Stopforths Motel

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what struck me first about Stopforths Motel? It’s actually one of those places where the high rating makes perfect sense once you’re there. I mean, 9.3 sounds almost too good to be true for a motel, but honestly – this place gets it right in ways that surprised me.

The location on Hall Street is pretty much ideal if you know Hokitika at all. You’re literally a two-minute walk from the beach where everyone goes to hunt for those famous greenstone pebbles, and the main strip with all the jade shops and cafes is right there too. What I really appreciated though was how quiet it stays at night – even though you’re close to everything, Hall Street doesn’t get the through-traffic that some of the other accommodations deal with. The parking situation is actually hassle-free too, which anyone who’s driven around Hokitika’s narrow streets during tourist season will appreciate.

The rooms themselves feel more like a really well-maintained boutique place than your typical motel setup. Everything’s clean in that “someone actually cares” way, not just the surface-level tidy you sometimes get. The beds are properly comfortable – I’m talking good mattresses, not the saggy disasters you brace yourself for at roadside stops. And honestly, the little touches make a difference: decent coffee setup, bathroom that doesn’t feel cramped, windows that actually open properly for that West Coast sea breeze. The owners clearly pay attention to the stuff that matters when you’ve been driving all day and just want a decent place to crash.

What really sold me on this place was how it handles the practical side of traveling the Coast. Check-in was straightforward – no standing around waiting while someone fumbles with a computer system that’s older than the building. They know most people are either heading to the glaciers or coming back from them, so there’s actual useful local advice rather than just pointing you toward a stack of brochures. Plus, if you’re doing the whole West Coast road trip thing, this is one of those spots where you can actually relax instead of just surviving the night. The 4.5-star rating isn’t inflated marketing nonsense – it’s earned through getting the basics right and then adding just enough extra comfort to make you glad you chose it over the cheaper options down the road.