Bucklands Beach Waterfront Motel

This place needs a serious renovation. It is not suitable for the 21st century. Everywhere you look is something out of date, a picture that is faded and belongs in the op shop, a broken toilet roll holder, a sign telling you to be quiet because there are ‘guest below.’ Do yourself a favor and find an Airbnb nearby. This is an old run down 1970s overpriced and out of touch place. My sister had to sleep up in a loft type attic that would be suitable for gnomes. The attitude of the owner was not nice. The room was not ready even though we arrived after check in at 3.30. She told us to go for a walk and come back at 4.30. It was very noisy and you could hear everything the neighbors were doing. Even if they took a step, sneezed or coughed. The light shone in the room and there were no curtains on the top window. I didn’t bother taking photos because this place creeped me out. My older and hard of hearing family member booked for for 5 of us for 3 nights so I couldn’t change, though I was tempted just to leave. Please renovate and refurbish it. It is unsafe in its current form.

We were in the studio with 'garden view' at the back of the complex. The room was a little tight because it has a huge comfortable bed in it. A very large, good tv with adequate tv channels. The location is superb - we have great walks along the beach. There are restaurants close by but they are closed on Mondays. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. The cooking facilities are too crowded although okay for cooking breakfast. There are adequate kitchen utensils. The bedding linen and towels were excellent and while the bathroom is small it has an excellent shower. We did not use the heat pump but it is there for super hot or cold days. There was a bedside cabinet on one side - I would have preferred one on each side. We will definitely stay here again.

Last weekend, a goup of us booked 3 units at the Motel as we were attending a convention in Howick. Original thoughts on arrival were that the grounds looked a little uncared for as the grass was long and had not been mowed for some time. However ou rooms were clean, well appointed and contained all we needed. I do believe that the exterior would benefit from upgrading, however I would stay there again in the future. The staff were pleasent and the price reasonible.

As a family, we have been coming to this motel for over ten years on at least an annual basis, sometimes 2 or 3 times a year. We have generally enjoyed our week long stays. Thebeach view and the general location, close to shops, restaurants etc are the main reasons we keeps returning to this accommodation. However, on this occasion (a trans Tasman bubble trip), we were bitterly disappointed. We have noticed that over time, the motel has embraced obvious cost cutting measures to its detriment. Firstly, the general state of the room and the hotel grounds was below par: The carpets were stained and grubby; the clock didn't work; a catch on the bathroom window was loose; the front sliding door needed new rollers. It was very difficult to open; the beds are uncomfortable; the carparks are too narrow, uneven and dangerous when getting out of cars; servicing of the room was adequate but our sheets were not changed in the 8 days we were there - this normally happens every 4th day; the light outside our room which should come automatically in the dark did not work, so when we departed in the pitch black of an early morning I nearly fell 4 feet of the ledge carrying a heavy suitcase.Very dangerous. The steps themselves are too steep for older folk and children. Also, it came to our attention while we were there, that this motel is an MDS motel, that is to say that it houses some homeless people. ( A Covid measure). That in itself, I have no issue with. What is concerning si that this was never disclosed at any time. I now realise that we were considerably overcharged for what we received. Perhaps that is why the owners don't bother with maintenance. Air BNBs in the same area are half the price. On a previous stay, we stayed in the same unit and at 1.30am water started pooring through the light in the bedroom ceiling; the light detached from the ceiling, sparking as it spun around the room and the ceiling started collapsing from the weight of the water. We got saturated. As it turned out, the water was leaking from the laundry in the unit above. This motel is very poorly maintained and consequently dangerous. Clearly, the owners don't give a stuff. Only after the money. And by the way, if you choose to stay in a unit with garden views, be aware there is no garden. We will never stay here again. On a more positive note, the popular restaurant down the road, "Bucks Bistro" is welcoming and serves really good and interesting food. Highly recommend that one. But no recommendation for the state of Bucklands Beach Waterfront Motel.