Arthur's Pass Motel & Lodge

I'm sorry to give a negative review as the owners seemed very nice but I have to be honest (as I also use Trip Advisor for my own planning). While our unit was spacious enough, it was full of cobwebs and dead bugs. Yes, I understand that being in the wilderness you'll get some creepy crawlies but THEY WERE EVERYWHERE - on light fixtures, hanging from the ceiling in the bedroom (that was a bit unsettling to say the least - ugh), in the corners, on the draperies, and that's just the inside. The patio was so full of them that I couldn't sit out there without being creeped out. It appeared that they had been there for quite some time but apparently was not a priority for the owners to take a broom and sweep them down from time to time - would have taken 30 minutes. If you're going to Arthur's Pass, try to get into the Wilderness Lodge (as we did but they were booked up) and avoid this motel. I gave it 2 stars due to its location right in town but the property itself deserves a 1.

We stayed for 2 nights, as a stop-over on the Transalpine train journey. Arthurs Pass is a tiny place, and this is one of only two remaining motels. But it certainly did not disappoint !! Our room & bathroom were a decent size, perfectly clean & very comfortable. There were no cooking facilities in the room (except a kettle), but there was a large & well equipped shared kitchen & dining area. This made for pleasant meetings with other guests. Be aware that you need to take food/drinks with you. The only shop in Arthurs Pass is the cafe/store (just across the street that sells a few rather limited essentials, and closes early at 4:30pm. The only real activity in Arthurs Pass seems to be hiking (with lots of stunning views & wildlife to see). The tracks are well maintained and well marked, and vary in length from a few minutes to a few days. The waterfall is specular if you don't mind a climb up 400+ steps. In retrospect, 1 night could have been sufficient Weather was good on the first day, and we explored what we wanted to see. On the second day it rained heavily, with limited visibility. Our host (Tasha) kindly let us stay in the shared kitchen/diner well beyond the normal check-out time, which was much appreciated, and lead to a plant chat about the local area. Would recommend a visit, but consider restricteing to 1 night if you are on a tight schedule.