Planning for a trip to NZ to spend about a week in North and two weeks in South.

Current thinking is to use motels as we understand most have cooking facilities in rooms. This appeals as we don't want to be tied to meal times and being able to get our own meals will give us much more freedom.

However initial research does not make it clear as to how widely available cooking facilities in rooms are. We get the impression some have kitchens (which presumably are equipped with utensils, crockery etc), others have microwaves (but what about utensils etc?).

Any clarification on prepapring your own meals in NZ motels would be welcome.

Thank you.

It will come down to the individual property, some will have, some won't, also there could be serviced apartments and other sorts of lodgings, if you can advise the names of towns hopefully people can come up with specifics.

One of the definig requirements of a Motel is that it must provide some form of cooking a meal. As you have discovered, this may mean nothing more that a microwave and an electric jug. Most, however, will have a small kitchen, with a refrigerator, and a tub for washing dishes. (you are supposed to clean up after yourself).

There will be some cooking utensils, often just 2 pots, and frying pan, but sometimes more, and crockery & cutlery sufficient for the number of guests the room is licensed for.

The means of cooking will vary, from a full electric cooker with 4 hobs and a full oven, to just a microwave oven. The most common configuration is a 2 element cooker, a microwave, an electric kettle and a toaster.

You will probably find once you get here that you don't want to cook a big meal every day, and that some days a microwave, jug & toaster is adequate. It would pay to check with each property is this is really important toyou.

Here is your New Zealand Motel information
http://www.newzealandatoz.com/motelsandmotorlodges.php

We stayed in motels throughout NZ durig a three month trip last year, and while facilities did vary we never had a problem turning out a meal. At the minimum, you get a two-burner cooktop, microwave, toaster and kettle, with adequate pots and utensils. Some places you'll luck into a big electric frying pan, and on the rare occasion, an oven. And virtually everywhere you will get a carton of milk, some biscuits and a warm welcome. If you have specific towns in mind, I'd be happy to provide some recommendations.

cheers.

Thanks to all for replies.

vbca: point about size of meals understood, but as I take anti-coagulants I have to try to maintain a degree of consistency in diet.