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Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel

4.0 star property
Beach motel in Nelson with free parking

Choose dates to view prices

Located in Tahunanui, Castles Motel offers a tranquil retreat with a serene garden and convenient laundry facilities. Stay connected with free WiFi, enjoy extended parking, take advantage of tour assistance and express check-in for a seamless experience.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking included
The current price is NZ$104
includes taxes & fees
19 Nov - 20 Nov

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 10 of 10 rooms

View all photos for Standard Studio

Standard Studio

Standard Studio

7.0 out of 10
Good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Free cots/infant beds
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Blackout curtains
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Executive Studio

Executive Studio

Executive Studio

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Blackout curtains
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for One Bedroom Upstairs Spa Unit

One Bedroom Upstairs Spa Unit | Jetted bathtub

One Bedroom Upstairs Spa Unit

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Free cots/infant beds
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Family Apartment

Family Apartment

Family Apartment

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Free cots/infant beds
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for One Bedroom Downstairs Spa Unit

One Bedroom Downstairs Spa Unit | Jetted bathtub

One Bedroom Downstairs Spa Unit

Highlights

Garden
Air conditioning
Heating
Free cots/infant beds
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Renovated in 2016
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Superior Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Kitchen

Superior Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Kitchen

Superior Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Kitchen

Highlights

Air conditioning
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Blackout curtains
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
  • 4 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Kitchen

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Kitchen

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Kitchen

Highlights

Air conditioning
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Blackout curtains
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
  • 42 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Superior Studio

Superior Studio

Superior Studio

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Blackout curtains
Hairdryer
Microwave
  • 32 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Studio, Multiple Beds

Standard Studio, Multiple Beds

Standard Studio, Multiple Beds

Highlights

Air conditioning
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Blackout curtains
Hairdryer
Microwave
  • 3 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Studio

Deluxe Studio

Deluxe Studio

Highlights

Air conditioning
Kitchen
Fridge
LED TV
Portable fan
Blackout curtains
Hairdryer
Microwave
  • 3 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
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About the area

Map
44 Tahunanui Drive, Nelson, 7011

What's nearby

  • Tahunanui Beach Reserve - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • World of Wearable Art and Collectable Cars - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Nelson Hospital - 4 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Christ Church Cathedral - 5 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Trafalgar Park - 6 min drive - 4.0 km

Getting around

  • Nelson (NSN) - 5 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Coupland's Bakeries - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Sublime Coffee - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Suburban Club - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Sprig + Fern Tahuna - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel

Upscale motel located in Tahunanui
Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel provides amenities, such as a garden and laundry facilities. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
Additional perks include:
  • Free self-parking and extended parking
  • Express check-out, luggage storage and smoke-free property
  • Barbecues and meeting rooms
Room features
All guest rooms at Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel feature thoughtful touches, such as air conditioning, in addition to amenities, such as free WiFi and room service.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Free toiletries and hairdryers
  • 32-inch LED TVs with DVD players
  • Kitchens, fridges and microwaves

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  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, 1,006 reviews
The price is NZ$142
includes taxes & fees
13 Nov - 14 Nov
The Hotel Nelson

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free extended parking on site

Family friendly

  • DVD player
  • In-room kitchen
  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Grab bar near toilet
  • Wheelchair accessibility

More

  • 2 buildings
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch LED TV
  • DVD player

Food and drink

  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Portable fan

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open Monday - Saturday (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
If you are planning to arrive after 3:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Staffed front desk, lockbox

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts major credit cards

National rating

For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our ratings system.

Property is also known as

Castles Motel
Castles Motel Nelson
Castles Nelson
Castles Motel
Castles Driftwood Motel Nelson
Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel Motel
Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel Nelson
Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel Motel Nelson

Frequently asked questions

Is Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel?

As of 5 Nov 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel on 19 Nov 2025 start from NZ$104.26, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel?

Self-parking and extended parking are free at this property.

What time is check-in at Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 8:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel?

Checkout is at 10 AM.

Where is Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel located?

