Holiday motel done right. In an age where I find that so many accommodation options claim to be 'boutique' and charge $300+ per night for a room that is anything but, this place gets the balance and the value right. The rooms aren't grand, but they are clean, stylish and comfortable. The view is fantastic. The grounds are well kept. We played tennis on a court in top condition. I realise the refurbishment is still relatively recent so I hope the place is maintained at this level. If it is, I can see this place becoming a favourite for many people for a long time to come. I know we are keen to go back. I rarely give 5 stars but the Hillcrest deserves it. Well done.

A strange one this. The bedroom was very good quality, with good quality products etc. but no plain teabags only loose herbal teas which had to be made in a special container. Great view from the balcony. The bathroom however was a horror, it had an old cracked and stained basin from the 70's, and the shower door which had clearly broken had been replaced by a shower curtain hung from a rusty rod. I saw in the photos that some of the rooms had beautiful bathrooms- so as the motel was not booked out I fail to see why the owners would use this room until it is fully renovated.

Felt like the home away from home. Enjoyed waking up every morning with our breakfast & coffees and simply enjoying the magnificent view from the apartment (self contained) we had throughout our stay. Room amenities and furnishings were of great quality and certainly well thought of. Loved the bed and linen, washing machine and dryer was very convenient. Thoroughly enjoyed staying at Hillcrest - certainly more than a motel. Most definitely recommend!

This motel is an absolute hidden gem - modern, clean, fresh and with views to die for. I have never stayed at a motel before and usually frequent 5-star hotels and needed a place to stay on a NSW - VIC road trip. Found Hillcrest online and instantly was drawn to its modern take on an old school experience and was absolutely blown away when I arrived. The service was excellent, warm, and welcoming. The room (I stayed in the 100% renovated room with a modern bathroom) was out of a magazine - fresh white linens, stone, earthy tones and designs and a balcony overlooking the ocean with a perfect sunrise. Complete mini bar and free parking - it was perfect and highly recc. anyone staying in the area to stay here, you won't want to leave!

This motel was more like a 4 star hotel and we loved our stay. The bed was luxurious, as were the pillows and linen. The bathroom was newly refurbished and the toiletries were lovely. The coffee machine was also a big positive. It reminded me of my childhood, staying in motels. Even the smell was the same. The views from our room were incredible and we were given an upgrade because we booked directly through the motels website (which I always do now). It was a shame it was a bit too cool to swim as the pool and grounds were begging for us to use them. We definitely recommend this lovely little secret.

Nice hotel our room had a great view and a comfortable bed. The grounds include a tennis court, pool and outdoor fireplace. Staff were very friendly and helpful. On the day we left Casper gave us some advice on nice places to visit on our way back up the coast which we used to have an amazing day discovering new places thank you for that!

Great views and quiet location for unwinding from a busy life. One of the few places offering breakfast in Merimbula. Continental breakfast but great and perfect views from the cafe. The mini bar includes 4 types of loose tea which is much better quality than tea bags.

Extremely disappointed with this motel. Very overpriced and for $180 (mid week booking) it wasn’t worth it. The room had an old bathroom blocked exhaust vent and water presser wasn’t good and no shower screen, there was a curtain to try to contain the shower water but it didn’t work and very dated kitchen area. I’m glad I’m stable on my feet because the carpet would easily trip someone up as it’s edges were lifting and the stains on it looked really bad. The digital lock on the door was lucky to be working as it was broken. Don’t believe what it’s like in photos. I’m here for work frequently and I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

Great location, facilities and inclusive breakfast. The outdoor facilities, especially the tennis court is world class- but tad slow after rain. Great views from rooms/balcony. Definitely value for money

We're restricted to 5 stars but we want to give it 10! Lovely atmosphere, lovely staff, great price, incredible views, great location, great breakfast. The pictures don't quite do it justice - you've gotta see it in person! Can't wait to come back.

Spent the weekend enjoying Merimbula with a bunch of mates. Hillcrest only made our weekend that much more enjoyable. Laughs across the tennis court, stories told around the fire pit and a welcoming Hillcrest crew made our stay that much more special! Will be back 100%

Super friendly and knowledgeable staff, beautiful clean refurbished rooms, with wonderful view of Merimbula and ocean. Great bbq area, tennis court and fire pit. Comfortable king bed, with no road noise.

