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Karaka Tree Motel

3.5 star property
Motel with free parking, near Lake Taupō

Photo gallery for Karaka Tree Motel

1 bedroom, free WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, coffee/tea maker, cookware/dishes/utensils
Spa
Hair dryer, towels
TV

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Housekeeping
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
The current price is NZ$144
includes taxes & fees
7 July - 8 July

Explore the area

Map
216 Lake Terrace, Taupo, TAUPO
  • Taupō Hot Springs
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Wairakei Geothermal Power Station
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Spa Thermal Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Taupō Airport (TUO)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Microwave
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Coffee/tea maker
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

One Bedroom Suite

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Microwave
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Coffee/tea maker
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Microwave
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Coffee/tea maker
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Two Bedroom Suite

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
TV
Separate bedroom
2 bathrooms
Hairdryer
Microwave
Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 2 Single Beds

About the area

Taupō

At Karaka Tree Motel you'll be within a 20-minute stroll of Lake Taupō and Taupō Hot Springs. Highlights at this motel include free self-parking and Access to hot tub. .This smoke-free motel offers free WiFi in public areas and free newspapers in the lobby. .Places within a 30-minute walk of this 3.5-property class Waipahihi motel include Waipahihi Botanical Gardens and Three Mile Bay.
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What's nearby

  • Taupō Hot Springs - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Wairakei Geothermal Power Station - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Spa Thermal Park - 4 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Taupō Marina and Boat Ramp - 5 min drive - 3.2 km
  • A.C. Baths - 5 min drive - 4.0 km

Getting around

  • Taupō Airport (TUO) - 6 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Two Mile Bay Sailing Club - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Malabar Beyond India - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Mole & Chicken Restaurant, Cafe & Bar - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪The Fish Box - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Karaka Tree Motel

Motel with free parking, near Lake Taupō
Karaka Tree Motel offers its guests a hot tub and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Public spaces have free WiFi. Free self parking is available.

This 3.5-star Taupō motel is smoke free.

  • 24 guestrooms or units
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • No smoking on site
Karaka Tree Motel offers 24 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and a hairdryer. Fridges and microwaves are provided.

Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include telephones along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is provided on a daily basis.

Languages

English

Similar properties

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Lakefront Lodge Taupo

  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
3.8 out of 5, Good, 881 reviews
The price is NZ$104
includes taxes & fees
14 July - 15 July
Lakefront Lodge Taupo

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • Hot tub

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant 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; cash is not accepted
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and window guards
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property accepts major credit cards, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and JCB International. Cash is not accepted. Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and window guards in all accommodation.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.

National rating

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

Property is also known as

Karaka Motel
Karaka Tree Motel Motel
Karaka Tree Motel
Karaka Tree Motel Taupo
Karaka Tree Taupo
Karaka Tree Hotel Taupo
Karaka Tree Motel Taupo
Karaka Tree Motel Motel Taupo

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at Karaka Tree Motel?

Karaka Tree Motel offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

How much does it cost to stay at Karaka Tree Motel?

As of 6 Jul 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Karaka Tree Motel on 7 Jul 2025 start from NZ$143.87, 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.

Is parking available at Karaka Tree Motel?

Yep, Karaka Tree Motel has a free self car park.

Is there a spa on site at Karaka Tree Motel?

No, there is no spa at this property. Taupō Hot Springs is a short 17-minute walk away.

Does Karaka Tree Motel have a waterslide?

No, there is no waterslide at Karaka Tree Motel, but Taupō Hot Springs is a short 17-minute walk away.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Karaka Tree Motel?

No, Karaka Tree Motel does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at Karaka Tree Motel?

Check-in begins at 2 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM.

Are pets allowed at Karaka Tree Motel?

No, pets are not allowed.

