Cattleman's Rest Motor Inn — Hotel in Richmond Hill

Every now and then when you travel, you come across a hidden gem. In the most unlikely of places. The Cattleman's Rest Motel in Charters Towers. Check in was quick and efficient. The room was huge with a separate lounge area. It was as clean as a motel room can be so congratulations to house keeping! The bathroom was newly refurbished, sparkling white and ultra modern. A superb, strong hot shower fit for a king. A huge king size bed, in a room way down the back of the property. As quiet as a church at night. Everything you could want in a good quality, traditional Aussie motel. But wait, this motel has room service. But not just any room service. The restaurant in the motel is closed at the moment probably due to Covid restrictions. However, the room service meals come from the restaurant's kitchen and it's menu! Look it up. I wasn't enormously hungry that night due to a big lunch in Townsville earlier. So I ordered the scallops entree and sticky date pudding for dessert. They were mind blowing! Truly! This is a three and a half star country motel with a Michelin star chef hidden in the restaurant delivering room service! I would stay in this motel again simply for the food and nothing else! I am not sure who the chef is but he deserves to be congratulated. And so does the management of the motel for keeping him, or her. Wonderful! Well done....

Disappointed with my stay here for a number of reasons. The rooms themselves were nice and comfortable, which you should expect given the price you pay for them. The location of the inn is good, being only a short distance to the high street. The service and facilities are what let this place down.

If you are planning on staying here, keep a couple of things in mind.

Do not order the lunches or breakfast from here. I got extremely overcharged for meals that I didn’t have/were not delivered, not to mention the ones that I did receive were not what I ordered. Use one of the nice bakeries in town instead.

Housekeeping were persistent in getting into the room, even though it was clear someone was still in the room. I had a shower and came out to find my room door open with only the chain latch keeping it from swinging wide open where all my belongings would be vulnerable.

The washing facilities are unreliable and will take your money. It’s cash only ($4 for a wash and another $4 to use the dryer). On one occasion I put two coins in and the machine just took them and I couldn’t wash my clothes. Frankly unacceptable.

Please bear the above things in mind if you are considering...

Going by the pictures and reviews I thought this would be lovely. Well we must have got one of the budget rooms. There was no information for guests in the room, no wifi password to be found, room was a good size, clean but a bit dated as was the bathroom, no windows that opened and no fan, small shower recess with showerhead needing a good clean. Old aircon sticky taped up to hold it together, there was NO remote and when I asked the manager if the aircon worked because there was no remote, he assured me it did and the remote would be on the wall inside the door, photo show this is not correct. He also said that sometimes the remote can get scooped up with the sheets that may be why its not there??? I would have thoght that the cleaners should make sure everything is in the rooms before guests arrive.!! Dinner in the restaurant, meal was average if not a little overpriced, no alcohol priclist available. Would not stay here again, much better motels available in...