---
title: "Kings Gate Motel vs Tasman Bay Backpackers: which hotel is better?"
description: "Kings Gate Motel or Tasman Bay Backpackers in Nelson? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-07
---

# Kings Gate Motel vs Tasman Bay Backpackers

Both are in Nelson, 380 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Motel · ★★★½ · The Wood
## [Kings Gate Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/kings-gate-motel-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.8 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 3.4

- **Score by category:** 1 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1728094/agoda/?lang=en)

Hostel · The Wood
## [Tasman Bay Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.0 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 3.3

- **Score by category:** 1 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2180413/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Too close to call

Each hotel leads in 1 category. Your priorities decide. 380 m apart.

### Choose Kings Gate Motel if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 11 / 20)

### Choose Tasman Bay Backpackers if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 7.8)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 20 / 11)

### Why is Kings Gate Motel better than Tasman Bay Backpackers?

1.  Newer or more recently renovated (2017 vs 2013) (+4y)

### Why is Tasman Bay Backpackers better than Kings Gate Motel?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 7.8) (+1.2)
2.  370 m closer to the area centre (−370 m)
3.  More guest reviews (310 vs 41), so the rating is more reliable (×7.6)
4.  Earlier check-in (12:00 vs 14:00) (−2h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Kings Gate Motel | Tasman Bay Backpackers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 7.8 | 9.0  (+1.2) |
| Location | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Facilities | 4.2 | – |
| Spa & wellness | 1.5 | – |
| Beach access | 3.0  (+1.3) | 1.7 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.2 | 9.0  (+0.8) |
| Guest rating | 7.8 | 9.0  (+1.2) |
| Number of reviews | 41 | 310  (+269) |
| Google rating | 3.8/5 | 4.6/5  (+0.8) |
| Google reviews | 133 | 394  (+261) |
| Rank in Nelson | bottom 4% | top 19%  (+77%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Distance to The Wood centre | 620 m | 250 m  (−370 m) |
| To the beach | 2.1 km  (−380 m) | 2.5 km |
| To the airport | 6.0 km | 6.4 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 8  (+6) | 2 |
| To the nearest food shop | 420 m  (−210 m) | 630 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 3  (+3) | 0 |
| Sights within 1 km | 1 | 3  (+2) |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★½ | – |
| Rooms | 11 | 20 |
| Floors | – | 2 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2017  (+4y) | 2013 |
| Listed amenities | 14  (+3) | 11 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 12:00  (−2h) |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Room service | ✓ | – |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | – |
| LGBTQ+ friendly | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | – |
| Balcony | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – |
| Concierge | – | ✓ |
| Sauna | – | ✓ |
| Kitchen | – | ✓ |
| In-room safe | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Beach holidays | ✓ | – |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | – | ✓ |
| Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Nightly price by month

Kings Gate MotelTasman Bay Backpackers

           

-   Tasman Bay Backpackers is cheaper in 11 of 11 months
-   Kings Gate Motel: €75 a night on average · Tasman Bay Backpackers: €46 a night on average

Pick a month to check today's price for its cheapest date.

[Hotel prices in Nelson by month](https://stayversus.com/en/new-zealand/nelson/prices/)

Averages of real one-night prices for two adults on Agoda, a Tuesday and a Saturday in each month, last checked 21 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book.

[Kings Gate Motel prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/kings-gate-motel-nelson/prices/)[Tasman Bay Backpackers prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/prices/)

## Location

380 m apart

Kings Gate Motel: city centre: 3.1 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 6.0 km, beach: 2.1 km, 8 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

Tasman Bay Backpackers: city centre: 3.4 km, Nelson Airport (NSN): 6.4 km, beach: 2.5 km, 2 places to eat within 500 m, 3 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Nelson

[Nelson weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/new-zealand/nelson-region/nelson/weather)

## Kings Gate Motel or Tasman Bay Backpackers: common questions

### Which is better, Kings Gate Motel or Tasman Bay Backpackers?

They are evenly matched. Kings Gate Motel is stronger in beach access; Tasman Bay Backpackers is stronger in guest rating.

### Which is cheaper, Kings Gate Motel or Tasman Bay Backpackers?

Over the year Tasman Bay Backpackers costs about €46 a night on average against €75 at Kings Gate Motel, and it is cheaper in 11 of the 11 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Tasman Bay Backpackers is closer: 250 m from the centre, against 620 m for Kings Gate Motel.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Kings Gate Motel is 2.1 km from the nearest beach; Tasman Bay Backpackers is 2.5 km.

### How far apart are Kings Gate Motel and Tasman Bay Backpackers?

The two hotels are 380 m apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kings-gate-motel-nelson-vs-tasman-bay-backpackers-nelson/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/