The best hotels in Timaru range from a historic building in the city centre to purpose built suites and serviced apartments a short drive from Caroline Bay. Hotels in Timaru cover in house restaurant and bar service, conference rooms, spa baths and self contained kitchenettes, so business travellers, families and touring couples all have a base that fits. The Grosvenor Hotel and Comfort Hotel Benvenue both serve breakfast and dinner on site, while motor lodge and apartment style accommodation suits longer stays with a full kitchen.
1The Grosvenor Hotel
The Grosvenor Hotel occupies a historic building on Cains Terrace in central Timaru, with 28 rooms and suites sitting above the TGB restaurant and bar. The rooms are pet friendly and fitted out with vintage furniture, low VOC paints and recycled materials, while the corridors and landings carry work by local and international artists. It suits guests who want to sleep, eat and hold a meeting in one place, with compact hotel rooms for a single night and larger suites for an extended stay.
Services
- Hotel rooms for short stays and suites for extended stays
- TGB restaurant and bar, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Three conference rooms for board meetings and team events
- Weddings, birthday celebrations and private parties
- Gift vouchers
Highlights
- Pet friendly rooms, with dogs welcome throughout the accommodation
- Eco elements across the 28 rooms, including low VOC paints and recycled materials
- Artwork by local and international artists in the common areas, corridors and landings
- The CRFU was formed in the building on 26 July 1879
- Sister property to the Garden Hotel and Restaurant in Christchurch
Location & Contact
Name: The Grosvenor Hotel
Address: 26 Cains Terrace, Timaru
Phone: 03 687 9190
Website: thegrosvenor.co.nz
2Comfort Hotel Benvenue
Comfort Hotel Benvenue stands on Evans Street in Maori Hill, a few minutes stroll from Caroline Bay, the CBD, the Aquatic Centre and the Aigantighe Art Gallery. Studio rooms and executive suites sit alongside the Brooklyn restaurant, Harry’s Bar and a gymnasium that is open to everyone staying at the hotel. Conference facilities and packages built for sports teams and groups make it a practical choice for business trips and tournament weekends.
Services
- Standard, executive and balcony studio rooms
- Executive suites and two bedroom executive suites
- Brooklyn restaurant, serving breakfast and dinner with packed lunches on request
- Harry’s Bar, open Monday to Saturday from early evening
- Conference facilities and group packages for sports teams
Highlights
- Fully equipped gymnasium with treadmills, rowing machines, cross trainers and bench and leg presses
- Four EV charging stations, free to hotel guests and available around the clock
- Two car parks allocated to every room
- Seasonal a la carte menu, with set and buffet menus for groups over 15
- In room Chromecast and secure complimentary WiFi
Location & Contact
Name: Comfort Hotel Benvenue
Address: 16-22 Evans Street, Maori Hill, Timaru 7910
Phone: 03 688 4049
Website: benvenuehotel.co.nz
3ASURE Ashley Motor Lodge
ASURE Ashley Motor Lodge sits on King Street and offers self contained studio, one bedroom and two bedroom units with full kitchen facilities. Most unit types include a double corner spa bath and a separate shower, and the deluxe and corporate studios are laid out for wheelchair access. The mix of work stations, kitchens and separate lounges suits corporate guests on weeknights and families or groups needing more room.
Services
- Deluxe and superior studio units
- Executive studios and single occupancy corporate studios
- One bedroom units with a private courtyard
- Two bedroom units, twin king or king with two singles
Highlights
- Double corner spa baths with a separate shower in most unit types
- Deluxe and corporate studios suitable for wheelchair access
- Chromecast on 40 inch and 50 inch LCD televisions
- Sky channels in both bedrooms and lounges, with 50 plus channels in the two bedroom units
- Part of the ASURE Accommodation group of independently owned properties
Location & Contact
Name: ASURE Ashley Motor Lodge
Address: 95-99 King Street, Timaru 7910
Phone: 03 688 9939
Website: ashleymotorlodge.co.nz
4Bay Viaduct Motor Lodge
Bay Viaduct Motor Lodge is run by co owners Sandra and Adrienne on the corner of the main highway and Wai-iti Road, a few minutes walk from the penguin viewing area at Caroline Bay and around 100 metres from the nearest cafes, bars and restaurants. Room types run from ground floor one bedroom apartments with a private patio to an executive and honeymoon suite with a double spa bath and a balcony looking out to sea. Double glazing, air conditioning and unlimited fibre WiFi come as standard across the property.
Services
- One bedroom and two bedroom apartments
- Executive and honeymoon suite with a double spa bath and sea view balcony
- Continental breakfast available to guests
- Corporate bookings for business travellers
- Guest laundry, hairdryer and ironing facilities
Highlights
- Sea views and private patios on the middle and upper floors
- Electric car charging on site
- Secure, monitored off street parking
- Cots, highchairs and accessible units available on request
Location & Contact
Name: Bay Viaduct Motor Lodge
Address: Cnr Main Highway and Wai-iti Road, Timaru
Phone: 03 686 6338
Website: bayviaduct.co.nz
5Coastal Ridge Apartments
Coastal Ridge Apartments is a serviced apartment property on King Street in Kensington, set back from the road and double glazed throughout so the rooms stay quiet. Executive studios occupy the top floor with balcony views, one bedroom apartments sit on the ground and first floors, and a ground floor accessible apartment adds a wet floor shower and bathroom handrails. There is no lift in the building, so the upper floors are reached by stairs.