Karaka Tree Motel Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 116 out of 405 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 149 out of 405 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 84 out of 405 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 40 out of 405 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 16 out of 405 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

6.2/10

Amenities

6.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

4.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Gregg

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
We got a good deal on this property. We have stayed here a number of times pre covid. Accepting this is a budget motel, I was happy with the motel. TV set up was not great along with the internet and we couldn't get the microwave to work. The hot pool that fills in lightning speed off set the rest of it. Iwas very satisfied for the value for money. I think some of the other reviesw were a bit harsh for what you pay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Mike

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
No Soap provided in the bathroom. No face cloth or hand towel. Room hadn't been cleaned of cobwebs around window catch's and windows were dirty. Used shampoo packets and cobwebs down the side of the bathroom vanity. Key provided to the room didn't work. Some lights didn't work. Adjoining room door didn't lock with the key provided and no way to lock it to keep my room isolated from someone else coming in if the other room got booked. Staff seemed indifferent to this issue. No milk offered or provided. No additional bedding if it got cold. TV lost Wifi frequently. Stayed 2 days, room not serviced after the first day - which I was expecting. Check in was a joke, after 2pm (official time to check in) spent 20 minutes pushing the buzzer and calling out, 4 other people and a serviceman also waiting for attention at this time. Very poor. A little bit of effort from them could have changed this easily.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Rex

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Smoke detector was removed, Mineral bath was dirty, leaking tap in bathroom, low water pressure in shower, cigarette butts in container outside window, no milk given, general condition of unit was out-dated and needed a lot of maintenance
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Travelled with group
Close to town
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Suzie

Liked: Staff & service
The manager was lovely and the bed was clean and comfortable but the shower was dirty and the bench in the kitchen was chipped plus there were spiders above two light switches and on the wall
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Janette

This place is not like the picture show in very need of repaint, curtains with rips and not even hung up holes and walls!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Graeme

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property needed a major tidy up with weeds and dead plants in pots etc. No SKY as advertised. Rooms very outdated and in need of repair. Cleaning left a lot to be desired. Also office still closed for checkout at 8.45am.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Patricia

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Clean, comfortable, quiet reasonably close to town.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Bella

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very old and run down. Dusty and bathroom not clean. No milk provided even when advised they would drop it off. Tv wouldnt work. Jug had to have the switch held to boil. Extra pillows where gross(glad we had our own) Glad we were only one night. Will not be returning
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Karen E

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Matthew

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

Shocking stay

Upon arrival to our room, the first thing we noticed was the used towels on the floor in the spa room covered in hair. Next we noticed stalks of cherries and strawberries ends left next to the spa, the spa was not clean. All doors were damaged or had been smashed, the door lock was fiddly to secure. The mirrors were dirty and had not been cleaned. There were ‘white mark’ stains on the couch, the tv did not have Sky as it was advertised. The kitchenette doors did not close (and half were missing) and kitchen was dirty. Bathroom was gross, floor had grime and there was mould on the ceiling and bits of toilet paper left on the floor. The light fixing/vent was completely exposed with cobwebs and dirty hanging. There was no toilet paper in the holder. After bringing the ‘dirty towels’ to the staffs attention it seemed there was no care, although they were removed. The room was out dated, and there was no effort taken to improve or actually clean anything. We didn’t spend anytime in the room, and left earlier than expected.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harjeet Singh

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Totally worth it.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Angela

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
the room smelt very musty, it was run down, the kitchen sink tap was almost coming off at the base, the teatowel and cloth was dirty, all the cutley, dishes and cooking gear was filty, repairs in the showeroom were unfinished, curtains in the second room were coming off ...fire alarm was beeping all night, TV would not go.....no milk etc etc the manager was a lovely man who had only been there 2 months. he was the only good thing.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

2/10 Terrible

Michelle

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nothing positive about this hotel - except it’s cheap. Such a shame as it was good once. Just been let go….
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Helena

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Overall a decent property to stay for its price. Just a bit run down with broken door handle and leaky room stain otherwise good. Staff are friendly and courteous.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

P

Liked: Staff & service

Cheap and Tired

A cheap place to stay, but tired and quite run down.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Bert

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dani

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent service by the staff. Called me before i arrived and had my room and parking sorted ready for my arrival.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lake across the road, easy access to town, mineral pool to soak in.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Spa was great, soap dispenser should be checked and does need a bit of TLC
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The mineral pool is great but you can't get into the shower if you are on crutches and the whole place is a bit threadbear
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our ferry was delayed so wasnt going to make it back to Taupo in time to check in by 8pm. Rang reception to let them know and they had our room ready with the heater on for us when we got there at 9.30pm. We were really impressed.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Clean motel with helpful, friendly staff. Room was quite dated though and the heating/ventilation could do with upgrading.
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very basic facilities. But we love the deep mineral spa pool..so always stay here.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

tM dtay

Contactless check-in and out felt impersonal and distant...but I guess that was the purpose. KTM is getting dated and tired, but nice to have a soak.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2020