Is parking available at the property?

Free self-parking is available on-site, but it is limited. No reservation is required.

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

Continental breakfast is available daily for a fee of approximately NZD 10.00 per person.

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

Check-in is at 14:00 and check-out is at 10:00. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request, but additional charges may apply.

What accessibility features does the property offer for guests with disabilities?

The property features step-free entrances and wheelchair-accessible facilities in public areas. Specific details about room accessibility are not provided.

Where is the property located in relation to key landmarks?

The property is located in Piopio, approximately 9 minutes by car from Tainui Historical Society Museum and 26.4 miles (42.5 km) from Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Public transport options are not specified.

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.

FatOwl Motel, Bar & Eatery

What guests think

At FatOwl Motel, Bar & Eatery, travellers consistently note very clean, comfortable rooms and friendly, accommodating staff, with an on-site bar and restaurant that many enjoy, making it a convenient, quiet stopover in a small town setting.

Some guests found the restaurant closed on certain nights and noted check-in often happens via the bar or by calling, while a few mentioned compact rooms with limited hooks and occasional noise near communal areas. Meals are widely described as tasty and generous, and several appreciated a simple complimentary continental breakfast, though offerings vary. Parking is easy, and the gardens and shared spaces add a pleasant touch. Overall, expect a straightforward overnight stop.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Guests appreciate the on-site bar and restaurant, though it is closed on some nights, leaving limited local options. Parking is easy, and there are pleasant grounds and a small communal lounge/kitchen area.

Related guest reviews

8

Nicola

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice room, good restaurant on site, friendly staff,

8

James

14 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy check in and comfortable rooms. Pleasant staff interactions. Only small problem is the noise created from the communal dining/kitchen adjacent to Room 1. Recommend only early risers/leavers placed in this room. Restaurant not open on the night we were there and only limited food options available for dinner in the town.

8

David and Lorraine

27 May 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

everything very clean pub to eat right next door for dinner friendly staff, very clean easy parking

10

Crystal

9 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Could not fault the fat owl, it was a beautiful little motel in a small country town. Friendly staff, beautiful gardens, lovely kitchen and all the amenities we needed. Loved the restaurant next door. Good value for money.

10

Ross

7 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very quiet. Staff very helpful and friendly. Restaurant next was excellent.(

10

Natalie

23 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I arrived a little late so I went to the bar to check in. The woman who checked me in was kind and asked if she should make me a dinner reservation. The food was SO good. I got the chicken and Brie burger. The room was clean and I felt very safe, parking was easy, and it has a nice grassy area. It was perfect and in a beautiful area!

4

Kerry

24 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The bar and eatery are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Had to drive 14 miles each way to get dinner. We would have dined prior to arriving had we known. They need to make their dining hours known.

10

Daniel

8 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We were here for maybe 10 hours but very surprising at the quality of room with this stay. One of the best roadside motels ive ever been to in terms of comfort. Large new bed, good qater pressure, clean, and nice soap. Easy check in/out and even though we showed up too late, a nice looking, lively, pub on site. Great stop on our road trip.

10

Jeremy

19 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The pub and restaurant was a big plus and the meals are quite nice

8

Jocelyn

23 Feb 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and comfortable room and communal lounge area. Friendly staff and easy walk to town. No meals on a Monday night though.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Reviews repeatedly highlight very clean rooms and tidy grounds. A few note minor issues such as slow shower drainage or dishware needing a deeper clean.

Related guest reviews

10

Christine

25 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Just so flean and quite

10

Kath

7 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good little room for a night.. clean and tidy..

10

Lorraine

24 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Welcoming, clean and comfortable. Great for an easy overnight stop

10

Lyndal

28 May 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

We loved the room as was upgraded. The owner lovely and loved the owls . Food in restaurant beautiful. The room very clean and would stay again

8

Takako

25 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

room is very clean!!