Services
- Executive studios with a spa bath, shower and kitchenette
- One bedroom apartments with a king bed, single bed and sofa bed
- Accessible one bedroom apartment with a wet floor shower and handrails
- Continental breakfast available to guests
Highlights
- Balcony views towards the city and the mountains from the upper floors
- Nespresso coffee machines in the one bedroom apartments and plunger coffee in the studios
- Secure bike storage with charging facilities
- Sky Guest Select with 50 plus channels including sport and movies, on 46 inch smart televisions
- Member of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce
Location & Contact
Name: Coastal Ridge Apartments
Address: 38 King Street, Kensington, Timaru 7910
Phone: 03 684 4084
Website: coastalridgetimaru.nz
Hotels in Timaru at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| The Grosvenor Hotel | Pet friendly rooms, with dogs welcome throughout the accommodation |
| Comfort Hotel Benvenue | Fully equipped gymnasium with treadmills, rowing machines |
| ASURE Ashley Motor Lodge | Double corner spa baths with a separate shower in most unit types |
| Bay Viaduct Motor Lodge | Sea views and private patios on the middle and upper floors |
| Coastal Ridge Apartments | Balcony views towards the city and the mountains from the upper floors |
How to Choose the Right Hotel in Timaru
- Decide whether you need catering on site. A hotel with its own restaurant and bar removes the evening drive, while a self contained unit with a kitchen suits longer stays and early starts.
- Match the room type to the group. Studios work for one or two people, while two bedroom units and one bedroom apartments with a sofa bed take families and work crews without a second booking.
- Check the access details before booking. Some Timaru properties have wheelchair accessible ground floor units, and others are multi storey with no lift.
- Look at parking and charging. Off street parking matters on the main highway, and several properties now have electric vehicle charging for guests.
- Think about what you are in town for. Caroline Bay, the CBD and the Aquatic Centre sit close together, while King Street and the main highway put you nearer the hospital and the road south.
Frequently Asked Questions About Timaru Hotels
What should I expect to pay for a hotel in Timaru?
Rates move with the room type, the season and how far ahead you book. A studio for one or two people usually sits well below a two bedroom unit or an executive suite with a spa bath. Several Timaru properties invite you to book direct rather than through a booking site, so it is worth checking their own page before you confirm.
Which part of Timaru is the best place to stay?
For Caroline Bay, the CBD and the Aquatic Centre, the city centre and Maori Hill are the closest, with Cains Terrace and Evans Street both within a short walk of the bay. King Street in Kensington runs along the main route south, closer to the Botanic Gardens at the southern end of the city. The corner of Wai-iti Road and the main highway sits between the two, a short walk from the bay and the cafes on the Bay Hill.
Which Timaru hotel is closest to Caroline Bay?
Caroline Bay sits directly below the city centre, so anywhere on or near Cains Terrace and the Bay Hill is a walk of a few minutes, and Evans Street in Maori Hill is roughly ten minutes on foot. The penguin viewing area, where kororā come ashore in the evening, is reached along the same waterfront and is a short walk from the Wai-iti Road corner.
Do hotels in Timaru have restaurants on site?
Some do. The Grosvenor Hotel has the TGB restaurant and bar downstairs, and Comfort Hotel Benvenue runs the Brooklyn restaurant and Harry’s Bar, with breakfast, dinner and packed lunches available. Motor lodges and serviced apartments generally provide a kitchenette or full kitchen instead, and several offer a continental breakfast.
Is there accommodation in Timaru with a spa bath?
Yes. Double corner spa baths are common in the motor lodge and apartment units, and some suites pair a spa bath with a private balcony. Spa bath units are usually a limited number of rooms rather than the whole property, so ask for one at the time of booking rather than on arrival.
Can I find accessible accommodation in Timaru?
Yes. Several properties have ground floor units set up for wheelchair access, with wet floor showers, bathroom handrails and flat off street parking, and others can arrange an accessible unit on request. Because some buildings are multi storey with no lift, confirm the specific unit rather than the property when access matters.
What is the difference between a hotel, a motor lodge and a serviced apartment?
A hotel typically has reception hours, serviced rooms and shared facilities such as a restaurant, bar, gym or conference rooms. A motor lodge is built around self contained units with a kitchen and parking at the door. A serviced apartment sits between the two, with apartment style living space, a kitchenette and housekeeping, which tends to suit stays of several nights.
How do I check the quality rating of a Timaru property?
Star ratings quoted on booking sites are not all issued by the same body. New Zealand’s official tourism quality assurance scheme is run by Qualmark, which assesses accommodation and issues a star grading, so a Qualmark rating is the one to look for. Booking sites also apply their own internal scores, so a star figure there is not the same thing as an independent assessment of the property.
How We Chose the Best Hotels in Timaru
Every business in this guide was found by searching for hotels in Timaru, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Timaru, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.