Located in Tahunanui, this beach motel is within a 10-minute walk of Burrell Park, Tahunanui Beach Reserve, and Natureland Zoo. Nelson Fun Park and Paddy's Knob Reserve are also within 1 mile (2 km).

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Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 52 out of 145 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 61 out of 145 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 21 out of 145 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 145 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 145 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

6.8/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Craig & Lee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Bed was a bit average, was the o ly thing that let the place down.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Philipa

For the number of rooms, parking is very scarce and tight
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

GLENN

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Good place to stay. Didn't meet any staff, was texted where my room was, a where the key was. On leaving, I just left the key on the table and closed up the room, if they didn't want to meet me on checkin g, I wasn't meeting them on checkout either.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Lisa

Disliked: Amenities
Disappointed as I had thought I’d booked a nice night away with my husband… turned out it is an emergency accommodation provider . I’m not a snob and don’t judge people but they should have disclosed this when booking At 300/night I was expecting something nice and romantic … there were kids and families everywhere. I would suggest they include this in their booking information.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service
We were informed that some rooms were tenanted for social housing. Thought that it will be ok but turned out to be a bad idea. People from nearby room were fighting at the middle of the night so hard to sleep. No heating inside the main bedroom. To top it all off a big drama played out on the last night- one of the lady owners threw a tantrum, crying and shouting out in the street in front of our room as partner seems to be leaving her. A lot of drama for a week we wanted to spend trying to relax.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Our unit,#15, was good.Had a lounge, seperate kitchen, seperate bathroom and a bedroom. A very cosy unit.
Stayed 9 nights in May 2020

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
It was fine for what I needed for just the night but found the room and facilities a little outdated. Nice large room and enjoyed the Sky Sport. Really hand to all food, shops etc
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great location to beach and local bars . Traffic noise at night noisey due to being on state highway.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It felt like home in this place - which was important in view of the bad weather outside! The room was cosy.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is dated and not appealing to stay at. Our coach was tattered and torn. One of the beds was comfortable and one was not. There were spider webs around the doors so needs a thorough cleaning.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good oldfashioned motel. Really good bed and clean room.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Comfortable room with friendly service
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Close to restaurants and great for groups, garden rooms were good but a little tired but perfect for us.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2019

6/10 Okay

Miguel

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff but the studio was disappointing. The decor is dated and the downstairs rooms have no view. It was clean but best for a quick one night stopover rather than a weekend
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

georgina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very clean and comfortable. Noisy place with traffic. If not used to that its hard to sleep.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jillene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good clean,warm and friendly moteliers.

As this is our 4th time staying at Castles. we really like this place. It is close to where we want to go, Clean and tidy, warm also. The shower water has excellent pressure. Castles is easy to find. Close to several good eatery's, the beach is only minutes away.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very helpful & friendly staff, great location ......
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Thoroughly appreciated all the amenities available for one night only. Only dislike is unit being upstsirs for an older senior to walk upstairs prone to having an accident. Well worth recommending motel. Young lady very polite and accommdating when given wrong unit
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Cleanliness
While the unit was reasonable there were cob webs on roof around the walls and spiders were plainly visible
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
First the staff never cleaned our unit for the 3 nights we were there. Run out of toilet paper, towels.,soap,etc.Had to force them to do a basic clean in the end. Sleep on same sheets for all 3 nights. Next is the noise from the road all night long and you could hear people talking in the unit next to us.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

MATTHEW

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

DOG SHOW JUDGING

Lovely owners and really helpful, clean and good location easy access to local areas and town. Have stayed before and will be back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

The accommodation was ok but the access from the main road was poor because of heavy traffic which creates noise 24/7. We would not use this property again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Norbert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Übernachtungsmotel in Nelson

freundliches Familienunternehmen
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Was in older motel out the back. Dated but very clean. Had an accident away from the Motel and was impressed they refunded some of my remaining prepayment.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Dirty, moldy, and noisey

Dirty, moldy, and noisey. Great if you want to slam beers with the screaming drunks in the other units. The free airport shuttle doesn't bother to show up. Overall, massive mistake.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019