Glowworm Motel offers a serene escape with its beautiful garden and laundry facilities. Relax by the seasonal outdoor pool, stay connected with in-room WiFi, and take advantage of free self parking.
Altura Gardens & Wildlife Park - 7 min drive - 9.0 km
Caveworld - 8 min drive - 9.3 km
Kiwi House Native Bird Park - 8 min drive - 11.2 km
Waitomo Glowworm Caves - 8 min drive - 9.7 km
Woodlyn Park - 9 min drive - 9.7 km
Getting around
Hamilton (HLZ-Hamilton Intl.) - 50 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 7 min drive
Waitomo Homestead - 17 min walk
Subway - 6 min drive
Ronnies Cafe - 7 min drive
Stoked Eatery - 10 min drive
About this property
Glowworm Motel
Glowworm Motel puts you within a 10-minute drive of Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Guests can take a dip in the seasonal outdoor pool, and freebies like WiFi and self parking are added perks.
At a glance
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Hotel size
9 rooms
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Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:30 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 10:00 AM
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Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 8 AM - 8:30 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after noon please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
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Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
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Children
No cribs (infant beds)
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Pets
Pets not allowed
Service animals welcome
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free uncovered onsite self parking
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Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Barbecue grills
Traveling with children
Pool gate
Fence around the pool
Services
Front desk (limited hours)
Tour/ticket assistance
Laundry facilities
Facilities
Garden
Seasonal outdoor pool
Accessibility
No elevator (single level property)
Room amenities
Be entertained
Flat-screen television
Home comfort
Electric kettle
Iron/ironing board (on request)
Sleep well
Bed sheets provided
What to enjoy
Individually furnished
Freshen up
Private bathroom
Shower only
Hair dryer (on request)
Towels
Stay connected
Free WiFi
Phone
Food and drink
Microwave
Toaster
Free tea bags/instant coffee
More
Limited housekeeping
Fees & policies
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
The seasonal pool is open from November 01 to March 31
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher on site.
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard
Also known as
Glowworm Motel Hangatiki
Glowworm Motel
Glowworm Hangatiki
Frequently asked questions
Does Glowworm Motel offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Glowworm Motel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at Glowworm Motel?
Yes, there's a seasonal outdoor pool.
Are pets allowed at Glowworm Motel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at Glowworm Motel?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Glowworm Motel?
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:30 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM.
What is there to do at Glowworm Motel and nearby?
Glowworm Motel has a seasonal outdoor pool and a garden.
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Reviews
Glowworm Motel Reviews
8.2
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
8.4
Cleanliness
7.6
Location
9.0
Staff & service
7.6
Property conditions & facilities
Popular mentions
Location
Bed
Room
Reviews
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 26, 2026
We had a great stay. The room was incredibly clean. Bed comfortable and shower nice and hot with good power. Great recommendations for the local area too.
Definitely value for money and we would stay again.
Emma
Emma, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jan 3, 2026
The room was nice to stay in, and the room was maintained.
Albert
Albert, 5-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 19, 2025
Really friendly and helpful owners and the room is very clean.
Emily
Emily, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 20, 2025
The kitchen was great to use. It was very well stocked with plates, pans, utensils etc. We enjoyed our stay, and our host was very helpful. The glowworm tour he suggested was amazing 👏
Mary
Mary, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 6, 2025
Clean and comfortable older motel. Room had everything needed for either summer or winter stays including electric blankets. Only stayed couple of nights for local activities but wouldn’t hesitate to stay again. Owners lovely and very helpful. Recommend
Tracey
Tracey, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 17, 2025
The staff were amazing they put the heater on for us before we got there beds were nice and they waited for us as we had a late arrival
brianna
brianna, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 6, 2025
We were only there for one night as we were travelling to Auckland.
The unit was perfect for our requirements. Super comfy beds and quiet.
The host was really lovely too.
Would definitely recommend and stay again ourselves.
Caroline
Caroline, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Feb 5, 2025
This was older style accomodation, but more than adequate. The rooms were clean, everything worked and the host was a wholesome helpful property manager. We would stay again when next in the area.
Glenn
Glenn, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 19, 2024
The people were so hospitable and helpful. Provided lots of helpful advice about local must-go destinations and eats. Very clean rooms with nice kitchenette and cooking supplies.
Karen
Karen, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 30, 2023
The staff gave us detailed information about the area, which made our trip more enjoyable. The motel had everything we needed.
Ken
Ken, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 27, 2025
Excellent service. Nice information and history given regarding the area and things to do while you are in Waitomo.
Ireen
Ireen, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Nov 4, 2024
Lovely warm welcome. Lots of information given about the caves and walks. Room was great with everything we needed.
Melanie
Melanie, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 11, 2025
A great basic motel. Super clean and close to Waitomo caves and a couple places to eat. Had everything you need. Motel is dated but super clean & comfortable and that’s all I care about! Kitchen amenities good. Heater was on & room was warm for us on arrival.
Tania
Tania, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 13, 2024
We had a good overnight experience staying at Glow Worm Motel. Of course it is not a 5-star hotel, but pretty neat and the rate is just compare to other motels in the area. Located near Glow Worm Cave, dining areas, fuel station, etc. Host is very accommodating and provided guide and tips to go around in Waitomo.
Irene
Irene, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jan 3, 2025
It's an older property with limited amenities, however the room is clean and the area is safe. It's off the beaten path, but not far from Waitomo Cave.
Doreen
Doreen, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 5, 2024
Great stay and great service!
We checked if we could check in early and they allowed us to! It was very helpful for our schedule. They helped us get everything we needed during our stay and were very helpful in telling us about the area. Room was spotless and beds were comfortable and not broken down. Thanks for the great stay!
Nathan
Nathan, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 29, 2023
What a great place, hosts were amazing, great location, great customer service, super helpful with information, and keen to make sure we had the best time at the place and in town. THANK YOU!!
Marcelo
Marcelo, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 4, 2025
Very convenient for me in the circumstances. Chris was very friendly and welcoming.
Jill
Jill, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Sep 30, 2024
Convenient location between the family event we attended near Pirongia and the local touring afterward (Waitomo cave area). Comfortable room. Only down mark was the shower which was a little sparse in its water flow and pressure
Catherine
Catherine, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 1, 2024
Nice room, nice shower, all clean and well maintained. Exceptionally friendly reception with valuable hints on glow worm experience just on a nearby bush walk and on coastal route south. So helpful and welcoming!!!
Hartmut
Hartmut, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 20, 2024
Had a pool, which in the 30deg heat was awesome. Chris was great too. Very personable. Cheers
Pamela
Pamela, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Dec 1, 2024
Nice clean and tidy self-contained unit. Pleased with accommodation. Pity it was hard to find where to check in. Good signage would solve this. Planting some low maintenance native plants (pongas and using limeston rock features) near the front without costing a fortune would be a lovely addition to the name. Would stay again.
Andrea
Andrea, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 26, 2024
Great place to stay and have a break
Michael
Michael, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 14, 2023
My family of three enjoyed over 1 night stay, we were greeted by the friendly owner who kindly gave us some advise about the local area.
Tonneal
Tonneal, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 2, 2025
Great stop over
We let the owner know we would be arriving late and he was very friendly and accommodating. The place is old but super clean, quiet and the shower is good. We had a good, sound sleep.