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Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

3.0 star property
A welcoming countryside retreat where attentive staff create a relaxing atmosphere and the restaurant serves satisfying meals worth savoring

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Photo gallery for Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

Garden - Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery (Piopio)
Bar (on property) - Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery (Piopio)
Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets - Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery (Piopio)
Outdoor dining - Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery (Piopio)
Queen Room | Room amenity - Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery (Piopio)
Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery sits in tranquil surroundings that make it an ideal getaway spot. Guests appreciate the garden space and convenient laundry facilities. The property offers practical in-room WiFi and a restaurant serving tasty dishes that complete the experience.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Business services
  • Bar

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 9 of 9 rooms

View all photos for Queen & Single Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Queen & Single Room

  • Sleeps 3
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Queen Room

Queen Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Queen Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Twin Room

Twin Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Twin Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(18 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Queen & Single Room

Queen & Single Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Queen & Single Room

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(5 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Family Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Room

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

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Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for King + Sofa Bed

King + Sofa Bed | Free WiFi, bed sheets

King + Sofa Bed

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Queen Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Queen Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Twin Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Piopio is home to Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery. Opapake Pa is a local landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Aranui Cave. Visit our Piopio travel guide
View more Motels in Piopio
Map
12 Ruru Street, Piopio, Waikato, 3912

What's nearby

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves
    Waitomo Glowworm Caves
    36 min drive - 31.4 miles
  • Big Shearer
    19 min drive - 17.2 miles
  • Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro
    19 min drive - 17.2 miles
  • Altura Gardens & Wildlife Park
    35 min drive - 30.9 miles
  • Woodlyn Park
    37 min drive - 31.4 miles

Getting around

  • Auckland Intl. Airport (AKL)
    159 min drive

Restaurants

  • Fat Pigeon Cafe
    5 min walk
  • Clover Leaf Cafe
    3 min walk
  • Piopio Cosmopolitan Club
    4 min walk
  • Pio Pio Orchard
    3 min drive

About this property

Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery

Property highlights
Consider a stay at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery and take advantage of a garden, laundry facilities, and a bar. Free in-room WiFi and a restaurant are available to all guests.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • Free self parking
  • Continental breakfast (surcharge), an electric car charging station, and express check-out
  • Express check-in, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk
  • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery offer amenities such as free WiFi.
Other amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with showers and free toiletries
  • Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
  • Coffee/tea makers, heating, and daily housekeeping

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Electric car charging station on site
  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available for a fee: NZD 10 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • 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.
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking

More

  • Banquet hall
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for continental breakfast: approximately NZD 10.00 per person

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
This property accepts credit cards
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

National rating

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery located?

Situated in Piopio, this motel is 8 mi (12.8 km) from Tainui Historical Society Museum and within 16 mi (25 km) of Big Shearer and Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro. Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Opapake Pa are also within 32 mi (52 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

Fat Owl Motel, Bar & Eatery Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.4

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

9.2

Staff & service

8.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 120 out of 222 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 80 out of 222 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 16 out of 222 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 222 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 222 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hetal

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Comfortable stay. Visited with family and was not disappointed with the accomodations.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely clean room
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A welcoming, comfortable environment where we felt right at home!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The room was very clean & beds were comfortable , the share kitchen was great good with a decent size room. We had a medical issue & the staff were fantastic helping us out
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Raewyn

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was comfortable, food and drinks in the restaurant excellent and the staff was lovely. Manager Dee fantastic. Thank you for another lovely stay
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Niamh

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Common area furniture was a bit tired. Excellent staff. Room very clean. BUT the eatery wasnt open the night we stayed which meant a drive to Te Kuiti for evening meal.probably would have chosen to stop in Te Kuiti if we'd known
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awesome spot. Staff so very friendly. Clean and loved the styling.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Alastair

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean and adequate for an overnight stay. Staff were helpful. The bar and eatery was closed the night we were there but the Fat Pigeon around the corner was exceptional for a small town.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Wayne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic place to stay like staying with old friends Food and service out of this world Highly recomend staying here
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Emma

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Nice tidy rooms, friendly staff. Great proximity to the pub!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

ZHEN

Clean room,
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly check-in, and pet friendly. Clean and quiet
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kamalu

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and staff was accommodating.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We were here for maybe 10 hours but very surprising at the quality of room with this stay. One of the best roadside motels ive ever been to in terms of comfort. Large new bed, good qater pressure, clean, and nice soap. Easy check in/out and even though we showed up too late, a nice looking, lively, pub on site. Great stop on our road trip.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Emmett

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We loved staying here. The staff were super friendly and accommodating. The beds, especially the pillows, were a bit on the stiffer side, but everything else was super nice.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

David and Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
everything very clean pub to eat right next door for dinner friendly staff, very clean easy parking
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marianne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This place is a great place to stay. It is comfortable and super clean. They were so lovely and accomodating to my needs and even offered me free breakfast! I was very impressed with the place and would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott

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

Perfect Little Motel

Comfortable, friendly, convenient, and inexpensive.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Welcoming, clean and comfortable. Great for an easy overnight stop
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kath

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good little room for a night.. clean and tidy..
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very pleasant and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vivienne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff are very accommodating
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Comfortable and clean staff very accommodating to a bunch of very wet and dirty cyclists Recommend place to stay nice to have help yourself breakfast available
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
clean tidy friendly rural type setting
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Crystal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Could not fault the fat owl, it was a beautiful little motel in a small country town. Friendly staff, beautiful gardens, lovely kitchen and all the amenities we needed. Loved the restaurant next door. Good value for money.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024