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Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers

Property class: 3

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Photo gallery for Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers

A wooden picnic table with a metal railing, set against a backdrop of a coastal landscape with a grassy hill and a body of water. - Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers (New Haven)
A bedroom with a bed, two windows with curtains, a view of the sea, and a hanging light fixture. - Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers (New Haven)
A room with large windows, a bed, a wicker chair, and a small table with a book. - Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers (New Haven)
A riverside picnic area with a bench and table, surrounded by grassy banks and hills in the background. - Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers (New Haven)
A coastal property with a large house, a dock, and a view of the sea. - Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers (New Haven)
Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers provides a garden and more. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Housekeeping
  • Kitchen

Off-peak, on budget: 30% or more off select hotels in our fall sale

Skip the crowds, keep the savings. AARP members save more after Labor Day. Book by Oct 7, 2026.

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 3 of 3 rooms

View all photos for Standard Double Room, Sea View

A bedroom with a bed, two windows with curtains, a view of the sea, and a hanging light fixture.

Standard Double Room, Sea View

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)
  • Sea view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Family Room, Sea View

A bed with a checkered bedspread and pillows, a bunk bed to the right, and a door in the background.

Family Room, Sea View

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • Sea view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed OR 1 Twin Bunk Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Self Contain Apartment

A bedroom with a white sofa, a small wooden side table with a potted plant, a bed with a headboard, and a bedside table with a lamp and flowers.

Self Contain Apartment

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Queen Bed and 3 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in New Haven, Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers is in the mountains and on the beach. Teapot World is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Kaka Point Scenic Reserve and Catlins Lake. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and horse riding. Visit our New Haven travel guide
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Map
19 Surat Bay Road, New Haven, South Otago, 9585

What's nearby

  • A dense forest with lush green ferns and tall trees.
    Kaka Point Scenic Reserve
    30 min drive - 17.7 miles
  • A waterfall cascading over moss-covered rocks surrounded by lush green ferns and trees.
    Purakaunui Falls
    32 min drive - 16.1 miles
  • Teapot World
    10 min drive - 4.7 miles
  • Catlins Lake
    13 min drive - 6.7 miles
  • Kaka Point Beach
    27 min drive - 17.1 miles

Restaurants

  • LumberJack
    9 min drive
  • Catlins Cafe And Restaurant
    8 min drive
  • Lumber Jack Cafe & Restaurant
    9 min drive
  • Kurumi Kitchen
    9 min drive
  • Tahatika Coffee Traders
    9 min drive

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  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 294 reviews
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 500+ Mbps (good for 6+ people or 10+ devices)
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Shared microwave
  • Shared refrigerator

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • In the mountains
  • On the beach
  • Outdoor furniture
  • 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.
  • No elevator (single-level property)
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Oven
  • Shared kitchen access
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

More

  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The property charges 5 percent for credit card payments
There is no front desk at this property
The host will greet guests on arrival
If you are planning to arrive after 6 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Reception hours are 9:30 AM - 6 PM in winter, 9:30 AM to 7 PM in summer.
Towels for the Shared Dormitory are available for a surcharge.

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 5 percent

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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property class

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Where is Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers located?

Nestled on the beach, this New Haven motel is within 9 mi (15 km) of Teapot World, Catlins Lake, and Jack's Blowhole. Cannibal Bay Beach and Kaka Point Beach are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Surat Bay Lodge, Motel and Backpackers Reviews

8.6

Excellent

9.2

Cleanliness

9.6

Location

9.2

Staff & service

8.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 61 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 22 out of 61 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 61 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 61 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 61 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolute Magical place. A step back in time really. Great place to stay. Great hosts. Awesome views. Definitely recommend and will definitely be back to stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Esther and the rest of the staff are incredibly kind and welcoming - I feel so lucky to have stayed here during my visit to the Catlins region. There are also plenty of sea lions just a short walk away that you can observe from a distance!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Philippa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely stay with wonderful friendly hosts
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Marieka

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely lovely hosts, clean and right on the beach. Loved it !
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

arnon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing view, the best housekeeping, small but comfortable place
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ross

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Staff were very friendly and helpful. Rooms were clean, comfortable and well equipped. Lovely beach feel. Beautiful part of the country. We were blessed to see seals swimming in the bay from the deck at the front of the property and a stunning sunset.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Danny

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

Loved it

Great location! Right on the beach and many activities to do that were very close! Place itself was very nice with kitchen and sitting areas!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jnaneshwar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful river view with peace
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Melanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is mega cool. Such an awesome spot right on the estuary. We walked for 5 minutes to the ocean and saw leopard seals sleeping onshore. Communal facilities are clean an water pressure in shower is great.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Second time stay.

