Temuka Motel is a very competitively priced, quality motel set on the main street of Temuka, a Kiwi heartland rural town in South Canterbury. Run by hosts Trish and Steve, who bought the motel four years ago, it offers a warm welcome and a constantly improving property — the pair have added two new studio units, laid new carpet throughout, and fitted new leather couches, among many other upgrades.
The motel offers 1 and 2-bedroom units along with quiet studio units in an offstreet location, all with double glazed windows, sunny patios, and Sky TV with sport. A wheelchair accessible studio unit is available, and self-contained options come with full kitchens and, in the two-bedroom units, a separate shower and bath with a spacious kitchen and living area.
The location is a genuine drawcard: the motel sits centrally on Temuka's main street, within walking distance of shops, cafes, the function centre and parks. The golf course is just 500m away, and salmon and trout fishing is handy. Positioned midway between Christchurch and Dunedin, Temuka Motel is also only about 2 1/4 hours from Aoraki Mt Cook — a great place to start or break a South Island journey.
For those working or travelling through, charge back meals are available: fantastic food in town can be charged to your account, keeping things simple and stress free. Guests sum it up as great value — the kind of place people choose to stay every time.
On the main street of Temuka, a small rural town in the heart of South Canterbury, Temuka Motel does the simple things well: clean, tidy, comfortable units at very competitive prices. It is the kind of place guests describe as "great value — we choose to stay here every time", and much of that comes down to the people running it.
Hosts Trish and Steve bought the motel four years ago and have been upgrading it ever since. They have added two new studio units, put new carpet throughout, installed new leather couches, and carried out many more improvements along the way. The result is a motel that feels continually refreshed without losing its easy, down-to-earth character.
Temuka Motel offers a choice of studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units. The studios are quiet and set in an offstreet location, with double glazed windows and a sunny patio to enjoy. A wheelchair accessible studio unit is also available, making the motel workable for a wider range of travellers.
For those needing more space, the self-contained 1-bedroom unit pairs a queen bed with an optional foldout couch/double bed, while the 2-bedroom unit adds a separate shower and bath plus a spacious kitchen and living area — handy for families, work crews or anyone settling in for a longer stay. Every unit comes with Sky TV, so catching the sport is never a problem.
Eating is easy too. Charge back meals are available, meaning the fantastic food on offer in town can be charged to your account — simple and stress free, with no need to organise anything in advance.
The motel's position is one of its biggest assets. It sits centrally on Temuka's main street, within walking distance of shops, cafes, the function centre and parks. The golf course is only 500m away, and salmon and trout fishing spots are handy for those who travel with a rod in the car.
For road-trippers, Temuka sits midway between Christchurch and Dunedin, yet is only about 2 1/4 hours from Aoraki Mt Cook. As one guest puts it, the motel is "centrally located to Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru, Geraldine, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown — a great place to start your journey." Whether you are breaking a long drive, exploring South Canterbury, or heading for the high country, the distances all work.
What guests consistently notice is the value. The motel markets itself as comfortable and affordable, and the hosts' ongoing investment — from double glazing to new furnishings — shows a commitment to quality that goes beyond the price. Units are clean and tidy, the setting is quiet despite being on the main street, and the small-town welcome is genuine.
Booking is straightforward: call the motel directly on 0800 334 363, 03 615 8004 or 021 770 993, or email temukamotel@xtra.co.nz. If accessibility is a requirement, mention it when booking so the wheelchair accessible studio unit can be set aside for you.
For travellers crossing the South Island, Temuka Motel offers exactly what a good country motel should — a comfortable, well-kept room, hosts who care about the place, and a location that makes the next leg of the journey easy.