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Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

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

Choose dates to view prices

Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery sits in tranquil surroundings that make it an ideal getaway spot. Guests appreciate the garden space and convenient laundry facilities. The property offers practical in-room WiFi and a restaurant serving tasty dishes that complete the experience.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
The current price is AU$100
includes taxes & fees
4 Dec - 5 Dec

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Queen Room

Queen Room

Queen Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)

Highlights

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

View all photos for Twin Room

Twin Room

Twin Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(15 reviews)

Highlights

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

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 Twin 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 Twin 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 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 Twin Sofa 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
  • Big Shearer - 21 min drive - 27.6 km
  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves - 40 min drive - 50.4 km
  • Kiwi House Native Bird Park - 40 min drive - 52.0 km
  • Marokopa Falls - 60 min drive - 85.0 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Fat Pigeon Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Clover Leaf Cafe - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Piopio Cosmopolitan Club - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Pio Pio Orchard - ‬3 min drive

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, smoke-free property and a banquet hall
  • 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

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Waitomo Lodge
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9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 220 reviews
The price is AU$142
includes taxes & fees
11 Dec - 12 Dec
Waitomo Lodge

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 18 Nov 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery on 4 Dec 2025 start from AU$100.12, 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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Reviews

Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.4

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

9.2

Staff & service

8.8

Eco-friendliness

8.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 103 out of 195 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 71 out of 195 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 15 out of 195 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 195 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 195 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly check-in, and pet friendly. Clean and quiet
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Just so flean and quite
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Nicola

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice room, good restaurant on site, friendly staff,
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Shruti

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Perfect for our 1 night stopover to New Plymouth.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Emma

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Nice tidy rooms, friendly staff. Great proximity to the pub!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marianne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This place is a great place to stay. It is comfortable and super clean. They were so lovely and accomodating to my needs and even offered me free breakfast! I was very impressed with the place and would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Wayne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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 Excellent

Kath

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good little room for a night.. clean and tidy..
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Terry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kamalu

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and staff was accommodating.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent stop over accomodation
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Emmett

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

8/10 Good

ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
clean tidy friendly rural type setting
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pik Wai

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
nice hotel and nice food
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Phil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to places we were looking for
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott

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

Perfect Little Motel

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

10/10 Excellent

Derek

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Good bed good food good people
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Welcoming, clean and comfortable. Great for an easy overnight stop
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Penny

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love that it has the Bar a& Eatery which is why we stayed.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ross

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very quiet. Staff very helpful and friendly. Restaurant next was excellent.(
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The pub and restaurant was a big plus and the meals are quite nice
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vivienne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff are very accommodating
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Ange

Our stay was satisfactory
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quiet, Clean excellent dining options. Perfect for an overnight stay or when exploring the area.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

David and Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
everything very clean pub to eat right next door for dinner friendly staff, very clean easy parking
Stayed 1 night in May 2024