Looking for the best motels in Invercargill? These are self-contained motel units close to the city centre, Queens Park and Stadium Southland, with kitchens, free parking and family-sized apartments for business trips, sports weekends and stopovers on the Southern Scenic Route. For a motel in Invercargill with a local host, Tower Lodge Motel and Homestead Villa Motel are both a short walk from Queens Park.
1Tower Lodge Motel
Tower Lodge Motel sits on Queens Drive opposite the Invercargill Water Tower, the landmark it takes its name from, about ten minutes’ walk from the CBD and two minutes from Queens Park. Hosts Val and James run 17 ground-floor studios and one and two-bedroom units, which suit business travellers, couples and families stopping between Te Anau, Dunedin and Stewart Island.
Services
- Executive and compact studio spa units
- One-bedroom spa units and standard one-bedroom units
- Two-bedroom units with private courtyards for families and groups
- Daily servicing, kitchenettes and free off-street parking
Highlights
- Qualmark 4 star motel
- Two wheelchair accessible units (one and two-bedroom)
- King or super king main bed in every unit
- TripAdvisor Hall of Fame for seven consecutive Certificates of Excellence
- Smart TVs with Netflix and Sky in the lounge, Freeview in the bedroom
Location & Contact
Name: Tower Lodge Motel
Address: 119 Queens Drive, Invercargill
Phone: 03 217 6729
Website: www.towerlodgemotel.co.nz
2Homestead Villa Motel
Homestead Villa Motel is a 35-unit complex on the corner of Dee and Avenal Streets, five minutes’ walk from Queens Park, the museum and the golf course. Every unit has full cooking and dining facilities, and the range runs from studios to two-bedroom apartments and luxury suites, suiting families, sports teams and groups as well as corporate guests.
Services
- Studio double and studio twin units
- One-bedroom and deluxe one-bedroom units with corner spa bath
- Two-bedroom apartments for families and groups
- Luxury suites with super king bed and private balcony
- Continental breakfast delivered to your room
Highlights
- Qualmark Four Star Plus with a Silver Sustainable Tourism Business Award
- Group, sporting and special event bookings, with bus and trailer parking
- Dogs allowed under a signed dog policy
- Disabled access facilities and complimentary guest laundry
Location & Contact
Name: Homestead Villa Motel
Address: Cnr Dee and Avenal Streets, 74 Avenal Street, Invercargill 9810
Phone: 03 214 0408
Website: www.villamotel.co.nz
3Queens Park Motels
Queens Park Motels is a 14-unit motel on Alice Street, set back from the main road in a quiet residential street with a back gate straight into Queens Park. Owners Sam and Lea have run it since 2015, and the apartment-style layout suits guests who want a peaceful night’s sleep with the CBD a short drive away.
Services
- Studio apartments with kitchenette, hotplates and microwave
- One-bedroom twin apartments with full kitchen
- Two-bedroom apartments sleeping four, all on the ground floor
- Cooked and continental breakfasts
- Guest laundry and barbecue
Highlights
- Finalist and dual runner-up, AA Supreme Host of the Year Award 2010
- Pet rooms available by arrangement
- Carport parking with the one and two-bedroom apartments
Location & Contact
Name: Queens Park Motels
Address: 85 Alice Street, Invercargill
Phone: 03 214 4504
Website: www.queensparkmotels.co.nz
4Colonial Motel Invercargill
Colonial Motel is on Mary Street in Richmond, a residential part of Invercargill a few minutes’ drive from the city centre. It offers one, two and three-bedroom rooms and apartments, set up for business travellers, families and longer stays.
Services
- One-bedroom standard and executive units
- Two-bedroom superior units
- Three-bedroom superior units
- Two-bedroom private apartment
Highlights
- Three-bedroom unit of 60 m² sleeping up to six
- Kitchenettes and free parking
- Direct booking online or by freephone
Location & Contact
Name: Colonial Motel Invercargill
Address: 143 Mary Street, Richmond, Invercargill
Phone: 03 217 6119
Website: www.colonial-motel.co.nz
5Bella Vista Motel Invercargill
Bella Vista Invercargill is the local branch of the Bella Vista motel group, on Tay Street (State Highway 1) at Turnbull Thomson Park, close to the CBD, Southland Hospital and the Southern Institute of Technology. Its 18 studios and one-bedroom family units range from tea-and-toast rooms to full cooking facilities, serviced daily for singles, couples, families and corporate travellers.
