Pukekohe Motel

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to Pukekohe Motel on Paerata Road – I mean, the name doesn’t exactly scream luxury, you know? But this place actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s one of those spots where the owners clearly give a damn, and it shows in every little detail. The rooms are properly spacious (not those cramped boxes you get in the city), and everything feels fresh and well-maintained. I stayed in one of their units facing away from the road, which was smart because Paerata Road can get a bit busy during the day with people heading to the outlets or down to Pokeno.

What really won me over was how thoughtfully everything’s set up. The kitchenette actually has decent cookware – like, you can make a proper meal if you want to, not just heat up instant noodles. There’s plenty of parking right outside your door, which sounds basic but trust me, after dealing with Auckland’s parking nightmare, it’s pure bliss. The location is honestly perfect if you’re exploring this part of the Waikato. You’re literally five minutes from Pukekohe town center where there’s some surprisingly good cafes (try Columbus Coffee if you’re there), and it’s an easy drive to all those farm shops and strawberry picking places that pop up around here. Plus, if you’re heading further south to Hamilton or Rotorua, you’ll appreciate not having to navigate through Auckland traffic to get started.

The owners – I think they live on-site – are the kind of people who remember your name and actually care about whether you’re sorted. Check-in was smooth, no fuss, and they gave me genuine local tips, not just the touristy stuff everyone already knows about. The whole property has this quiet, settled feel to it, especially in the evenings when things calm down. I slept better here than I have in some much fancier places, honestly. The only minor thing is that the WiFi can be a bit patchy if you’re trying to stream movies, but for emails and basic browsing it’s fine. Look, if you’re after a proper local experience without the inflated prices you get closer to Auckland, this is your spot. It’s the kind of place that makes you think about actually taking that slower-paced road trip through the North Island instead of rushing between the big tourist spots.