It was absolutely 💯 perfect in every expect of our stay at Willowbank, super cosy and quiet location. This is the one of the best accommodation we have had the entire 3 weeks holiday in the South Island. The owner is a lovely man who made sure we were comfortable during our stay and showed us to our unit and to operate the keyless entry door. We stayed in a two bedroom cottage with full kitchen which was tastefully refurbished brand new with the highest standard of furnitures, fixtures and down to quality / branded pots and pans. Table cloth, flowers and cute shaggy floor rug are next level. Netflix etc available on a rather large TV. We utilised / booked only one room as a couple. The king bed is the most luxurious bed one could sleep in. Yes, we did over sleep :)) We booked last minute. Definitely value for money. There is a large supermarket across the street. Plenty of other shops near by. ‘Ohau’ the seal colony is 20mins drive away which the owner highly recommended we do visit during our stay there. It was definitely worth it. It was the highlight of our trip to Kaikoura. Do recommend this motel. 🏨

None

We had a fantastic stay! The location was perfect, the rooms were clean and well-equipped with everything we needed. From the outside, the place looked a bit outdated, but once inside, we were pleasantly surprised! Everything has been refurbished and modern, with great whiteware and a clean, comfortable setup. Sean was incredibly friendly and welcoming from the start. He went above and beyond by generously offering us an upgrade to Unit 9 and even allowed us an early check-in, which made our experience even better. Highly recommend!

The beds were on the firmer side, which might not suit everyone, but that’s just personal preference, but overall the apartment was comfortable and functional. Would definitely stay again!

We made last minute travel plans and found the Willowbank Motel while on the road, it was very quick to book and followed up with a quick phone call to confirm the booking. Communication was second to none with a very informative Text outlining self check-in information and even received a room upgrade. The lights and heating were in for us on arrival and we were really impressed with the units layout and new quality fixtures and fittings. The unit despite being on the main road was really quiet.

We didn't find anything that we didn't like about the Willowbank Motel

Host came to help when we couldn't open the door via the electronic keypad and glad to give my son more hot chocolate sachets. Friendly and welcoming. Looks as though units have been updated recently. Kitchen was spotless. 2 bedroom unit and other unit were very clean. Great to have netflix available. We would recommend and return.

Minor details for feedback; Would be ideal to have some hooks in the 2 bedroom unit to hang coat, clothes, etc. (Hooks were in the single unit). Be ideal to have another sofa or chair in 2 bedroom unit so all four guests can watch tv together (we could only fit 2 adults and one big kid on the sofa provided). In the unit, have another bedside table. Thank you for a great stay.

A very tidy and comfortable hotel. We were a group of 5 including 2 children. The space was nicely arranged and the beds were comfortable. There was good pressure in the shower. It was also nice to have liquid hand soap instead of individual bars. Despite being on the main road the early morning truck noise wasn't too bad thanks to the double glazing. Great to have the air conditioner which cooled the space efficiently. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

The lack of storage for clothes needing to be hung up would be an issue for anything longer than an overnight stay for me. Some hooks in the bedrooms and bathroom would be a great addition. Also there wasn't enough cutlery for all 5 of of us eat together. Designed for a group of 4. The kitchen was otherwise well equipped.

Very comfortable bed, awesome shower and very very clean. We decided to walk to the lookout on Mt Fyffe early morning but wanted to go just a bit further, text the Lady running the motel from the lookout to see if we could check out an hour later and that was no problem at all. would definitely recommend staying here and will be back for sure!

Only tiny thing is the windows are soaking wet in the mornings even though the nights weren't cold and the heat pump only heats the kitchen not the bedroom or bathroom, I think a wee fan would remedy that.

We chose this motel ahead of arriving, hoping it might be suitable for us. Our expectations were far exceeded. You do need a car to get there, but there is a supermarket within a short walk. The room we were allocated was like a small apartment, two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room with a well appointed kitchen. Check-in was a load of fun with the friendliest man in the office, and the cleaners etc were always smiling and chatty. We would definitely stay there again.

Everything was excellent, I cannot complain about anything at all.

We had the house and was great to have 2 bathrooms and 3 toilets for the 6 of us staying... Very comfortable beds. Excellent heating throughout the house. Very easy access from the carpark into the house. Kitchen clean with all facilities. Friendly helpful staff. Much appreciated when we checked in.

No mirrors in the bedrooms. No wardrobes (in my bedroom) Tiny little wine glasses!!! Traffic noisy being on the main road.

We are not fans of motels, but sometimes they are unavoidable and – it must be said – very convenient (especially in New Zealand). Willowbank Motel definitely took the cake, as it was spacious, immaculately clean, super comfortable, with a very well equipped kitchen (really everything you need was available, including basic spices, oils, coffee, tea, etc.) and spotless bathroom. We did not find the location just outside Kaikōura, on a main road, particularly special, but above all practical and easily accessible with our rental car. Check-in was done with a code, so we didn't meet anyone in person. Quite impersonal, but it worked perfectly and the communication in advance (and afterwards) with the contact person went smooth and extremely friendly. In short, nothing but praise!

Great location. Very quiet & we got upgraded to a one bedroomed apartment. The property had obviously been completely refurbished recently. Loved the key code to get into the apartment. No worries about picking up/dropping off keys 🤗

The only thing I would suggest is that some type of insect screen on the bathroom window may be useful. When we got there at 8pm the bathroom was full of mayflies etc. either that or some insect spray would be useful?