Services
- Compact queen studios for one-night stays
- Superior studios with kitchenette
- One-bedroom units with spa bath and small kitchen
- Continental breakfast on request and guest laundry
- Free activity booking service
Highlights
- Qualmark 4 star with a Silver Sustainable Tourism Business Award
- Type 2 EV chargers (pre-booking required)
- Select studios with wheelchair access
- Port-a-cots and highchairs available
Location & Contact
Name: Bella Vista Motel Invercargill
Address: 240 Tay Street, Turnbull Thomson Park, Invercargill
Phone: 03 217 9799
Website: www.bellavista.co.nz/our-motels/invercargill
Motels in Invercargill at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Tower Lodge Motel | Qualmark 4 star motel |
| Homestead Villa Motel | Qualmark Four Star Plus with a Silver Sustainable Tourism Business Award |
| Queens Park Motels | Finalist and dual runner-up, AA Supreme Host of the Year Award 2010 |
| Colonial Motel Invercargill | Three-bedroom unit of 60 m² sleeping up to six |
| Bella Vista Motel Invercargill | Qualmark 4 star with a Silver Sustainable Tourism Business Award |
How to Choose the Right Motel in Invercargill
- Unit size: studios suit a one-night stopover, while two and three-bedroom units with full kitchens work better for families, sports teams and longer stays.
- Location: Queens Park and Dee Street motels are walkable to the gardens and museum, Tay Street puts you on State Highway 1 near the CBD, and Richmond is quieter and residential.
- Cooking facilities: check whether a unit has a full kitchen, a kitchenette or only tea and toast facilities before you book.
- Accessibility and extras: ask about wheelchair accessible units, EV charging, pet rooms and cots if you need them.
- Quality rating: a Qualmark star grading is an independent check on facilities and service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Invercargill Motels
How much does a motel in Invercargill cost per night?
Studio units in Invercargill typically start from around $130 to $150 a night for two people, with one and two-bedroom units costing more and an extra charge per additional guest. Rates rise during major events at Stadium Southland and Rugby Park, so book early for those weekends.
Which Invercargill motels are closest to Queens Park?
Motels on Queens Drive, Dee Street, Avenal Street and Alice Street are within a few minutes’ walk of Queens Park, its gardens, aviary, golf course and the museum. Some Alice Street properties back directly onto the park.
Where should I stay in Invercargill to be near the city centre?
Tay Street and Dee Street are the main routes into the CBD and have several motels within walking distance of shops, restaurants and the Southern Institute of Technology. Richmond, to the north-east, is a quieter residential option a few minutes’ drive out.
Do motels in Invercargill have family units?
Yes. Most motels in Invercargill offer two-bedroom units with full kitchens, and a few have three-bedroom units sleeping up to six. Port-a-cots and highchairs are usually available on request.
Are there pet-friendly motels in Invercargill?
Some motels accept dogs or have designated pet rooms by prior arrangement, usually with a signed pet policy. Always declare a pet when you book, as unregistered pets can lead to cancellation.
What does a Qualmark rating mean for a motel?
Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance programme, independently assessing accommodation facilities and service and awarding star gradings and sustainability awards. You can check a property’s current grading on the Qualmark website.
Is Invercargill a good base for Stewart Island and the Catlins?
Yes. Bluff and the Stewart Island ferry are about 25 to 30 minutes’ drive from Invercargill motels, and the Catlins are around an hour away, so many travellers book two or more nights. The Southland regional tourism site has itineraries for both.
How We Chose the Best Motels in Invercargill
Every business in this guide was found by searching for motels in Invercargill, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Invercargill, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.