What a lovely little hotel. We stayed one night and had a lovely stay. Our room was large and…read morecomfortable. The small kitchen was a nice bonus. The bed was very comfortable, and the shower was great! A short walk to a Woolworths and some restaurants. We're glad we booked it again on our way back to Auckland.

What a charming little motel! I didn't think "charming" and "motel" would go together in the same…read moresentence, but it does. We were recently in NZ on holiday, and we had a long drive up to the Bay of Islands, so we decided to break it up with an overnight stay just north of Auckland. The first place we reserved told us they didn't allow children (??), so we (with our toddler) had to scramble to find another place. I found the Beachcomber's website, advertising it as a boutique motel, and thought it was worth a try. We were able to book a room for that very night. Orewa is not too far north of Auckland, but there's a nice wide strip of beach and a small walkable commercial area. I'm sure it's a lovely beach getaway in the summer, but even winter was fine. This motel is a short walk from the centre and directly across from the beach park. Every room has its own personality. They seemed to be different sizes and layouts. Ours, Room 12 on the top floor, had a living/dining/kitchen area, and a bedroom in the back with ensuite. Our suite was red/white/black and the bedroom was very instagrammable. Black and white damask wallpaper, black chandelier, white tables. The living area up front had lots of seating options, funky wiry barrel-shaped tables, and a modern four-seat dining table. Room for our child's cot, too. Sliding glass doors (which we kept closed) would be lovely thrown open in summer, with the net curtain drawn to keep insects out. Probably necessary in summer - there is no central heating or air-conditioning, so we had to use a space heater from the closet (and there was a fan, for summer). A small door opened to a back outdoor walkway. The kitchen had a mini refrigerator, a microwave, sink, cooktop, kettle, glasses, utensils, plates. Large bathroom behind a barn-style door, and a generous-sized shower with a rainfall shower head. They have such a boutique vibe going on, they have surprisingly uninspired toiletries. Just dispensers hanging on the wall of the shower for shampoo and body wash, which is unfortunate, because it seems just a bit low-end for this kind of establishment. No guest elevator, at least none that I saw. Parking area is a little awkward because it's small - we parked on the end and reversed in, but if you had to park further in, getting out could be a little challenging, especially for large vehicles. Free wi-fi. Super cute! Probably my favorite accommodations the whole trip.

We had a comfortable stay. The staff were always polite. Sarah, the main cleaner for the lodge was…read morefantastic. She was always helpful and smiling. She always made sure we were taken care of. Eg: cleaning the room if needed, top up coffee or milk (if we asked), clean towels. The room was a standard room. The price was cheap for 3 people. The bed could be split into single beds if you needed. The room had a small kitchen area, dinning table. stove and fridge. We stayed in the bigger room that was designed for a person with disabilities. It was on the ground floor, had room for a wheelchair (a bit tight, but managble), or a walker and a big bathroom with a shower seat and no barriers to use facilities. There was a ramp to get to room, perfect for someone with disabilities. There is also a little courtyard and spa private spa. In walking distance there are thermal hot pools. A colorful playground with public BBQ's, a campsite, a decent size four square, a bakery, a takeaways, a bottle store (if you want a wine or some beers). There is also Craigweil rest home close if you are from out of town visiting a loved one. Will definitely recommend Parakai Springs Lodge if you want cheap accommodation close to amenities and hot pools. Sarah was fantastic and made our stay welcome.

This is a little bit of a surprise in the very quiet and dated Parakai neighbourhood, a…read morecontemporary development, that is totally needed in the area. I stayed here for a night over the weekend, to escape the rush of the city and enjoy some quiet time. This was a wonderful first time experience, the property I would say has been functioning for less than a year, as it all was very new and fresh. I loved the well planned and designed rooms, with kitchenette, bathroom along with a jacuzzi bath and out on the balcony your very own spa bath with thermal water. Located on a suburban street across the road from a small commercial thermal pool, the west setting sun in the winter afternoon was sublime. Take a five minute walk to the main village shops, where you can purchase groceries and any items you might have forgotten to bring. Before I arrived, my partner and I had to pop into the mineral park motel near by and pre pay the accommodation at the office and pick up keys, however this might just be a present occurrence, as at the lodge I could see that a reception area was in place but at the time not in use. The Premier rooms are the bigger of the two choices, with a super king bed and the thermal outdoor private pools, located on the downstairs block, whilst the upstairs rooms have smaller beds and only the indoor jacuzzi bath. For forty dollars extra I would always recommend the premier room. A wonderful relaxed spot, do explore and check it out.

Did you know that the Grand Hotel Helensville's claim to fame is that they were the first…read morecommercial pub, restaurant and accommodation in New Zealand? This grand old dame, it is also the "original" Grand Hotel, is still holding up well and recently came under new ownership and management so we think there is a bit of a renaissance in store. I had a drink here the other day and the facilities are friendly, laid back and family friendly. The back garden bar is a nice space to hang out with friends. Rosso Restaurant recently got a revamp and the two new chefs Shaun and Stevie have great plans for the menu. If you are into Scottish food then come on out for a meal as Shaun did his cheffing there so has treats in store.

From the owner: Hotel Accommodation. Fine Dining. Family Meals. Catering. Weddings. Birthday Events. Film Location…read more Large Quiet Bedrooms. Truck Driver challenge Meal. Bar Food. El Fresco Dining. Friendly Country Accommodation.

Wonderfully peaceful getaway for couples and maybe families, with secluded garden apartments, fully…read moreequipped for short stays. They have kayaks for beach access, cute animals (pigs, sheep, alpacas and a donkey) and free wifi (although wasn't working for us). Minutes from restaurants and the beach.