Tennant Creek Motel Comparison: Top Picks & Reviews

If you’re planning a stop in the Red Centre, Tennant Creek’s motel market is small but serviceable. Based on property listings and traveller feedback from multiple booking platforms, we’ve compared the three main motels — Safari Lodge Motel, Goldfields Hotel Motel and Bluestone Motor Inn — to help you choose where to rest your head. The town’s limited accommodation means each property serves a distinct purpose, from award‑winning stays to budget‑friendly road‑trip bases.

Last checked: 2026-05-28

Safari Lodge Motel: 3.5‑star, award‑winning stay in the heart of Tennant Creek (Warumungu Country). ·
Goldfields Hotel Motel: Budget‑friendly motel with flat‑screen TV, air conditioning, refrigerator; family‑rated on Agoda. ·
Bluestone Motor Inn: Offers two types of family rooms; located at Tennant Creek NT 0860; phone 08 8962 2617. ·
Tennant Creek (Area): Red Centre, Northern Territory; accommodation options include motels and Tennant Creek Caravan Park.

What are the best motels in Tennant Creek?

Safari Lodge Motel overview

Listed as a 3.5‑star property on regional tourism sites, Safari Lodge Motel is described as “award‑winning” and sits in the heart of Tennant Creek on Warumungu Country (Discover Central Australia). In‑room amenities include tea/coffee maker, hairdryer, refrigerator, free toiletries, microwave, electric kettle, wardrobe and TV. The property also provides standard motel inclusions such as linen, towels and Wi‑Fi.

Although detailed guest reviews are limited in the sources we used, its award recognition and central location make it a consistent choice for travellers who prioritise recognised quality.

The pattern: Safari Lodge is the only motel in town flagged as award‑winning, which may appeal to travellers seeking a verified standard of comfort.

Goldfields Hotel Motel overview

Goldfields Hotel Motel, located at 113 Paterson Street, is described by booking platforms as “budget‑friendly” and comes with air conditioning, a flat‑screen TV and a refrigerator. KAYAK notes that the property also has a restaurant and bar/lounge serving “hearty and well‑portioned meals”, making it one of the few Tennant Creek motels with substantial on‑site dining (KAYAK). Discover Central Australia adds that it has two pubs and a dining room, reinforcing its role as a combined motel and social venue.

Check‑in is after 2:00 pm and check‑out before 10:00 am, typical for Northern Territory motels. Free Wi‑Fi and free private parking are included, with a secure parking area locked at night (KAYAK).

Why this matters: On‑site dining and a secure parking lot address two practical concerns for road‑trippers: no need to drive after dark, and vehicle security.

Bluestone Motor Inn overview

Bluestone Motor Inn is known among reviewers for offering two types of family rooms. A TripAdvisor user who booked a “budget” room paid about AU$218 per night, describing it as a small but clean space with a small window (TripAdvisor). The property’s phone number is 08 8962 2617 and fax 08 8962 2687. Although it appears in Agoda’s top‑reviewed list for Tennant Creek, its pricing can be higher than Goldfields’ lead‑in rates.

The trade‑off: Bluestone may suit families needing multiple room configurations, but the cost can be steep compared to Goldfields’ typical rates.

Side‑by‑side comparison: Tennant Creek motels

Pros and cons of each Tennant Creek motel

What do recent Tennant Creek motel reviews say?

Awards and guest feedback for Safari Lodge

The “award‑winning” label appears in organic search results and on Discover Central Australia. However, we found no specific review excerpts or award bodies in our sources. The Agoda family‑friendly rating applies to all three motels, but Safari Lodge’s exact review score was not captured.

What to watch: Without concrete review data, the award claim remains a marketing signal rather than a verified guest sentiment.

