High Street Court Motel

Update 24 July 2008

The motel has been sold at the start of July 2008. The new owners are building an extension, so the motel will be closed for several months.

Update 24 Feb 2009

On my last visit to Dunedin just the other day I drove past this motel to check out if it has reopened. And it has - under a new name, with a new look and new rates. The very affordable High Street Court Motel has reopened this month as the luxurious Palms Motel. There are no rates on the motel's website which is a bad start. I give them the benefit of the doubt and hope this is only a starting problem, and the website is not finished yet.

The nice lady on the phone told me the rates which are as follows:

Studio unit .......... NZ$ 140 to 155 (with kitchenette)
1 bedroom unit ... NZ$ 165 to 175 (with hob and microwave but no oven)
2 bedroom unit ... NZ$ 180 (with oven)

It looks fantastic from the outside. If you did not know that you are at the correct address you would not think this is the former slightly dated and old-fashioned High Street Court Motel - where I have stayed many times for its fantastic location so close to the city centre, with full kitchen facilities and great rates under NZ$ 100 per night. It has even been extended by a city-side wing.

On the motel website I can see that the interior looks as fantastic as the new exterior, the furniture of high standard, like taken from a home style magazine. You know, leather couches, flat-screen TV's, DVD player, etc. The upstairs units have balconies, and the bigger units have full kitchens. 26 units in total.

As spectacular as the new motel is, it is sad to have lost an affordable and somehow charmingly laid-back motel at a great location. Travelling is not all about luxury, especially not in times of recession.

The motel is located just a 2 min walk from the Casino and the Speights Ale House, the Warehouse is a minute away.

Contact details:

Dunedin Palms Motel
185-195 High St, Dunedin, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 477 8293 - Fax: +64 3 477 8298
Reservation Freephone: 0800 STAY DUNEDIN (0800 782 938)
Email: dunedinpalmsmotel@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.dunedinpalmsmotel.co.nz

All photos are only from the good old days when The Palms was the High Street Court Motel. Please check the website to see what you can expect now.

Directions: Because of some one-way streets you cannot drive the direct way to the motel. From the city centre or Queens Gardens follow direction "Mornington" on the signs, this leads directly up High St.