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Ambassador Thermal Motel

3.5 star property
3.5-star hotel near Polynesian Spa

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Ambassador Thermal Motel

Indoor pool, 2 outdoor pools
Terrace/patio
Exterior
Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms | Private kitchen | Fridge, microwave, stovetop, electric kettle
2 bedrooms, blackout drapes, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
Cnr Whakaue & Hinemaru Streets, Rotorua, 3040
  • Place, Eat Street
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Tamaki Maori Village
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Polynesian Spa
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, Rotorua (ROT-Rotorua Regional)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Room options

Basic Apartment, 1 Bedroom

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(7 reviews)
  • 710 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Basic Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 1033 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Double Bed and 4 Twin Beds

Basic Studio, Multiple Beds

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(13 reviews)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Standard Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

  • 1033 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 7
  • 2 Double Beds and 3 Twin Beds

View all photos for Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom | 2 bedrooms, blackout drapes, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(17 reviews)
  • 710 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Double Bed and 3 Twin Beds

Economy Apartment, 1 Bedroom

7.6 out of 10
Good
(5 reviews)
  • 710 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Basic Studio, 1 Double Bed

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(8 reviews)
  • 377 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms | 2 bedrooms, blackout drapes, soundproofing, iron/ironing board

Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(7 reviews)
  • 1033 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Double Beds and 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Rotorua

Inner City stay.At this Inner City hotel, you'll be within a 5-minute walk of Government Gardens and Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Centre. Eat Street and Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre are also within half a mile (1 km).

What's nearby

  • Eat Street - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Tamaki Maori Village - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Rotorua Night Market - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Polynesian Spa - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Skyline Rotorua - 6 min drive - 2.9 miles

Getting around

  • Rotorua (ROT-Rotorua Regional) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Brew | Craft Beer Pub - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Fat Dog Cafe - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪The Fainting Goat - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪CBK Craft Bar & Kitchen - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Aroma Cafe - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Ambassador Thermal Motel

3.5-star hotel near Polynesian Spa
As a guest of Ambassador Thermal Motel, you'll find 2 outdoor swimming pools, an indoor pool, and a children's pool. WiFi is free in public spaces. Ambassador Thermal Motel also features tour/ticket assistance, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 3.5-star Rotorua hotel.

  • 19 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • 2 buildings
  • Self-service laundry
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Smoking in designated areas
Ambassador Thermal Motel offers 19 accommodations with hair dryers and irons/ironing boards. Accommodations at this 3.5-star hotel have kitchens with refrigerators, stovetops, microwaves, and cookware/dishes/utensils.

Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries. This Rotorua hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Additionally, rooms include fans and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided daily.

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  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Housekeeping
3.8 out of 5, Good, 253 reviews
$57 nightly
The price is $66
Oct 15 - Oct 16
Total with taxes and fees
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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • In-room kitchen
  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Indoor pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Free offsite parking
  • Street parking available
  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Indoor pool

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 32-inch TV with cable/satellite channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

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

Food and drink

  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Tea bags/instant coffee

More

  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open Monday - Friday (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM) and Saturday - Sunday (9:00 AM - 8:00 PM)
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Renovations and closures

The following facilities are closed seasonally each year. They will be closed from March 16 to April 10:
  • One of the swimming pools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Breakage deposit: NZD 100 per stay

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

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 major credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts major credit cards, Visa, Mastercard, debit cards, and cash.

National rating

For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.

Property is also known as

Ambassador Thermal
Ambassador Thermal Motel
Ambassador Thermal Motel Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Hotel Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Motel Hotel
Ambassador Thermal Motel Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Motel Hotel Rotorua

Frequently asked questions

How close is Ambassador Thermal Motel to the airport?

Ambassador Thermal Motel is 5.7 mi (13-min drive) away from the Rotorua (ROT-Rotorua Regional) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Ambassador Thermal Motel?

As of Sep 28, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Ambassador Thermal Motel on Oct 28, 2025 start from $66.49, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Ambassador Thermal Motel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Ambassador Thermal Motel.

Does Ambassador Thermal Motel offer free breakfast?