Budget rating for Goldfields Hotel Motel

Goldfields is consistently described as “budget‑friendly” on multiple platforms. Almosafer notes guests find it “very reasonably priced compared to other accommodations” on long road journeys (Almosafer). On Agoda, travellers who stayed near Tennant Creek Airport give top reviews to Goldfields alongside Safari Lodge and Bluestone (Agoda). KAYAK highlights the restaurant and bar as positives. For those interested in celestial events, the November 2025 Beaver Moon is a notable occurrence, and you can learn more about it at $November 2025 Beaver Moon.

“Hearty and well‑portioned meals” at the on‑site restaurant.

KAYAK property description

Family reviews for Bluestone Motor Inn

Bluestone offers two types of family rooms, which is a differentiator. A TripAdvisor reviewer who booked a budget room paid AU$218. The same user commented that “there isn’t much choice in Tennant Creek” for motels (TripAdvisor). This sentiment reflects the limited supply.

The bottom line: Guest reviews across platforms are sparse but generally positive on value and cleanliness; safety perceptions vary.

What are the typical prices for Tennant Creek motels?

Price range overview

The town’s motel market is small, which tends to keep prices relatively flat. Expedia’s broader Tennant Creek guide lists accommodation from roughly US$103 per night (Expedia). On meta‑search, lead‑in rates for Goldfields Hotel Motel hover around US$83–89 per night (KAYAK), while a sample 1‑night stay for two adults on 9 June 2026 came to about US$118 including taxes and fees on Expedia (Expedia).

Wotif, an Australian‑focused OTA, shows Goldfields starting from about AU$161–170 per night, illustrating that AUD rack rates can be higher than meta‑search lead‑in prices (Wotif).

Budget motel rates

Goldfields is consistently the cheapest option among the three. Bluestone’s budget room example on TripAdvisor was AU$218, which is notably higher. No specific prices for Safari Lodge were found in our sources.

What influences pricing

Tennant Creek motels are priced for the drive‑through market along the Stuart Highway. Seasonality appears muted; weekend rates on KAYAK for Goldfields average US$89 for two adults, similar to weekday rates. Booking direct vs. via an OTA may change the final price, but we found no clear pattern.

What other accommodation options exist in Tennant Creek?

Tennant Creek Caravan Park

For travellers on a tighter budget or those with their own camping gear, Tennant Creek Caravan Park offers cabins from about AU$110 per night, unpowered camping from AU$35, and caravan sites from AU$40 (per person/site) (Tennant Creek Caravan Park). Extra adults (15+) on sites incur an additional AU$10 per person per night; younger children about AU$5. This provides a cheaper per‑head option for groups compared with single motel rooms.

Comparison of motels vs caravan park

Motels offer en‑suite rooms, Wi‑Fi and often on‑site dining, but prices start higher. Caravan park cabins are more affordable and self‑catering, though they lack the same restaurant facilities. Trivago lists nine accommodation options in Tennant Creek, but only a handful are motels; the rest are caravan parks and smaller lodges (Trivago).

Location and getting around Tennant Creek

Goldfields Hotel Motel is centrally located on Paterson Street, about 0.4 miles (650 metres) from the town centre, near Purkiss Memorial Reserve (KAYAK). Safari Lodge Motel is also in the heart of town. Bluestone Motor Inn’s address is within the town boundary. All three motels are within a short drive of the Stuart Highway, which is the main route for self‑drive travellers.

Best motel choices for different travellers

Families

All three motels are listed as highly rated by families on Agoda. Bluestone Motor Inn explicitly offers two types of family rooms, making it a standout for those needing multiple configurations. Goldfields Hotel Motel’s budget pricing and on‑site dining also suit family road‑trippers.

Budget travellers

Goldfields Hotel Motel is the clear choice for budget‑conscious travellers, with lead‑in rates around US$83–89 per night and free parking and Wi‑Fi. The on‑site restaurant means you can avoid extra meal costs elsewhere.

Travelers seeking a well‑rated stay

Safari Lodge Motel’s award‑winning status and central location make it a solid pick for those who want a recognised standard, though verified reviews are scarce.

Frequently asked questions about Tennant Creek motels