Sometimes it's not about the accommodations themselves. Sometimes the overall feel of the place is…read morethe important thing; and the people are the final decider. The BW Sea Spray Motel was my home-away-from-home while working for an extended period just outside Merimbula. And by my second week, it really did feel like coming home. (A home where you could feed wild parakeets in the yard; have a beer with one of the hosts - who told great stories - and chat with other guests across balconies) Our hosts, Antoinette and Tony, made this place special. "Lovely people" is the term that fits best. Affable and outgoing, they became friends with most of our group. Saying goodbye on the last day was actually a little tough for me. As for the motel itself, the rooms themselves were clean and spacious, if a bit outdated (though they appear to be making rapid upgrades). Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better nearby. The accommodations were certainly good for the price, and I slept great here; which is KEY of course. Other services: -- Breakfast option to your room for a charge. Antoinette is a good cook -- Large DVD collection in the lobby for borrowing at will -- Laundry done for a cost (AUD 10) if you're lazy (I was) -- Wi-fi worked pretty well, with a few minor slowdowns during peak hours I occupied two different rooms during my stay, and each suffered only from minor issues (fussy water temp; one noisy fan; one burnt-out light bulb). My second room with a balcony and kitchenette was the best, offering a deck with nice views of the town and lake below. The deck became my go-to spot to hang with a beer after a long day. (Note: It was early summer in Oz). There's a chance I will be back to Merimbula someday for a second project. If so, I won't even bother looking elsewhere - I'd go back to the Sea Spray in a heartbeat. An easy choice.

Reviewing the 'grill' - restaurant and pub - fantastic gem hidden in the hotel, a little tricky to…read morefind.. Came here for the oysters and was not disappointed. Staff was friendly and the ambiance is very casual. Lovely views of the water while enjoying a little snack!

This is a review of the restaurant and pub only…read more The Lakeview Hotel restaurant and bar is referred to as "the pub" by many locals. It's not because it is the only place to get a drink in town; there are plenty of those. I'm guessing it's because the downstairs portion is one of the only places to actually resemble a pub, complete with wraparound bar, pool table and a dart board. But I could be wrong (Perhaps it was the site of the first bar in town?) Our work group came here on a few occasions when we wanted to keep it casual and were happy with simple dinners and pub grub. The menu upstairs featured all the basic Aussie fare including burgers, steaks, fish and chips, and schnitzel (which appears on nearly every menu in the country - no lie). The food was nothing special. On my first visit I chose a local sea trout (similar to salmon) which was fine but slightly overcooked. On my second visit I tried the chicken schnitzel - decent, basic comfort food and little more. They have a full bar here, but based on the lack of bar tending skills, they had some wasted shelf space. When I saw "Pimm's No. 1" on the shelf, I asked for a Pimm's Cup cocktail (the only thing this liqueur is ever used for). But the barkeep had no idea how to make one. (He then looked it up and saw he didn't have all the ingredients.) When I asked for an Old Fashioned (i.e. one of the basic core cocktails that every bartender should know) he didn't know how to make one of those either. I settled for a gin and tonic; at last - success! The one thing the Lakeview Pub did have going for it were its hours. It seemed to be one of the few places open late. (and when I say "late", I mean after 9 pm). Hey, it's Merimbula, not Manhattan. (p.s. I'll bet the bartender couldn't make one of those either).

Just like most motel in small town NSW, it's very basic. Doesn't even provide shampoo…read more Some room has no air cond so not sure if it is good for summer. Other than that, its clean, best location and the host very friendly. If you stay on third flood, you get a nice view of the lake from balcony. Highly recommended if you stay during cooler season but not sure when hot unless if you get air cond room.