I had the pleasure to visit the Catlins again this year so took the opportunity to stay agsin in Surat as well this accommodation. The owner very friendly & helpful. It’s a great wee spot & property has awesome views of the sea & bay area. Large grounds as well with outdoor seating. Definitely will stay another time.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Glenis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
What a fabulous find. Extremely clean place, walking distace to the beach to find sealions basking in the sun, well equipped kitchen with comfy beds and a sunny lounge to relax in. A geat meeting place of interesting travellers, and the best hosts. Thankyou so much for your hospitality. 💝💖
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Melissa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The stay was right on the bay, and the host was incredibly friendly and always checking in with guests to ensure they had everything they needed to feel right at home. She was very bubbly and funny! The only issue we had was that the shower was freezing after only a few minutes, and no matter whether I turned it off for a while it didn’t get warm again. There were also a lot of rules written around the building stating charges if guests didn’t abide, so I did feel a little on edge about possibly being charged for accidentally doing anything. Some felt unnecessary and as though I was at school, but I understand that there have likely been events in the past to feel the need to enforce those things. This is a really beautiful stay in the Catlins, and we saw sea lions on the beach!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Andrés

Disliked: Staff & service

Nice location bad hotel service

The location is very nice and it deserves to meet Surat Bay! However, maybe this hotel is not the best choice as the treat received was not good at all. Although we hace contact to the hotel to comunicate our arrival time (8.30 pm) and they confirm us that there was no problem, the girl receive us angry saying that we do not write them and open our room giving us the key without explaining nothing about the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful, Fantastic, wish i had booked a longer stay
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nikita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I had the pleasure of staying here for 1 night and it was wonderful. The location is perfect and quiet, and it was good to enjoy some peace after spending time in other busier towns/cities. Esther was a great host, very kind and welcoming. Will be recommending this place to anyone who travels to this part of New Zealand.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

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

Secluded backpackers

Surat Bay Lodge is an enjoyable place to stay as a backpacker, with a nice kitchen and living area to hang out in. The bay itself is steps away, and extremely quiet. Enjoyed my stay, but a car is a must.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Wunderschöne Unterkunft! Superliebe Gastgeber, unglaublich schöne Lage, familiär und alles da was man braucht!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Eric

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

Chambre avec salle de bain partagée

Très bien placé, la chambre partage les espaces communs (salle de bain, wc, cuisine, séjour)
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Katja

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Schöne Lage am Wasser mit der Möglichkeit Seelöwen zu sehen, gutes Zimmer, sehr sauber, umfangreiche Küche Ausstattung. Sehr nette und hilfsbereite Gastgeberin. Vielen Dank, wir haben unseren Aufenthalt sehr genossen!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Shared Bathroom...

Achtung: Es war bei unserer Buchung nicht klar erkennbar, dass das die Zimmer kein eigenes Badezimmer hat. Es gibt nur zwei gemeinsame Badezimmer, die über die Küche erreichbar sind, für alle Gäste.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

ross

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice comfortable bed,room had amazing view of beach .lodge was very clean & tidy . Host very friendly .
View from room
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Russell

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

Great place to stay

Great site and lovely charming people, a great place to stay.
Inside our room
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Pedro

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice low-key beachfront place, good value

We had a pleasant three-day stay in November, with only about half the rooms occupied. The place is right on the water, with some wonderful outdoor seating to watch the tide come in and out. Day one a juvenile sea lion snoozed 30 meters from the picnic table! The place is a little worn, but comfortable and completely fair for the price. Water pressure good, wifi fine, communal kitchen has most things but a little small if the place is busy. (there are two stoves and two sinks though) Owners were wonderful, and very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. We saw a yellow eyed penguin thanks to their tip! There is a nice beach walk right off the property. We saw several sea lions every time we walked to the next cliff, about 40 minutes away. (Just past the Triplets) Town is a short drive, and has a great Four Square.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Zara

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

Friendly and homely hospitality right on the beach

We enjoyed another lovely stay at Surat Bay Lodge with Esther & Jack, who warmly welcomed us and our children back. Our boys loved helping to feed the chickens again, trying their hands at fishing and eating some of what Dad had caught fresh off the on-site BBQ. And I got to see a big sea lion bull waddle all the way up the beach on one of my walks. Feels like a return to our own beach bach.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Nice location on beach front and really friendly host. The property is an older building and shared facilities were OK.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2021