7 Best Motels in Haast© Heritage Park Lodge
7 Best Motels in Haast

7 BEST Motels in Haast & Makarora 🏘️ [2024]

© Heritage Park Lodge

Find the Best Motel in Haast or Makarora for You

Split up the lengthy drive between Wanaka and Franz Josef by staying in one of the comfortable motels in Haast or Makarora. Located in the heart of the UNESCO Te Waihipounamu World Heritage Area, Haast is definitely worth discovering more through its mind-blowingly scenic jet boat tours, helicopter excursions and hikes. On the other end of the Haast Pass is the endearing village of Makarora amongst the Mt Aspiring National Park. Stay in one of the affordable motels of the tiny communities with options to suit most travellers’ needs. Take your pick from this list of the best motels in Haast and Makarora.

For more inspiration on what to do in the area, see the 10 Best Things to Do in Haast & Jackson Bay and the 10 Best Things to Do in Mt Aspiring National Park.

1. Haast River Motels & Holiday Parks – The Best Motel in Haast

Bordering the Haast River just off the main highway, Haast River Motels & Holiday Park offers a fantastic range of motel rooms, as well as camping sites and facilities. From basic ensuite double/twin rooms to self-contained studios and family apartments, they have something to cover most needs and budgets. Try to get a room upstairs in the motel complex to enjoy wonderful views of the Haast River and mountain surroundings. The playground also makes this a great option for families, as recommended in the 8 Best Family Accommodations in Haast & Makarora.

Check Haast River Motels & Holiday Park out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© Haast River Motels & Holiday Parks

2. ASURE Aspiring Court Motel – Motel with EV Charging in Haast

A well-presented motel with native bush surrounds, ASURE Aspiring Court Motel offers more than just motel units. Sure, there are your usual New Zealand motel rooms, like studios with kitchenettes and family rooms with full kitchens, but the motel also offers a few welcome extras like EV charging, a general store for supplies, a car wash and more. Most of the motel suites have fantastic views of the surrounding native bush and soak in plenty of sun, which you can enjoy from your sliding glass doors leading onto a patio with outdoor furniture. Check out more like this in the 9 Best Budget Accommodations in Haast & Makarora.

Check ASURE Aspiring Court Motel out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© ASURE Aspiring Court Motel

3. Wonderland Makarora Lodge – The Best Motel in Makarora

Alternatively, stay in the small community of Makarora on the other side of the Haast Pass at Wonderland Makaroa Lodge. On the edge of the Mt Aspiring National Park, the lodge provides A-frame budget cabins, as well as more upscale studios and two-room chalets with motel amenities among the bush gardens and majestic mountain landscape. Each cabin/chalet has a small kitchenette with hotplates, microwave, fridge and beds for up to four guests. On-site is a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you don’t feel like cooking. Thanks to its romantic setting, we also list this one in the 5 Most Romantic Accommodations in Haast & Makarora.

Check Wonderland Makaroa Lodge out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© Wonderland Makarora Lodge

4. Haast Beach Motel – Self-Contained Motel at Haast Beach

Located along the beautiful Haast Beach, as featured in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Haast, Haast Beach Motel is the only accommodation in this part of town. Plus, with a general store next door to pick up supplies for your room’s kitchen, you’re not too far from the essentials anyway. The small motel has well-appointed studio rooms, while groups may want to opt for the double-storey family rooms with a kitchenette and bathroom on the ground floor and a bedroom with a double and two single beds upstairs. There’s also a more complete apartment with a kitchen, bathroom and separate bedrooms, should you need more space.

Check Haast Beach Motel out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© Haast Beach Motel

5. Wilderness Accommodation – Cheap Motel in Haast

Surrounding a light-filled atrium with plants reflecting the landscapes of Haast, Wilderness Accommodation makes you feel like you’re out exploring the wilderness even if a rainy day is keeping you from it. The accommodation is split into two wings, a motel wing with self-contained rooms (i.e. a kitchenette and ensuite) and its own communal kitchen, and a backpackers’ wing with cheap and cheerful rooms and shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. There are options to suit a range of traveller types, from solo travellers to couples to families. See more like this in the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Fox Glacier & Haast.

Check Wilderness Accommodation out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© Wilderness Accommodation

6. Bay Road Motels – Pet-Friendly Motel in Haast

Just 10 minutes’ drive from Haast along the scenic Haast-Jackson Bay Road, Bay Road Motels offers well-equipped apartment-style rooms with all the essentials at your fingertips. Near the Turnbull River and with surrounding mountain views, you’ll struggle to beat the scenery and tranquillity of this motel. Choose between one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments with dated fixtures and furniture albeit well-maintained for a pleasant stay. There are apartments to sleep up to six guests should you bet travelling as a large group.

Check Bay Road Motels out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© Bay Road Motels

7. Heritage Park Lodge – Self-Contained Motel Rooms in Haast

Heritage Park Lodge offers more motel accommodation in the middle of the Haast township, comprising of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Enjoy all the essential amenities, like an ensuite and a kitchenette or full kitchen, in your unit or just choose one of the standard double/twin rooms with breakfast-making facilities if you just need the basics. The motel lodge is set on attractive park-like grounds nearby the town’s tavern should you want to eat out. For more lodge-style stays, check out the 10 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora.

Check Heritage Park Lodge out:

7 Best Motels in Haast© Heritage Park Lodge

More About Motels in Haast and Makarora

That’s it for our list of the best motels in Haast and Makarora, but it’s by no means the end of our travel tips! Get more stellar travel advice from the following guides:

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

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.

Was this article useful?

Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

Recommended For You