10

Nigel

11 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was hassle free and easy. Our room was spotlessly clean and perfectly adequate for our needs, which was just somewhere to sleep. Thank you

10

Sue

7 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly check-in, and pet friendly. Clean and quiet

10

Gillian

2 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and comfortable

8

Jean

20 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean and tidy. Has everything you need.

6

Andy

13 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The location suited us well. We had a larger room than requested which was a bonus. The complimentary cereal or toast in the morning was a great addition, unexpected. There were some aspects we cannot ignore; the broken soap dish in the shower had sharp edges and cut me when I slipped; the key to the door also opened the internal door to the adjoining room ... worrying if you were in the internal room; the cups and crockery could benefit from a good dishwasher wash. Nothing was that bad that we wouldn’t stay there again, but a few small improvements could really help.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are comfortable and quiet for short stopovers. Several mention compact layouts and limited bathroom hooks or storage, and a few report occasional noise near communal areas or minor issues like a nonworking TV.

Related guest reviews

8

Pauline

25 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent place for an overnight stay. Meals in restaurant were delicious with good portion sizes. Twin room small but adequate. Beds comfortable. TV not working. Free continental breakfast was a lovely surprise. Will definitely stay again.

8

James

14 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy check in and comfortable rooms. Pleasant staff interactions. Only small problem is the noise created from the communal dining/kitchen adjacent to Room 1. Recommend only early risers/leavers placed in this room. Restaurant not open on the night we were there and only limited food options available for dinner in the town.

10

Scott

13 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Comfortable, friendly, convenient, and inexpensive.

10

Daniel

8 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We were here for maybe 10 hours but very surprising at the quality of room with this stay. One of the best roadside motels ive ever been to in terms of comfort. Large new bed, good qater pressure, clean, and nice soap. Easy check in/out and even though we showed up too late, a nice looking, lively, pub on site. Great stop on our road trip.

10

Ian

5 Mar 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Comfortable. Just what we needed

8

mathieu

6 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Super accueil, rapide. Chambre propre, grand lit. Seul bémol est le calme pas forcément maximal : on entendait la cuisine car nous avions la chambre 1. Tout le reste est très bien.

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10

Stephan

19 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Quiet

10

Garry

30 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great stay but would be nice to have hooks to hang towels and clothes Shower drained away very slow

8

Isaia

7 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Toilet door straight into bedroomand no place to hang towel when in the shower and no place to put soap and gel in the shower

6

Charmaine

4 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Was good and clean but rooms too small. They have a large property but would be better if there was some good balcony and large windows.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Check-in is smooth once connected, but guests sometimes need to go to the bar or call as reception can be unattended.

Related guest reviews

10

John

20 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Comfortable and clean staff very accommodating to a bunch of very wet and dirty cyclists Recommend place to stay nice to have help yourself breakfast available

8

Natalie

2 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Didn’t notice sign on front door advising to call Dee’s cellphone on arrival as reception is unattended most time however once we checked in staff were very applying. Place was clean and comfortable. Would definitely recommend.

10

Vivienne

4 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff are very accommodating

10

Marianne

29 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This place is a great place to stay. It is comfortable and super clean. They were so lovely and accomodating to my needs and even offered me free breakfast! I was very impressed with the place and would definitely stay here again.

10

Kamalu

3 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and staff was accommodating.

10

Natalie

23 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I arrived a little late so I went to the bar to check in. The woman who checked me in was kind and asked if she should make me a dinner reservation. The food was SO good. I got the chicken and Brie burger. The room was clean and I felt very safe, parking was easy, and it has a nice grassy area. It was perfect and in a beautiful area!

10

Lorraine

17 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very pleasant and friendly staff

10

ginger

19 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We got back late from a adventure glow worm tour and we're exhausted. The staff made us pizza and brought it to our super comfortable room. That is seriously good karma points. Thank you

10

Sue

7 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly check-in, and pet friendly. Clean and quiet

10

Natalie

2 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Perfect for short stay, lovely and clean, very comfy beds. Staff are awesome but you do have to go find them (normally next door at restaurant) for check in.

