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Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

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

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Queen Room

Queen Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

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 | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Twin Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(16 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 | Free WiFi, bed sheets

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 | Free WiFi, bed sheets

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 | Free WiFi, bed sheets

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 neighborhood

Map
12 Ruru Street, Piopio, Waikato, 3912

What's nearby

  • Big Shearer - 16 min drive - 17.2 miles
  • Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro - 16 min drive - 17.2 miles
  • Altura Gardens & Wildlife Park - 30 min drive - 30.9 miles
  • Kiwi House Native Bird Park - 31 min drive - 32.3 miles
  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves - 31 min drive - 31.4 miles

Getting around

  • Auckland Intl. Airport (AKL) - 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 premises, and barbecue grills
  • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery offer amenities such as free WiFi.
Other 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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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • 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
  • Smoking not allowed

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for continental breakfast: 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

Property class, provided by our rating system, is based on property type, amenities, and services.

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 Dec 12, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery on Dec 14, 2025 start from $73.34, excluding 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?

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?

Check-out 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 mi (25 km) of Big Shearer and Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro. Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Opapake Pa are also within 32 mi (52 km).

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Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 104 out of 196 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 71 out of 196 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 15 out of 196 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 196 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 196 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 Excellent

Julia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awesome spot. Staff so very friendly. Clean and loved the styling.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Kamalu

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

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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Vivienne

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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very pleasant and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Pauline

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Excellent place for an overnight stay. Meals in restaurant were delicious with good portion sizes. Twin room small but adequate. Beds comfortable. TV not working. Free continental breakfast was a lovely surprise. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Crystal

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

John

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

10/10 Excellent

Sean

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great spot . Good host
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Alexander

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Perfect motel for a stay and for exploring the sourroundings. Comfortable beds, nice kitchen- and livingroom-area. Clean room..
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gillian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and comfortable
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Takako

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
room is very clean!!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Sean

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very accomodating for our late arrival. Good breakfast. Very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nigel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was hassle free and easy. Our room was spotlessly clean and perfectly adequate for our needs, which was just somewhere to sleep. Thank you
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Comfortable. Just what we needed
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024