Teal Motor Lodge
Gisborne Motel Accommodation
479 Gladstone Road, Gisborne, New Zealand
Freephone NZ: 0800 83 83 25
TEAL MOTOR LODGE GISBORNE HISTORY
Gisborne Motel Accommodation
Where Hospitality Meets History
At Teal Motor Lodge, our story is more than just comfortable motel accommodation — it is a connection to a unique piece of New Zealand history. The name “TEAL” pays homage to the iconic Tasman Empire Airways Limited (T.E.A.L), the pioneering international airline that once brought glamour and adventure to trans-Tasman travel. From vintage travel posters to rare memorabilia, the spirit of this remarkable aviation era lives on throughout the property. Hosted by Stewart, an ecentric collector of T.E.A.L history, Teal Motor Lodge blends warm Gisborne hospitality with a nostalgic tribute to New Zealand’s golden age of travel—offering guests not just a stay, but a story worth discovering.
Tasman Empire Airways Limited (T.E.A.L) Memorabilia
Stewart, the host of TEAL Motor Lodge is keen to pay homage to the past connection of the motel's name and collects memorabilia from the airline T.E.A.L. So far the collection includes numerous: ashtrays, playing cards, postcards, menus, baggage labels, flight information cards, flight baggage, cap badges and much more. If you have any item that relates to T.E.A.L please feel free to get in touch.
Stewart's search for TEAL in Aitutaki
T.E.A.L's iconic Coral Route Island hopped from Auckland to Tahiti in the 1950s. Along the way the flying boats landed in the pristine teal-waters of Aitutaki's lagoon in the Cook Islands.
For many travelers this brief 2-hour stopover to refuel was the highlight of their epic journey.
Leaving a cold NZ winter in 2021, Stewart took it upon himself to experience why many T.E.A.L passengers were so enchanted with Aitutaki and didn't want to leave. And what remnants of T.E.A.L are able to be uncovered in the Cook Islands today?