Ambassador Thermal Motel does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Ambassador Thermal Motel?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at Ambassador Thermal Motel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Ambassador Thermal Motel?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does Ambassador Thermal Motel have a pool?

Ambassador Thermal Motel features 2 outdoor pools, an indoor pool, and a children's pool. One of the pools is closed seasonally each year from March 16 to April 10.

Does Ambassador Thermal Motel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is Ambassador Thermal Motel to downtown Rotorua?

Ambassador Thermal Motel is 0.4 mi away from Rotorua.

Reviews

Ambassador Thermal Motel Reviews

8.4

Very Good

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 222 out of 568 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 244 out of 568 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 70 out of 568 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 24 out of 568 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 568 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Austin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place if you have a budget, pool was quiet and really nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Simon

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place is very run down, the bathroom vanity was rotten and the shower head was not attached to the wall. The only chair was a ripped vinyl one.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Sarah

Liked: Staff & service
Great location, rooms were warm and beds comfy and clean. Easy check in and had everything you needed. The facilities are a touch outdated but a bit of a water-blast around the pools, leaf blow will make a difference. Cobwebs on stair handles, bugs on lights around pools etc often people notice these things. Otherwise perfect location to lakefront and eat street and will return.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Jannis

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Not happy at all
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Juan

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really enjoyed the thermal pool. Great experience on a cold moon lite night.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything in New Zealand is incredible
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Denis

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Like the location & good view.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Natalie

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Over all not a bad stay at the Ambassador. Great location for walking to the water front, park, eat street dining, government gardens and spas. There are 4 pool options and they are all heated which was amazing. However a few things could certainly be improved. There is only enough parking for approximately 5 cars on site, and standard size cars at best. Everyone else must park on the street and thats luck of the draw during the day. The decor, beds and facilities could do with an update, but were clean and tidy. We stayed in a room downstairs which was next to the owners. They were nice people; however the noise level that came from their quarters was alot and we did have to comment at one point. My only other comment which isnt a major but became slightly annoying, we booked a 1 bedroom apartment for 4 people (2x adults, 5yr old and 2 yr old), which had 3 beds as one child is still in a portacot. The annoying part was there was only 3 of everything offered in the room, 3 towels, 3 cups, 3 plates, 3 chairs, 3 knifes and forks etc. So not a big deal but like i said became annoying.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dorothea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly welcome. Speedy checkin. Spacious, clean, well equipped, warm and comfortable unit. Outdoor deck with view of lake. Fabulous large spa pool and nice thermal pool. Great location. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very hard seating no couch to sit on
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

2/10 Terrible

Stacey

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Unfortunately very dissatisfied. We lasted about 10 minutes after arriving. The staff were absolutely lovely.. but we got the room right next to the office so everyone who walks past would stare into your room and it had an awful stench of smell in it I just couldn’t handle it. The spa was tiny and pretty much in the garden, not suitable for more than 2-3 people :( and you had to walk down a dark Cora door and duck under the stairs to get to the main pool area. The pool says heated but was very cold. Not a lot of privacy around the area at all. Quite run down and dark. Was very disappointed and unfortunately gave our key back and booked accommodation elsewhere.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Omair

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a really good property to stay at for one night
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Kataraina

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Nice stay - thank you
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

4/10 Poor

Aimee

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The property is very tired but pretty clean. There was no hot water for our stay and we were not informed about this. It was only after I asked that we were told there was a problem. Towels were clean but had lots of stains on them. The pool and spa were the best part of the accomodation.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Damon

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Excellent location near the waterfront. Walkable to everything in town, including Eat Street. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Caroline

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property manager was polite and friendly. Old motel, but rooms were clean and tidy. Big pool was closed unfortunately, must have been due to season change. The small outdoor spa and thermal pool was open.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Bradley, Buddina

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property might be aged but it was comfortable and everything worked ok in our room
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Carol

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

sheila

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruakiri

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Colin J

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Clean budget hotel

Nice budget hotel with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

MICHAEL, Cardiff

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property was clean, functional and easy to get to.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lesley

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Convenient central location. Comfortable and well equipped.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Elaine, Sutton

Traveled with family
Liked: Amenities
Good location for everything
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025