A trip to Australia is a financial commitment, especially if you’re flying from Europe. Along with airfares that are showing no signs of falling any time soon, Australia does not have a reputation as a bargain holiday destination. But you can save a few pennies on accommodation. I wholeheartedly recommend motels for clean, comfortable, affordable rooms and guaranteed parking.
Motels are perfect for a road trip, one of the best ways to see Australia in its expansive glory.
Aren’t motels a bit… seedy?
There are stereotypes about motels not being the classiest form of accommodation, largely thanks to American movies, such as the infamous Bates Motel in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” But the Australian reality is quite different. Instead of depressing strip mall style motels with dingy rooms and naked light bulbs dangling on dodgy wiring, plenty of Aussie motels are ideal for budget-conscious visitors who don’t want to skimp on comfort. Clean rooms, spotless bathrooms, hotel-fresh beds, really good showers that are welcome after a long day’s driving, friendly staff (who are often live-in owners), tea and coffee-making
facilities with accompanying biscuits, blackout curtains – and even a swimming pool or kitchenette – are commonplace in Australian motels.
If you’re a decor snob, you may have to deal with a lack of designer furniture and fittings. But if you overlook the real possibility of internal brick walls, bathroom fittings that are a bit ‘80s or colour schemes that were cool when “Forrest Gump” won Best Picture, you’ll cope. It is always astounding to see curtains that you swear were on an early episode of “Changing Rooms,” yet
somehow they look brand new. Just embrace the charming naffness if it comes your way.
Around New South Wales in three motels
In March, my husband and I went to Australia for my 50th birthday. Being Australian myself, not only did I want to catch up with family in my hometown of Bathurst, but I wanted to see friends and show my British husband parts of the country he’d never been to before. It would have been a bit rude not to stay with my parents while I was in Bathurst – about two and half hours west of Sydney – for my birthday. But once the festivities were over, we were all about motels on our road trip – and every motel cost less than $100 (about £52) a night.
First stop: City Sider Motel, Tamworth
Tamworth, about four and a half hours northwest of Bathurst, was our first port of call. It’s the home of Australian country music and while we were too late for the annual festival, there is a giant guitar for obligatory cheesy photos.
As the name suggests, the friendly City Sider is close to the centre of town and has a lovely pool, albeit with a view of a car dealership. Our upstairs deluxe queen room had a balcony, a really comfortable bed, free WiFi and a slightly narrow, but perfectly functional, bathroom. The decor was simple white bedlinen and dark blue curtains, all perfectly acceptable and
inoffensive.
For dinner, we recommend the Tudor Hotel on Peel Street, a down-to-earth pub that does not skimp on portions. Do bear in mind that if you’re in town for Tamworth’s country music festival in January, you’ll probably pay a bit more for accommodation.
Second stop: Yamba Sun Motel, Yamba
Yamba, a relaxed seaside town on the north coast of New South Wales, was the star of our road trip, so we wanted somewhere that felt like being on holiday without breaking the bank. The Yamba Sun Motel did not disappoint – the balcony of our upstairs queen room was enormous, the bathroom was generously proportioned with a lovely walk-in-shower and, apart from an internal brick wall painted white,
I’d happily have most of the interior decor choices in my own house.
While Yamba is blessed with a beautiful beach and tide pool, it was nice to be able to saunter downstairs and jump in the motel’s own pool. Surrounded by trees, it was easy to forget about the road on the other side of the fence.
About 90 minutes up the road is the more touristy Byron Bay, but Yamba provides plenty of chilled-out cafes, funky little shops, good surfing and a backpacker vibe. It’s important to be aware that many restaurants close early – we had to beg a Chinese restaurant to let us have a takeaway after they refused to seat us at 8 p.m. – but you can always rely on the Wobbly Chook
for food and drink until late.
Third stop: Bali Hi Motel, Tuncurry
Our last stop before returning to Bathurst was Tuncurry, another seaside town twinned with nearby Forster. We visited to see the dear friends who kindly lent us their car for our road trip and we stayed across the road from their house at the curiously named Bali Hi Motel.
Of the three motels, the Bali Hi had the smallest, most basic room, but it was fine for one night, especially given we literally parked the car, had a shower, changed our clothes, headed across the road for a barbecue and staggered home late and checked out before having breakfast with our friends. The bed pretty much filled the room and the bathroom was straight out of the ‘80s, but it was perfectly clean.
The pool, tucked behind the reception building, doesn’t open until 10 a.m., but we didn’t have time to use it. It was a classic “It’s fine for one night” motel, but it still did everything we needed it to do, which was provide showers after a long day in the car, a comfy bed and cobweb-clearing showers before we hit the road.
If we’re ever in Tuncurry again, we will happily say hi to the Bali Hi. And the same goes for our bargain digs in Tamworth and Yamba. Don’t be an accommodation snob and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much the great Aussie motel has to offer.
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See more about Australia here in Dispatches’ archives.
Read more from Georgia here.
Georgia Lewis
Georgia Lewis is an Australian expat who spent five years living in the United Arab Emirates before moving to London in 2011. She is a freelance writer and editor. When she's not writing or editing, she loves cooking, trying new restaurants, going to the theatre and travelling. Her favourite destinations are the Greek islands, Mallorca, Oman and Vietnam.
