Is parking available at the property?

Free self-parking is available on-site.

What type of breakfast is offered and what are the serving hours?

Continental breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a fee of approximately NZD 15 per person.

Does the property allow pets?

Pets are allowed with a fee of NZD 10 per pet, per night. Service animals are exempt from fees.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and check-out is by 10:00 AM. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request.

What accessibility features are available for guests with disabilities?

The property features step-free entrances and wheelchair-accessible facilities in public areas and rooms.

What is the location of the property in relation to key landmarks?

The property is located in Timaru (Maori Hill), within a 10-minute walk of Ashbury Park and Caroline Bay Beach. It is approximately 0.4 mi from Timaru Lighthouse and 0.7 mi from Aigantighe Art Gallery.

What are the policies for guests staying with children?

Children are allowed at the property, and the minimum age for children to stay for free is not specified.

Anchor Motel

What guests think

Across reviews, Anchor Motel is praised for very friendly, welcoming staff and good value stays, with comfortable beds and simple, functional rooms, plus a convenient Timaru location near the beach, town, and Caroline Bay attractions.

Some guests mention road noise, dated interiors, and cramped bathrooms. A few also reported limited toiletries or missing items like irons or tissues, and occasional maintenance quirks such as a weak shower or light through a frosted door. Cleanliness is generally praised, and back or interior units are quieter. Expect a budget-friendly, no-frills stay in a handy location.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities are basic, with some units offering in-room kitchen features and heating. Several guests noted limited toiletries and occasional missing items such as an iron or tissues.

Related guest reviews

8

yvonne

15 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Its dog friendly which is fantastic and super handy to where i was working

8

Calvyn

25 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good ammenities and welcoming staff but spaces for toilet and shower a bit small for old people.

4

Tala

15 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The exterior door to the room was full frosted glass. I didn’t need a night light for my toddler as the light coming through the door was more than enough. No curtain or blinds to cover it either. And when a vehicle drove in, the headlights shone through the frosted door and directly on the head of the bed. Woke me up. Being a medium stature person, the bathroom was super tiny. A bigger person would have a very hard time manoeuvring in the bathroom. And if you want the bathroom lights on, ALL the lights have to be on. One switch for them all. Otherwise the staff was friendly and the place was clean with everything I needed:

10

Anna

10 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly staff, comfy bed and pillows and clean room, with good parking

8

Catherine

20 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The motel was clean but dated. The room had a double and 3 single beds which was obviously more than we needed so for a full family would have been excellent value for money. The bathroom was very dated with no shower soap or shampoo, just a bar of soap and a flannel. Its part of a back packers hotel.

10

Judith

15 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great room with cooking facilities inside which was appreciated although I didn't need to use, lady on the front desk was lovely and helpful. Good location in Timaru close to the beach

6

Jennifer

10 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good space comfy bed, but no iron or ironing board, no tissues and terrible shower.

8

Dona and Barry

14 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 6 nights

Wonderful welcome, and farewell. Really comftable bed! Roomy Unit that had everything we needed for our stay.

10

Ian D

20 May 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Good victorian style building in nz's least famous seaside town. Came with electric blankets and heaters and it was a good toasty stay in a cold damp country.

10

Roman

26 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice small cabin with private bathroom, TV and comfy bed. There was a fridge, mic.owen and TV in the room as well as heating and heated matress. Everything I needed for a good one night stay in Timaru. Plus the staff was extremely nice and helpfull!!!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is generally good, with rooms described as clean and tidy. A few comments mention dated interiors and an occasional odor.

Related guest reviews

4

Tala

15 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The exterior door to the room was full frosted glass. I didn’t need a night light for my toddler as the light coming through the door was more than enough. No curtain or blinds to cover it either. And when a vehicle drove in, the headlights shone through the frosted door and directly on the head of the bed. Woke me up. Being a medium stature person, the bathroom was super tiny. A bigger person would have a very hard time manoeuvring in the bathroom. And if you want the bathroom lights on, ALL the lights have to be on. One switch for them all. Otherwise the staff was friendly and the place was clean with everything I needed:

8

Pip

17 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Needs a bit of TLC

10

Anna

10 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly staff, comfy bed and pillows and clean room, with good parking

6

sebastian

22 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Smelly

8

Catherine

20 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The motel was clean but dated. The room had a double and 3 single beds which was obviously more than we needed so for a full family would have been excellent value for money. The bathroom was very dated with no shower soap or shampoo, just a bar of soap and a flannel. Its part of a back packers hotel.

6

Jennifer

10 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good space comfy bed, but no iron or ironing board, no tissues and terrible shower.

10

Shirley

28 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely greeting,clean and tidy room. Bit of road noise but to be expected on a main road.

8

Miranda

30 Apr 2022

·

Stayed 2 nights

Pretty basic but clean and plenty of room.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are simple and often dated but functional, with many noting comfortable beds and some spacious units; front units may get road noise while back or interior rooms are quieter. Several reviews mention very small bathrooms and the odd weak shower or intrusive light through a frosted door.

Related guest reviews

10

Yew Wai

24 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Honey the cat is friendly like the owner. Quite quiet place if you have the rooms on the inside not facing the main road.

