’s evening. See more family-friendly stays like this in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Gore.
14. Twin River Cottages – Cosy Holiday Home for Couples
An idyllic stay for couples or solo travellers, check out Twin River Cottages. This contemporary cottage on a working sheep and beef farm boasts tasteful interiors among all the essentials you may need, including a full kitchen, open-plan dining and lounge area and a separate bedroom and bathroom. The secluded retreat is just east of Gore, about a five-minute drive from town. Check out more accommodations like this in the 5 Best Romantic Accommodations in Gore.
15. Waikaka Hotel – Cheap Hotel in Waikaka
Finally, the next closest hotel that you’ll find to Gore is the Waikaka Hotel in the rural village of Waikaka. Just a 20-minute drive north of Gore, the Waikaka Hotel is reminiscent of how hotels used to be in New Zealand – a country pub with some rooms upstairs (and not-so-traditional cabins around the back). Mingle with friendly locals at the bar, which is open for lunch and dinner, then retreat to one of the five single rooms upstairs with shared bathroom facilities or one of the six queen cabins out the back also with shared bathroom facilities.
More About Hotels and Places to Stay in Gore
That’s it for our list of the best hotels and places to stay in Gore. For more advice on visiting this Southland town, take a look at the following guides:
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Gore.
Author
Laura S.
This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.