10 Best Family Accommodations in Kaikoura 👪 [2024]

Where to Find Child-Friendly Accommodation in Kaikoura

Treat you and your family to the wildlife mecca of the South Island, Kaikoura! The coastal town is sure to educate the little ones of the magnificent creatures we share the world with, including whales, albatross, dolphins, seals and more. With so much to do in this cool little town, you’re definitely going to want to stick around for a while. With that in mind, we’ve handpicked some of our favourite family accommodations in Kaikoura, from holiday parks to luxury apartments.

While you’re here, you might also be interested in the 7 Things to Do in Kaikoura with Kids and The Guide to Kaikoura for Families.

1. Alpine-Pacific Holiday Park

Holiday parks are always popular with the kids, thanks to facilities such as children’s playgrounds, outdoor heated swimming pools and, usually, other kids! The Alpine-Pacific Holiday Park has all of this and more, as well as a range of accommodation styles. Keep things cheap and cheerful in the “Standard Cabins” and make use of the communal kitchen and bathroom. Alternatively, “One-Bedroom Deluxe Park Motels” provide the privacy and comforts of home with a full kitchen, Sky TV, DVD player and underfloor heating.

Check Alpine-Pacific Holiday Park out:

2. Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park

Another holiday park in Kaikoura is the Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park. They also offer standard cabins as their cheapest accommodation, after camping sites, as well as self-contained units with kitchens and ensuites at your fingertips. Additionally, families at the holiday park have a heated swimming pool, private spa pools, free WiFi and basic kitchen, dining and laundry facilities to make use of! Find this holiday park on the outskirts of town near the Whale Watch Kaikoura office. For more accommodations with plenty of budget options, check out the 15 Best Budget Accommodations in Kaikoura.

Check Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

10 Best Family Accommodations in Kaikoura 👪 [2023]

3. Kaikoura Quality Suites

For the discerning family who wants to stay in Kaikoura in style, check out Kaikoura Quality Suites. The “One-Bedroom Suite” is a great choice for families, sleeping up to five guests across a private king room and an open-plan lounge/kitchen with a super king bed. in-room facilities include underfloor heating, a dining area, free WiFi and a kitchenette, while elsewhere on the complex, enjoy time in the barbecue area among landscaped gardens or play a game of pool in the guest lounge. For more hotel-like stays, check out the 20 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Kaikoura.

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4. Alpine View Motel

While you do indeed get alpine views from this affordable motel on the northern outskirts of Kaikoura, what we get the most excited about at the Alpine View Motel is its direct access to the beach. Kids will also love the complete children’s playground, while parents can probably make use of the cooking facilities in each unit (apart from one studio, so be sure to ask if you need self-catering accommodation). For more self-catering stays, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Kaikoura.

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5. The Fairways at Ocean Ridge

For families seeking home comforts combined with luxury, take a look at The Fairways at Ocean Ridge. These beautifully-designed apartments reflect the natural environment and take in the views with floor-to-ceiling windows. Each apartment has a king bedroom and a twin bedroom, both with ensuites and one with a spa bath. The designer kitchen is equipped to cook in style or even opt for home-cooked breakfasts delivered to your door. Find this accommodation a short drive from the town centre and beside the golf course. See more like this in the 14 Best Luxury Accommodations in Kaikoura.

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6. Bella Vista Motel Kaikoura

By the time you reach Kaikoura, you might have seen the Bella Vista motel brand more than a few times. Bella Vista Motel Kaikoura follows the same standard as the rest of the chain: clean and crisp motel rooms with something for everyone. The “One-Bedroom Studio” is an easy choice for families, sleeping up to four guests with the convenience of a full kitchen, a separate bedroom and an ensuite with a spa bath. Families of six can also use the interconnecting door to the next unit. See how this motel compares to many others in the 20 BEST Motels in Kaikoura.

Check Bella Vista Motel Kaikoura out:

7. Waves Luxury Apartments

Enjoy your own modern apartment just a five-minute walk from the town centre. There’s plenty of space for the two families in the two-bedroom apartments at Waves Luxury Apartments, featuring two bathrooms, laundry facilities, a fully-equipped kitchen and a living room. Enjoy meals from your own sunny balcony in summer and keep the kids entertained with Sky TV and a DVD player.

Check Waves Luxury Apartments out:

8. Kaikoura Gateway Motor Lodge

Just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre, Kaikoura Gateway Motor Lodge makes a family stay in Kaikoura all too easy! The motor lodge has 20 self-contained accommodations available, including one and two-bedroom units. Rooms are affordable and have all the essentials, from a full kitchen to an ensuite. Family time can also be spent in the outdoor solar-heated swimming pool, barbecue area and the children’s playground adjacent to the motor lodge.

Check Kaikoura Gateway Motor Lodge out:

9. Admiral Court Motel Kaikoura

A quiet motel with magnificent views of the Kaikoura Mountain Ranges, Admiral Court Motel Kaikoura could be described as a hidden gem. The ocean is just a two-minute walk away at the motel located between the Kaikoura Peninsula seal colony and the town centre. The “Family Unit” offers two bedrooms and a sofa bed in the lounge for that extra person. You’ll have the ultimate convenience of a full kitchen, while the kids have plenty of space to play in the large lounge with a TV, dining table and chairs. WiFi is also included in the stay.

Check Admiral Court Motel Kaikoura out:

10. Lobster Inn Motor Lodge

Modern motel rooms, a convenient location adjacent to the supermarket and reasonable rates, what’s not to love about the Lobster Inn Motor Lodge? The stylish “One and Two-Bedroom Family Rooms” are equipped with a kitchen, ensuite shower rooms, breakfast bar and plenty of space for the family to enjoy their downtime. Extra facilities include a TV, DVDs for children and free WiFi.

Check Lobster Inn Motor Lodge out:

[CLOSED] Kaikoura Cottage Motels

Get the full home-away-from-home experience by staying in one of the eight fully self-contained, two-roomed cottages of the Kaikoura Cottage Motels. Each cottage is set in its own private landscaped garden and captures views of the mountains. Keep the kids entertained at the children’s playground or with the complimentary DVD library and WiFi. The cottages have an unusual layout of the queen bed set back from the lounge with partition walls to separate the two, while the kids will have their own beds in a separate bedroom – ideal if you want to stay up later and watch the TV!

[CLOSED] Seaview Motel

Treat you and your family to beachfront accommodation at an affordable price at the Seaview Motel. The boutique motel has nine units sleeping a family of three in the studios and up to five people in the multi-bedroom units. The larger units feature a full kitchen, while the smaller units have facilities more suitable for making breakfast. Either way, rooms are well-appointed and have free WiFi, Sky TV and access to a barbecue area.

More About Family Accommodations in Kaikoura

That’s it for our list of the best family accommodations in Kaikoura, but it’s by no means the end of our travel tips! Get more stellar travel advice from the following guides:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Travel Guide to Kaikoura for Families.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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