10

Michelle

10 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was great. Great staff. Just very noisy with ten trucks going past.

4

Tala

15 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The exterior door to the room was full frosted glass. I didn’t need a night light for my toddler as the light coming through the door was more than enough. No curtain or blinds to cover it either. And when a vehicle drove in, the headlights shone through the frosted door and directly on the head of the bed. Woke me up. Being a medium stature person, the bathroom was super tiny. A bigger person would have a very hard time manoeuvring in the bathroom. And if you want the bathroom lights on, ALL the lights have to be on. One switch for them all. Otherwise the staff was friendly and the place was clean with everything I needed:

6

John

17 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location, nice big unit.

8

Catherine

20 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The motel was clean but dated. The room had a double and 3 single beds which was obviously more than we needed so for a full family would have been excellent value for money. The bathroom was very dated with no shower soap or shampoo, just a bar of soap and a flannel. Its part of a back packers hotel.

10

Judith

15 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great room with cooking facilities inside which was appreciated although I didn't need to use, lady on the front desk was lovely and helpful. Good location in Timaru close to the beach

6

Jennifer

10 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good space comfy bed, but no iron or ironing board, no tissues and terrible shower.

8

Dona and Barry

14 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 6 nights

Wonderful welcome, and farewell. Really comftable bed! Roomy Unit that had everything we needed for our stay.

10

Shirley

28 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely greeting,clean and tidy room. Bit of road noise but to be expected on a main road.

10

Roman

26 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice small cabin with private bathroom, TV and comfy bed. There was a fridge, mic.owen and TV in the room as well as heating and heated matress. Everything I needed for a good one night stay in Timaru. Plus the staff was extremely nice and helpfull!!!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Service is widely praised as friendly, welcoming, and helpful, with smooth check-ins and gestures like early check-in. There is an isolated report of poor service during a stay.

Related guest reviews

10

Michael

10 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly service

10

Jodie

18 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly check-in. The lady at reception was very nice and helpful with our questions being our first visit to Timaru. Walked to the lighthouse then to the penguins. Returned late at night and had an awesome sleep in a very comfortable warm bed. The room is not fancy but perfect for the price and you just need somewhere to sleep.

4

Toni

30 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Physically the room was what I expected. The poor rating relates to a lack of service during my stay.

10

Michelle

10 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was great. Great staff. Just very noisy with ten trucks going past.

10

Judith

15 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great room with cooking facilities inside which was appreciated although I didn't need to use, lady on the front desk was lovely and helpful. Good location in Timaru close to the beach

10

Richard

9 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff, thank you

8

Lucan

1 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

It did the job. No complaints. And thankyou for the early check in.

8

Dona and Barry

14 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 6 nights

Wonderful welcome, and farewell. Really comftable bed! Roomy Unit that had everything we needed for our stay.

10

Shirley

28 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely greeting,clean and tidy room. Bit of road noise but to be expected on a main road.

10

Richard

13 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff and pricing

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Convenient for Timaru, within walking distance of the beach, town, and Caroline Bay Conference Centre. Being on a main road brings traffic noise to front units, while back or interior rooms are quieter.

Related guest reviews

10

Yew Wai

24 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Honey the cat is friendly like the owner. Quite quiet place if you have the rooms on the inside not facing the main road.

10

Mervyn

28 Feb 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Handy position.

8

yvonne

15 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Its dog friendly which is fantastic and super handy to where i was working

10

Jodie

18 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly check-in. The lady at reception was very nice and helpful with our questions being our first visit to Timaru. Walked to the lighthouse then to the penguins. Returned late at night and had an awesome sleep in a very comfortable warm bed. The room is not fancy but perfect for the price and you just need somewhere to sleep.

10

Michelle

10 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was great. Great staff. Just very noisy with ten trucks going past.

8

Dianne

19 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Nice friendly people. Within walking distance to beach and town

6

John

17 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location, nice big unit.

10

Judith

15 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Great room with cooking facilities inside which was appreciated although I didn't need to use, lady on the front desk was lovely and helpful. Good location in Timaru close to the beach

10

Eric

8 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 6 nights

Handy walking distance to Conference Centre in Caroline Bay. I was in a unit at the back and not troubled by main road traffic noise. Quite suitable for a 5 day stay. Manager very friendly..

10

Shirley

28 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely greeting,clean and tidy room. Bit of road noise but to be expected on a main road.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Not enough information in reviews.

Related guest reviews

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23 $87	24
25 $87	26 $87	27 $78	28 $78	29	30	31

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15 $69	16 $69	17 $69	18 $52	19 $67	20 $67	21 $67
22 $84	23 $52	24 $76	25 $58	26 $57	27 $69	28 $73
29 $76	30 $61

Anchor Motel

About this property

Location

Room options

One Bedroom Family

Standard Studio

Deluxe One Bedroom

Five Bedroom House

Two Bedroom Apartment

King Studio

Standard One Bedroom

Large One Bedroom Unit

Single Studio

Superior Two Bedroom Apartment

Guest reviews of Anchor Motel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Anchor Motel

Prices for upcoming dates