Motel Molly in Mollymook: A Review Of Boutique Beachside Accommodation

Staying at Motel Motel in Mollymook on the south coast of NSW, Australia will have you sounding like Paris Hilton on repeat but you won’t just ‘love it’ you will ‘love’ everything. 

Every aspect of Motel Molly, from the colour of the buildings to the in-room fridge, the kettle, the width of the bed and the placement of bikes and surfboards, is loveable. The motel seems to have been carefully designed and selected for aesthetic pleasure as well as comfort, entertainment and relaxation.

Arriving at Motel Molly ahead of the Easter long weekend, my expectations weren’t considerably high. It had been some time since I stayed at a motel and my experiences were very… backpack-ery. But Motel Molly set itself apart from the moment I pulled up to freshly painted pastel blue, yellow and pink buildings, neatly trimmed lawns and purposely placed potted plants. Immediately, the property presented a fresh, clean and on-trend image that felt very Palm Springs meets Instagram chic.

A sweet and hospitable Lenay greeted me at reception along with loud and impressive sombrero-shaped light fixtures (I’m obsessed!). Check in was fast and smooth and throughout my stay, Lenay made the effort of checking in to see if I needed anything and she was full of local tips for activities and food.

The motel continued to visually impress as I walked through the suite, strolled through the pool area and explored the back exit/5 minute pathway to the beach. Motel Molly may technically be a ‘motel’ but the property was better than that of some four-star hotels, conveniently located and definitely one I’d visit again in the future.

The Location

Motel Molly is located in the quaint town of Mollymook on the south coast of NSW, Australia. That’s about four hours from Sydney – it’s really easy to get to and perfect for a weekend escape or small road trip out of the city.

On the way to the south coast, I stopped and stretched my legs at Berry. It’s a great place for a small bite to eat and small town shopping. You should also pick up a treat and coffee from Berry’s famous ‘Donut Lane’.

From Berry, it was another two hours drive on mostly highways and then backstreets.

Although Mollymook itself is a relatively small town, it’s centred between two tourist hot spots – the coastal town of Ulladulla and the village of Milton. All forms of entertainment, activities, food and walking trails are generally a 5-10 minute drive.

If you don’t feel like driving, Motel Molly itself is a short 5 minutes walk from the beach and the golf club and a 25-minute walk from the small Mollymook shopping area with a BWS, pharmacy and take-out stores.

On the drive home, I stopped at Booderee National Park to see kangaroos at Cave Beach and then stopped at Berry again for another leg stretch and to check out another cafe.

The Room

I stayed in Suite 01 – a ground-level Oceanside Garden Suite. In appearance, amenities, upkeep and comfort, the room felt more premium than some 4-star hotel suites.

Everything in the suite was perfectly manicured for aesthetics. The mini bar was made up of a fully stocked retro pink fridge tucked beneath a glass table that was spread with a pink kettle, a variety of teas, cans of alcohol, bottles of water, various chocolates, chips and more.

The mini bar was impressive but more so was the bed which was larger than two king-size singles placed together. Despite its large size, it didn’t overwhelm or take up too much space in the room because the suite itself was quite large. The bed was paired with bedside tables, it faced a flat-screen TV with regular channels or streaming options and was placed beside a large double-door dresser.

Being on the ground floor, the floor-to-ceiling glass balcony door (great natural lighting) opened towards the back of the motel and came with a view of a perfectly trimmed lawn and a park. To the right of the lawn is Breakers Cafe (a great spot for breakfast) and a convenience store, and to the right, the beach.

The suite was clean and modern with touches of retro decor for fun nostalgia.

Things to do

What isn’t there to do?

Motel Molly has a pool area with a spa, BBQ and two vending machines – one with the regular sweet treats and the other, full of fun cans of alcohol. The motel also has a selection of surf boards and bikes that are available for free hire via reception.

Mollymook beach is down the road as are two cafes, a take-out shop and the golf club for either golfing or dining. Mollymook shopping area is a 25 minute walk away and offers a few more takeout options as well as an Asian fusion restaurant. The restaurant gets quite busy, be sure to book in advance.

I recommend a meal at the Rooftop Bar and Grill at the Bannister Pavilion. It was a last minute choice for me but well worth it. My travel buddy and I shared a guacamole with chips followed by a vegetarian curry with rice and the burger with fries. The food was delicious although a little pricy.

Over the next two days, I spent a bit of time exploring Ulladulla and Milton, and their many walking trials. I walked:

• the very short 15-minute Millards Creek Shared Pathway
• the One Track For All, a 45-minute coastal trail that was created with the local Indigenous community to share Indigenous history and imagery
• and The South Pacific Heathland Reserve, a 45-minute coastal walk in locally protected nature refuge

Who is the Motel Molly for?

Motel Molly is for everyone – especially those loyal to hotels. The property is definitely different and you won’t regret booking.

Families will love its proximity to the beach, the golf club and the park (literally behind the hotel), couples will appreciate the large bedding, the robes and the spa, while (groups of) singles will enjoy the motel’s diverse and extensive offering of alcohol (there’s literally a vending machine for alcohol) as well as its surrounding cafe options.

Active people will want to take advantage of the motel’s free access to surfboards and bikes, and social media influencers will have a field day creating content.

Rates start from $249 per night for a Molly Suite and it comes with free Wi-FI and free parking.

For more information and bookings visit https://motelmolly.com.au/