Finding the best motels in Dunedin usually comes down to how close you need to be to the university, the hospital or the Octagon, and whether you want a full kitchen or just tea and toast facilities. The motels in Dunedin below all offer self-contained or serviced units with off-street parking, running from single studios through to family apartments that sleep seven. Options such as 538 Great King Motel and Dunedin Palms Motel sit within walking distance of the city centre.
1538 Great King Motel
538 Great King Motel sits in the George Street precinct at the northern end of the city, built around a garden that has been established for more than 60 years. The range runs from compact studios through to a two bedroom penthouse apartment, with an onsite cafe and free off-street parking. It suits guests visiting the University of Otago or Dunedin Hospital, both a short walk away.
Services
- Compact, standard and large studios with kitchenettes
- Superior studios with king or queen beds
- One bedroom and large one bedroom suites
- Two bedroom suites and a two bedroom penthouse apartment
- Daily housekeeping for stays longer than one night
Highlights
- Rated 4 Star Plus by Qualmark New Zealand
- Two ground floor Access Studios with level entry bathrooms, wet area showers, shower seats and rails
- Lift to the upper level for guests who find stairs a challenge
- Free unlimited internet with Ethernet into every suite and Chromecasts available on loan
- Coin operated guest laundry, plus a laundry service and same day dry cleaning through a local dry cleaner
Location & Contact
Name: 538 Great King Motel
Address: 538 Great King Street North, Dunedin
Phone: 03 477 7983
Website: greatkingmotel.co.nz
2Dunedin Palms Motel
Dunedin Palms Motel is an owner operated property on High Street, roughly a five minute walk from the Octagon and close to the Warehouse Precinct. It has 27 units across seven room types, from studios with kitchenettes through to two bedroom units and an executive one bedroom unit with its own ground floor courtyard and spa pool. Karen and Alex Greenan live on site with their family and run the motel with their team.
Services
- Studio units with full kitchenette facilities
- One and two bedroom units with hot plate cooking facilities
- Spa bath units and an executive spa pool unit
- Continental and cooked breakfast delivered to the room, chargeable
- Excursion and tour bookings, with airport transfers arranged
Highlights
- Owner operated since 2014 by hosts who live on site
- 27 units across seven room types, including twin studios
- Mobility friendly studio rooms with wheelchair accessible showers, plus ramps and shower chairs available
- Electric car charging available when pre-booked by phone or email
- Charge back arrangements with local restaurants
Location & Contact
Name: Dunedin Palms Motel
Address: 185 High Street, Dunedin City, Dunedin 9016
Phone: 03 477 8293
Website: dunedinpalmsmotel.co.nz
3Dunedin Motel and Villas
Dunedin Motel and Villas is on George Street inside the North Dunedin Heritage Precinct, an easy flat walk from the main shopping precinct and convenient to both the University of Otago and Dunedin Hospital. All rooms have been renovated with new bathrooms, kitchens and furniture, and the range covers studios, one and two bedroom units and villas. Guests are introduced to their rooms by motel staff on arrival.
Services
- Studio units
- One bedroom units
- Two bedroom units
- Villas
- Tour booking service and advice
Highlights
- Located within the North Dunedin Heritage Precinct
- Sound proofed and double glazed units with excellent heating and heated towel rails
- 50 inch smart televisions with SKY Sports, and free unlimited wired and wireless fibre internet
- Free car parking, guest laundry facilities and outdoor north facing seating
Location & Contact
Name: Dunedin Motel and Villas
Address: 624 George Street, Dunedin 9016
Phone: 03 477 7692
Website: www.dunedinmotels.co.nz
4Bella Vista Dunedin
Bella Vista Dunedin is on Great King Street North, part of a nationwide motel group but run day to day by resident hosts Garry and Robyn. The units are compact and superior studios plus one bedroom units that sleep up to four, and the purpose built access units are designed with parking at the door. It is a walk from the University of Otago, Otago Museum, Dunedin Hospital, Forsyth Barr Stadium and the Botanic Garden.
Services
- Compact queen studios with tea, coffee and toast making facilities
- Superior studios with microwave kitchenette and electric fry pan or hot plate
- One bedroom units sleeping up to four, with a full kitchen
- Continental breakfasts and evening meal charge back, dine in or dine out
Highlights
- Independently assessed by Qualmark as 4 star Gold quality accommodation under the Sustainable Tourism Business criteria
- Purpose built access units with parking at the door
- Type 2 electric vehicle chargers, pre-booking required
- Pet friendly rooms arranged by contacting the motel directly
- Corporate and hospital rates with charge back facilities
Location & Contact
Name: Bella Vista Dunedin
Address: 704 Great King Street North, Dunedin
Phone: 03 477 2232
Website: bellavista.co.nz/our-motels/dunedin
5Alcala Motor Lodge
Alcala Motor Lodge is on George Street in Dunedin North, about a 10 minute walk from the hub of the city. It has 11 studios and 12 apartments, all fully self contained with a well equipped kitchen including microwave and stove top, and a private bathroom with shower and bathtub. Family rooms and two bedroom apartments sleep up to seven, which suits larger groups travelling together.