Outstanding, a must stay. Lovely staff, comfortable beds, stunning views and a great breakfast (we loved the locally sourced produce!). Thanks for making us feel so welcome, relaxed and at home. Already looking forward to our next visit!

We had the best 2 night stay at Hillcrest! The rooms are comfortable, clean and have everything you need. Love that they’ve updated the rooms while keeping the 70s feel. Every staff member we interacted with was helpful and friendly. The grounds are beautiful & well manicured. My son loved that the fire pit was available to toast some marshmallows. The breakfast available at the motel was delicious and the best part about it was the lovely Tracey who we got to have a good chat to! We can’t wait to return to Hillcrest!

For a place where the hot water was intermittent at best, wi-fi that kept dropping out and a still advertised laundry that didn't work, it was a rip off. A big thank you to the staff who did a great job under the circumstances. Owner needs to invest a bit of money.

The Hillcrest Merimbula does have a great vibe! I wished our itinerary allowed for a longer stay. The view overlooking the town and sea is amazing, especially watching the sunrise. We particularly enjoyed the well kept grounds and pool area for just taking time to relax and enjoy the day. The staff are super friendly and helpful getting us situated and giving advice on what’s going on in Merimbula

We weren't sure when we booked this place as we felt it may have been a bit dated. But geez, we were left absolutely surprised! The room had been renovated with a super comfy bed, it felt clean and the bathroom was lovely (although it could use a seal on the bottom of the shower door to prevent water leaking out). The view was spectacular and perhaps the best in Merrimbula by far - that made the room even more worth the cost - you've got to see it for yourself! The pool area was lovely and when it got overrun by kids, we retreated back to our balcony. We met the owner and he was a gorgeous human, telling us all the best restaurants to visit and offering to arrange bookings if we needed it. We also loved the daily room keeping - thank you team! As we've stayed in super luxury hotels, I couldn't give 5 stars but for what it is, this place is high up on my 'stay again' list & I'd recommend it highly (make sure you book a renovated room & you won't be disappointed).

We had a great stay for one night. Room was lovely. Calming decor colours. We had a fantastic view of Merimbula from the room. It was very relaxing to sit on the balcony at night looking over the water. Totally enjoyed our stay. There was no air-conditioning in the room, only an overhead fan. Wasn't a problem as the weather wasn't hot but might be on a typical scorching aussie day.

Clean rooms, Great hosts, great communication through our whole stay. Very friendly place. Great views. Highly recommend to stay here.

Recently my parents spent their 40th wedding anniversary here, “ It was lovely. We had a good room with a renovated bathroom. Balcony and great views. Bed was comfy. Can’t ask for more.” But I did… haha I called up and spoke to the very lovely owner (whose name I can’t remember right now) and asked if I could organise afternoon tea for them on arrival. She was so accommodating and went out of her way to get their favourite things for a cheese platter and also their favourite drinks! She also helped my mum organise what to do in the area to make the most of their time there. Thank you, it was very much appreciated! Also for this price, I will definitely be staying there with my family if we get a chance to holiday there.

Such lovely staff, beautiful room and views.. great value !! Cosy fire place outside for winter.. tennis court, pool, and lovely lounge area where you can enjoy a drink on the balcony. Defo recommend !!

Had a really lovely two-night stay here. Room was really pleasant and relaxing and I love how they are upgrading the hotel, working with the charming parts of its history to enhance it instead of totally erasing the retro motor inn vibes. It was also great that there were pet friendly rooms available as I had my dog with me. The outdoor facilities are really nice, and I enjoyed the fancy loose leaf teas. But the view is the star! Such a lovely outlook.

