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Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

3.0 star property
Motel in Piopio with 24-hour front desk and restaurant

Photo gallery for Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

Garden
Queen & Single Room
Outdoor dining
Exterior
Bar (on property)

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
The current price is NZ$115
includes taxes & fees
4 July - 5 July

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Queen & Single Room

Queen & Single Room

Queen & Single Room

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

View all photos for Twin Room

Twin Room

Twin Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(14 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Room

Room

Room

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Family Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Room

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Queen Bed and 3 Single Beds

View all photos for King + Sofa Bed

King + Sofa Bed

King + Sofa Bed

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Single Sofa Bed

View all photos for Queen Room

Queen Room

Queen Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Satellite channels
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
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About the area

Map
12 Ruru Street, Piopio, Waikato, 3912

What's nearby

  • Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro - 21 min drive - 27.6 km
  • Altura Gardens & Wildlife Park - 39 min drive - 49.8 km
  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves - 40 min drive - 50.4 km
  • Kiwi House Native Bird Park - 40 min drive - 52.0 km
  • Aranui Cave - 43 min drive - 52.9 km

Getting around

  • Auckland (AKL-Auckland Intl.) - 163 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Fat Pigeon Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Piopio Cosmopolitan Club - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Piopio Berry Orchard - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Cloverleaf Cafe - ‬3 min walk

About this property

Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

Property highlights
Consider a stay at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery and take advantage of a garden, laundry facilities and a bar. Free in-room WiFi and a restaurant are available to all guests.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • Free self-parking
  • Continental breakfast (surcharge), an electric car charging station and express check-out
  • Express check-in, barbecues and 1 meeting room
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All guest rooms at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery include amenities, such as free WiFi.
More amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with showers and free toiletries
  • Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
  • Coffee/tea makers, heating and daily housekeeping

Languages

English

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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Electric car charging station on site
  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available for a fee: NZD 10 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking

More

  • Banquet hall
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for continental breakfast: from approximately NZD 10.00 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

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 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

Owls Nest Motel Piopio
Owls Nest Motel
Owls Nest Piopio
Owls Nest Motel
Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Motel
Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Piopio
Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Motel Piopio

Frequently asked questions

Is Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery?

As of 1 Jul 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery on 4 Jul 2025 start from NZ$115.0, 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 Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery located?

Situated in Piopio, this motel is 7.9 mi (12.8 km) from Tainui Historical Society Museum and within 16 miles (25 km) of Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro and Big Shearer. Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Opapake Pa are also within 32 miles (52 km).

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Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 99 out of 189 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 69 out of 189 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 15 out of 189 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 189 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 189 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.8/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10

Good little room for a night.. clean and tidy..
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10

Very clean and staff was accommodating.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10

We loved staying here. The staff were super friendly and accommodating. The beds, especially the pillows, were a bit on the stiffer side, but everything else was super nice.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10

Fantastic place to stay like staying with old friends Food and service out of this world Highly recomend staying here
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10

Welcoming, clean and comfortable. Great for an easy overnight stop
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10

Comfortable, friendly, convenient, and inexpensive.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10

Excellent stop over accomodation
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10

Good bed good food good people
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10

Staff are very accommodating
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10

Great stay
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10

A delightful stay. Everything exceeded expectations.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10

nice hotel and nice food
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10

Love that it has the Bar a& Eatery which is why we stayed.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

6/10

Our stay was satisfactory
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10

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.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10

The pub and restaurant was a big plus and the meals are quite nice
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10

Very pleasant and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10

Quiet, Clean excellent dining options. Perfect for an overnight stay or when exploring the area.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

8/10

Very convenient Continental breakfast perfect
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10

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
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

8/10

room is very clean!!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10

Good basic accommodation
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

8/10

The property suited just fine for an overnight stay. We were unable to dine at the adjacent restaurant as they were having a Christmas function. However, there was a cafe open in the village.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10

Great spot . Good host
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10

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.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023