Fairway Motel & Apartment Wanaka
by the TopOfHotel team
Fairway Motel is the value play in Wanaka — a leafy garden, an outdoor pool and full kitchens at a price families keep coming back for.
Fairway Motel is the value play in Wanaka — a leafy garden, an outdoor pool and full kitchens at a price families keep coming back for.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Fairway Motel & Apartment Wanaka gives you a choice: a basic motel room or a full apartment, and every unit comes with a full kitchen. The look is simple and functional rather than designed, but reviewers call the rooms clean and well kept. Most outlooks face the leafy garden, which makes the whole place feel calmer than staying in the middle of town. At 8.8/10 on Booking.com, guests are clearly happy with what they get for the money.
Food and amenities
The outdoor pool and the garden are the draws here. Families with children say the pool works for kids and adults alike, and the BBQ area in the garden means you can cook dinner outside instead of heading out every night — which saves real money over a longer stay. With a kitchen in every unit and free parking on site, it's set up for people who'd rather self-cater than eat out three times a day.
Location and getting there
This is the trade-off. Fairway sits in a quiet pocket of Wanaka near the golf course, about 2km from the lakeshore and a 5-minute drive from the town centre. There's no public transport, so you'll need a car or a taxi to get around. The upside of being out here is the calm — no town-centre noise — which suits people who've come to actually rest rather than walk somewhere new every day.
Things to know before booking
Plan on a car: without one, the 2km gap to the lake and the 5-minute drive to town make this an awkward base. The location plainly trails the waterfront picks on this list, so if a lake view is your priority, look elsewhere. And set expectations on the rooms — they're simple and practical, not stylish. None of that is a dealbreaker at this price; it's just what you're choosing when you book the value option.
Our take
If you want the most space and amenities for the least money in Wanaka, Fairway is the pick — a pool, a garden, full kitchens and a quiet setting, all from around $80 a night. Just come with a car and the right expectations: this is a relaxed, self-catering base a short drive from the action, not a waterfront resort.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Better value than hotels in the same class — you get a lot of space and amenities for the money.
- An outdoor pool and a leafy, well-shaded garden make for a relaxed, unhurried base.
- Kitchen units suit longer stays and cut your food costs; the garden BBQ area means you don't have to eat out every meal.
- Scores 8.8/10 on Booking.com, and reviewers single out the helpful staff.
- The pool works well for both kids and adults, so families with children can make a day of it on-site.
- You'll need a car or a taxi to reach town — awkward if you're travelling without wheels, since there's no public transport here.
- It sits about 2km from the lakeshore, so the location trails the waterfront picks on this list.
- The rooms and decor are simple and functional rather than stylish — fine for the price, but not a design statement.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Wanaka
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Insider Tips
- Book a kitchen apartment over a basic motel room — for a longer stay the cooking setup and the garden BBQ pay for themselves on food costs.
- Plan on a car: it's a 5-minute drive to the town centre with no public transport, and you'll want it for the lake and the ski fields too.
- Ask for a room facing the garden — the leafy outlook is what makes this place feel calmer than the in-town options.