Services
- Studios sleeping one to three guests
- One bedroom apartments sleeping up to four
- Two bedroom apartments sleeping up to seven
- Family rooms sleeping up to five
Highlights
- 23 fully self contained units, made up of 11 studios and 12 apartments
- Double glazing, with electric blankets and extra heating available
- Free guest laundry, free parking, free wifi and Sky TV in every unit
- Reception open 7:00am to 9:30pm, with copying, scanning and printing available to guests
Location & Contact
Name: Alcala Motor Lodge
Address: 704 George Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin
Phone: 0800 503 883
Website: alcalamotorlodge.co.nz
Motels in Dunedin at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 538 Great King Motel | Rated 4 Star Plus by Qualmark New Zealand |
| Dunedin Palms Motel | Owner operated since 2014 by hosts who live on site |
| Dunedin Motel and Villas | Located within the North Dunedin Heritage Precinct |
| Bella Vista Dunedin | Independently assessed by Qualmark as 4 star Gold quality accommodati... |
| Alcala Motor Lodge | 23 fully self contained units, made up of 11 studios and 12 apartments |
How to Choose the Right Motel in Dunedin
- Work out which end of town you need. Dunedin North puts you near the University of Otago, Dunedin Hospital and the Botanic Garden, while High Street sits closer to the Octagon and the Warehouse Precinct.
- Check what the kitchen actually includes. Some studios have tea and toast making facilities only, others add a microwave kitchenette, an electric fry pan or a full stove top.
- Confirm parking before you book. Off-street parking is usually one park per unit, and additional parking or an electric vehicle charger may cost extra or need to be pre-booked.
- If anyone in your group has mobility needs, ask for a ground floor access unit with a level entry bathroom and wet area shower, and check whether the property has a lift.
- Match the unit size to the group. Studios take two or three people, one bedroom units suit small families, and two bedroom apartments and family rooms sleep five to seven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dunedin Motels
How much does a motel room in Dunedin cost per night?
Rates move with the season and with the size of the unit. As a published guide, 538 Great King Motel lists nightly rates from $160 for a compact studio, from $215 for a one bedroom suite and from $330 for its two bedroom penthouse apartment. Booking direct with a motel is where you will normally see its own live rates for your dates.
Which part of the city should I stay in?
It depends on what brings you here. Motels in Dunedin cluster along George Street and Great King Street North in Dunedin North, which is the handy end for the University of Otago, Dunedin Hospital, Otago Museum and the Botanic Garden. High Street sits closer to the Octagon, the Warehouse Precinct and the bars and restaurants. Both areas are close enough that you can walk between them in about 20 to 25 minutes.
Do Dunedin motels have kitchens?
Most units are self-contained to some degree, but the level varies quite a bit. Compact studios are often limited to a jug, toaster and tea and coffee, which is fine for a night or two. Larger studios add a microwave kitchenette and a hot plate or electric fry pan, and one and two bedroom units generally have a full kitchen with a stove top. If you plan to cook properly, ask about the unit type rather than assuming.
Is parking included?
Off-street parking is a standard feature at Dunedin motels and is normally one park per unit at no extra charge. A second vehicle may be subject to availability and a daily fee. Electric vehicle charging is available at some properties but usually has to be booked ahead because the number of charging bays is limited.
Are there accessible motel units in Dunedin?
Yes. Several Dunedin properties have purpose built access units on the ground floor with level entry bathrooms, wet area showers, shower seats and grab rails, and enough clear space around the bed for a hoist. 538 Great King Motel has two Access Studios and a lift to the upper level, Bella Vista Dunedin has access units with parking at the door, and Dunedin Palms Motel has mobility friendly studios with ramps and shower chairs available. Book these directly rather than through a booking site, so the right unit is held for you.
Can I bring a pet?
Some motels take pets, but almost always by prior arrangement rather than through an online booking. Bella Vista Dunedin and Dunedin Palms Motel both ask you to phone or email them directly, since only a limited number of rooms are set aside for pets and an additional nightly fee applies.
What does a Qualmark star rating actually mean?
Qualmark is the official quality assurance organisation for New Zealand tourism, and it independently assesses accommodation against a set of standards before awarding a star grade. A Gold award on top of the star rating relates to sustainable tourism practice rather than to the rooms themselves. You can look up how the ratings work and check an individual property at qualmark.co.nz.
What happens if I need to cancel a booking?
Cancellation terms are set by each motel and differ between a direct booking and one made through a third party site, so read the policy attached to your reservation before you pay. Direct bookings are often the more flexible of the two. For general guidance on your rights when a service is cancelled or not supplied as agreed, see consumerprotection.govt.nz.
How We Chose the Best Motels in Dunedin
Every business in this guide was found by searching for motels in Dunedin, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Dunedin, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.