At a glance: 2-star · 13 rooms
Near: Encounter Kaikoura (Dolphin Encounter) · 5 min walk
Guests love: Service · Cleanliness
What guests say about…
Sandra Lang
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Dolphin Fun
Cafe Encounter is right next door, about a 5-minute walk, and serves New Zealand and international dishes. Gurkha Cafe & Restaurant is also just 200 metres away. For more options, the eateries along Beach Rd and West End in the town centre are within a 15-minute walk, including Coopers Catch, The Whaler, and Kaikoura Seafood BBQ. You can also try Beach House Cafe, Black Rabbit Pizza, Cods and Crayfish, or Pier Hotel Restaurant for seafood and pub food. A nearby fish and chip shop is within walking distance too.
The motel sits right on the Esplanade, facing the Pacific Ocean, with the beach just steps away. You are a short walk from the town's main sights, including Encounter Kaikoura (5 min), Kaikoura Lookout (10 min), and the Kaikoura Museum (14 min). The area is a relaxed coastal neighbourhood with a picnic area and barbecue grills on site. Nearby, you can find Cafe Encounter and Gurkha Cafe & Restaurant for meals. The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway and Point Kean Viewpoint are about 2.7 km away, a pleasant trip by car or bike. The city centre is roughly a 15-minute walk, where you will find more eateries and shops.
The nearest airport is Kaikoura Airport, about 5 km away, so a taxi or ride-hailing service will get you to the motel in roughly 10 minutes. If you are arriving by train, the Coastal Pacific stops at Kaikoura station on Whaleway Station Road, and the motel is a short taxi ride from there. For those coming from Christchurch, the InterCity bus arrives at 86 West End, about a 15-minute walk from the motel. You can also drive, as the motel is right on the Esplanade, close to the main beachfront road.
In the evening, you can take a short stroll to the Mayfair Theatre, just a few minutes away, for a show. The beachfront location is ideal for a quiet walk along the Esplanade, and you might spot little Blue Penguins coming ashore nearby. For a bite, Cafe Encounter is right next door, and Gurkha Cafe & Restaurant is about 200 metres away. The Pier Hotel Restaurant, specialising in seafood, is also within easy reach on the Esplanade. These spots offer a relaxed end to the day.
Sierra Beachfront Motel is a great base for exploring Kaikoura on foot. You can walk to Encounter Kaikoura in 5 minutes, Kaikoura Lookout in 10, and EcoZip Adventures in 13. The Kaikoura Visitor Information Centre and Kaikoura Museum are both a 14-minute walk away. Whale Watch Kaikoura is a 23-minute walk, while the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway and Point Kean Viewpoint are 2.7 km away, so you will want a car or a ride for those. The city centre is about a 15-minute walk, and the beach is right at your doorstep.
Encounter Kaikoura (Dolphin Encounter)
400 m away · 96 Esplanade, Kaikōura 7300, New Zealand
(2,129 reviews)
Kaikoura Lookout
800 m away · 274 Scarborough Street, South Bay, Kaikōura 7300, New Zealand
(623 reviews)
EcoZip Adventures Kaikoura
1.1 km away · 75 West End, Kaikōura 7300, New Zealand
(866 reviews)
Kaikoura Visitor Information Centre
1.1 km away · 75 West End, Kaikōura 7300, New Zealand
(687 reviews)
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