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Location

Quiet small-town setting that’s convenient for overnight stops, with an easy walk to town for some. A few needed to drive farther for dinner when the on-site restaurant was closed.

Related guest reviews

10

Sven

8 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent stop over accomodation

6

Russell

17 Oct 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Convenient

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8

Phil

17 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Close to places we were looking for

10

Natalie

23 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I arrived a little late so I went to the bar to check in. The woman who checked me in was kind and asked if she should make me a dinner reservation. The food was SO good. I got the chicken and Brie burger. The room was clean and I felt very safe, parking was easy, and it has a nice grassy area. It was perfect and in a beautiful area!

10

Matthew R

28 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast is not available at the hotel, but there is a very nice bakery/Café one block around the corner

4

Kerry

24 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The bar and eatery are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Had to drive 14 miles each way to get dinner. We would have dined prior to arriving had we known. They need to make their dining hours known.

8

Shruti

19 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Perfect for our 1 night stopover to New Plymouth.

10

Sean

25 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great spot . Good host

8

Jocelyn

23 Feb 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and comfortable room and communal lounge area. Friendly staff and easy walk to town. No meals on a Monday night though.

10

Ian

15 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Quiet, Clean excellent dining options. Perfect for an overnight stay or when exploring the area.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

The on-site bar and restaurant earn strong praise for tasty meals and generous portions. However, it can be closed on some nights, and while several guests enjoyed a simple complimentary continental breakfast, availability appears to vary.

Related guest reviews

8

Nicola

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice room, good restaurant on site, friendly staff,

8

Pauline

25 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent place for an overnight stay. Meals in restaurant were delicious with good portion sizes. Twin room small but adequate. Beds comfortable. TV not working. Free continental breakfast was a lovely surprise. Will definitely stay again.

8

James

14 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy check in and comfortable rooms. Pleasant staff interactions. Only small problem is the noise created from the communal dining/kitchen adjacent to Room 1. Recommend only early risers/leavers placed in this room. Restaurant not open on the night we were there and only limited food options available for dinner in the town.

10

Ross

7 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very quiet. Staff very helpful and friendly. Restaurant next was excellent.(

4

Kerry

24 Jan 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The bar and eatery are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Had to drive 14 miles each way to get dinner. We would have dined prior to arriving had we known. They need to make their dining hours known.

8

Kirstie

19 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely little place - we booked a family room (2 rooms that interconnect) a little on the small side but great for just the one night and a bathroom per room was very handy. Other rooms (not interconnecting) looked much bigger. Food at the bar next door was very nice - massive portions! Friendly staff and great service.

10

Jeremy

19 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The pub and restaurant was a big plus and the meals are quite nice

8

Jocelyn

23 Feb 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and comfortable room and communal lounge area. Friendly staff and easy walk to town. No meals on a Monday night though.

10

Ian

15 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Quiet, Clean excellent dining options. Perfect for an overnight stay or when exploring the area.

10

Pik Wai

12 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

nice hotel and nice food

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1 $51	2 $58	3 $59	4 $58	5 $84	6 $56	7 $81
8 $58	9 $64	10 $83	11 $56	12 $81	13 $81	14 $83
15 $56	16 $56	17 $58	18 $58	19 $83	20 $55	21 $81
22 $50	23 $58	24 $58	25 $50	26 $50	27 $58	28 $58
29 $58	30 $50

FatOwl Motel, Bar & Eatery

About this property

Location

Room options

Queen Room

Room

Queen & Single Room

Twin Room

Family Room

King + Sofa Bed

Guest reviews of FatOwl Motel, Bar & Eatery

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about FatOwl Motel, Bar & Eatery

Prices for upcoming dates

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 $102	24 $77
25 $53	26 $58	27 $81	28 $84	29 $74	30 $84	31 $83