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Kaikōura Bella Vista
Brendon and Julia welcome you to Bella Vista Motel, Kaikōura
This property has been independently assessed by Qualmark as 4 star quality accommodation.
Kaikōura is the perfect location for whale watching and other wildlife adventures. From our motel, Kaikōura town centre is easily accessible, making it convenient base from which to explore the many shops, restaurants and activities on offer.
We have ample safe parking and Kaikōura is perfect to explore on foot. We are within 5 minutes’ walking distance of the town centre and the information centre. Kaikōura Whale Watch and the Dolphin and Albatross Encounter are just a 10 minutes’ walk away.
Our Kaikōura motel is also close to the hospital, Takahanga Marae, racecourse and local churches.
Our superior smoke-free motel in Kaikōura accommodation includes a variety of studios and one bedroom units. Our purpose built access units have been designed with parking at the door for your convenience. You have a choice of king, queen or single beds with electric blankets for those cooler nights.
Wireless internet is available with a spacious work desk in every room. Units vary from just tea and toast making facilities to those with cooking facilities. We offer continental breakfasts and evening meals charge back facilities, dine in or dine out.
You can be assured of a warm welcome at reception where we will assist you in every way possible. Contact us for more information on availability, rates and rooms at Bella Vista Motel Kaikoura.
Use the BOOK DIRECT booking panel to get an instant update on availability, rates and rooms at Bella Vista Motel Kaikōura.
FEATURES
- 18 superior self-contained fully serviced motel units
- Stunning Kaikōura mountain views
- Accessible units
- Guest laundry
- Outside barbecue
- Fax & copying services
- Type 2 EV chargers. Please pre-book.
- Eftpos and credit card facilities
- Double glazing throughout
- Motel uses ECO friendly cleaning regime.
- Sky TV sport 1 and 2
- 8 Digital Freeview TV channels
Room Options
Deals
Best Price? Book Direct.
By booking online at www.bellavista.co.nz, you can have peace of mind that you are getting the best rate, every time.
Bella Vista Rewards
Stay 10 times across 3 locations within 24 months and we'll send you a $100 voucher!
Preferential Business Rates
If you're looking for a lower rate when travelling regularly for business, feel free to apply here.
REVIEWS
LOCATION
Location Highlights
Bella Vista Kaikōura is ideally located just off State Highway 1, perched on a hill overlooking the charming coastal town of Kaikōura. Its elevated position offers stunning panoramic views across the Pacific Ocean to the majestic Kaikōura Ranges. Just a short walk to town and local attractions, visitors enjoy the perfect balance of convenience and tranquility. The location makes it an ideal base for exploring Kaikōura’s natural beauty and marine adventures.
- 5 minute walk to Kaikōura town centre
- 10 minute walk to bus station
- 10 walk to Kaikōura beah & esplanade
- 15 minute walk to Dolphin Encounter
- 20 minute walk to Whale Watch Kaikōura
- 3 minute drive to Kaikōura Railway Station
OUR STORY
Introducing your host, Brendon & Julia
Brendon and Julia Macphail made the big move from New Plymouth to Kaikōura in 2016, trading city life for a new adventure by the sea. Brendon left behind a career in engineering, and Julia hung up her florist’s apron, as they took on the challenge of running the Bella Vista Motel—just weeks before the Kaikōura earthquake struck. Despite the rocky start, they rolled up their sleeves and never looked back. They've loved raising their three children in Kaikōura’s tight-knit, supportive community, and now with two grandchildren close by, life feels even richer. For Brendon and Julia, it’s the small-town charm, the incredible landscape, and the genuine people that make Kaikōura feel like exactly where they’re meant to be.
Kaikoura, Canterbury - Your Destination
Kaikōura, a coastal town on New Zealand’s South Island, is renowned for its breathtaking marine life and dramatic mountain-meets-ocean landscape. Its name comes from Te Reo Māori—kai meaning food and kōura meaning crayfish—highlighting the area's long association with seafood gathering. The region has deep cultural significance to local iwi, particularly Ngāti Kurī, a hapū of Ngāi Tahu, who have occupied the area for centuries, using it as a seasonal settlement and food gathering site. European settlers arrived in the 1800s, drawn by whaling and farming opportunities. Today, Kaikōura is known not only for its rich Māori heritage and pioneer history but also for its resilience following the 2016 earthquake and its strong commitment to sustainable tourism and marine conservation.
Our Community Involvement
Community is at the heart of everything Brendon and Julia Macphail do, and it shows in the way Bella Vista Kaikōura is woven into the fabric of the town. Brendon has proudly served as a volunteer firefighter for over ten years, turning out to emergencies at all hours with the same quiet dedication he brings to the motel. Julia, with her calm energy and love for connection, runs a weekly yoga class where a simple gold coin donation goes straight to supporting the local library.
But their support doesn’t stop there. Bella Vista Kaikōura is a proud sponsor of the annual Whale Run event—one of the community’s most loved fundraisers—and they regularly lend a hand or a helping dollar to other causes around town. For Brendon and Julia, giving back isn’t a duty—it’s just part of being good neighbours in a place they love.
Our Sustainabililty Practices
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at Bella Vista Kaikōura—it’s a way of life. For the past eight years, the motel has been quietly leading by example, using an Expleco glass crusher to divert over 8 tonnes of glass from landfill—much of it not just from the motel, but from other businesses in town too. In the backyard, two hardworking worm farms take care of food scraps, while a compost bin handles paper and cardboard waste, turning yesterday’s rubbish into tomorrow’s garden goodness.
Brendon and Julia believe in doing what they can, right now, with what they have—and that practical, hands-on approach fits perfectly with Kaikōura’s proud commitment to sustainable tourism and protecting the precious marine environment just beyond their doorstep.