This is luxury on a budget, a little hidden gem. Unbelievable views, spectacular well kept grounds and facilities. The rooms are gorgeous, a real retro vibe with contemporary touches, very clean and a super comfy king bed with lux linen. The service and atmosphere on entry is exactly what you want when checking in to coastal accommodation. Highly recommend this one. 👌

Whirlwind trip to Merimbula... It was a trip I didn't want to take in the first place so finding this place was a pleasant surprise. It looks a bit 'meh' from the roadside but the experience is anything but. The rooms have been renovated to a very high standard whilst cleverly incorporating the 'old bones' of the original motel. My room was not with a view of anything in particular but it was outstanding nonetheless. The bed was comfortable; the sheets crisp & clean. I'm no decor aficionado but I thought it quite tasteful and nicer than some cookie-cutter inner-Sydney rooms I've stayed in at twice the money. The facilities list was impressive - though I didn't get to explore that, sadly. A nice find. Would absolutely stay again.

This motel was a lovely surprise. They have embraced the retro decor and summplemented it with a large modern TV, comfy bed and room furnishings. The view over Merimbula is fantastic. However the best part is the open space out the back - the pool, tennis court, kids play area, outdoor seating areas and the fire pit. Staff are friendly and welcoming, and I'd visit again without hesitation. A great value motel.

We had a lovely one night stay at Hiilcrest on 7th May in Room 10. we woke to the most beautiful view over Merimbula and out to the Pacific Ocean after a great nights sleep on a super comfortable bed. Great mini bar provided which we didn't use as we arrived late. They have a lovely breakfast room/bar which we didn't know about till we were leaving but it shares the same fantastic view and has been refurbished sensitive to the 1970s architecture of the motel. As have the rooms. Bathroom amenities and linens were good. Heating was by a portable heater which worked well. The staff were all friendly and very accommodating.

What a great place to stop and stay. Oy wish I had time to stay longer. Lovely rooms, comfy beds, great view, shower was great also. Great little touches and presented extremely well... will be back

We *loved* our stay at the Hillcrest Merimbula ! The owner has really done a fantastic, thoughtful refresh and modern redesign of the rooms, and the landscaping. There is a large pool with lovely seating areas, a really gorgeous fire pit, an undercover barbecue area, and the views are breathtaking! We were thrilled to stay in the apartment, which features a kitchen (I love to cook) and the most spectacular views from the breakfast bar with a fabulous window which opens right up. Our stay was made all the more excellent because of Renee, who was so friendly, helpful, engaging, warm and efficient in answering our many questions about life in Merimbula (we're looking for a new place to call home), and her recommendations were spot on. And, when we uncharacteristically left something behind in our room, Renee took the time to pack and post the item back to us. We most definitely recommend a stay here, and we most certainly will return soon. Thanks Renee, we would have you on our A team any day !

Casper, the friendly host greeted us and started our stay off with a warm welcome. The rooms are clean, comfortable and we'll appointed - even having their own coffee machine. My wife enjoyed the pool, we enjoyed the view over town to the sea from the pool area and our balcony and in the evening enjoyed a wine by the firepit gazing at the stars. I wanted to try the tennis court but alas my knees said no. A great place to stay. Aldon

Absolute heaven. We will definitely be back. Gorgeous refurbishment has been done here and it is really a little piece of Palm Springs right in Merimbula. Spacious room , incredibly comfortable bed, beautiful linen, Kevin Murphy toiletries, gorgeous selection of Mayde Teas plus the best view in Merimbula. What a bonus to have plates/bowls and cutlery ( and there is a microwave) for when you just want something in your room ( and if you are lucky sit on your own balcony to have it!).We don't usually stay in a motel as we like to have our own lounge and kitchen but this was really easy to stay in for our 3 nights and we could have easily stayed longer. The communal lounge is super cool and stylish with huge windows that look out over Merimbula and the to the horizon.A very peaceful spot to relax and read. Gorgeous pool and surrounding lawns with plenty of choices of lounges, tables and chairs and a large banquet around a fire pit. Very smart design details throughout that set the scene so you are really immersed in a mid century experience.Well done Hillcrest. We loved it!

Lucky little gem to find our road trip south from Sydney. Renovated beautifully keeping the best bits of mid century motel life. Amazing back garden too. Rooms aren’t huge and was expensive but we travelled over New Years so that was likely the going rate in the area. Nice staff. Enjoyed it!