Are you an out of towner heading in to watch a rugby game at Eden Park, or any other sporting event…read morefor that matter, you might want to consider staying here. This is an upmarket B&B just a short walk to the Eden Park stadium. I've had the pleasure of chatting to the owners, Anthony and Marlene, who are really lovely and do make it a point to take good care of their guests. I also had a chance to walk through and can report their bedroom suites are just gorgeous. The three bedrooms are plushly decorated in keeping with the heritage character of this period villa. They all have very modern ensuites which I think are nicer than a lot of hotels. In fact, don't bother about an impersonal hotel, book in with these guys for a real Mt Eden experience and for some genuine hospitality.

The hosts of this clean, safe, beautiful establishment really know what they're doing. Luxurious…read morelinens, first class amenities, seriously good food, great location, and that determination to make all guests feel pampered and happy. So glad our first nights in New Zealand were so grand! Thank you Marlene & Tony.

Liz and Gene love France and spend a few months each year there. Nice! But when they are home in…read moreNZ, or Waiheke Island specifically they run the boutique B&B Te Whau Lodge. What a gorgeous accommodation on the island with a magic view, darling bedroom suites and an amazing central dining room and lounge. The French connection comes in handy when Gene is planning his dishes, the meals at Te Whau are divine and a degustation celebration among fellow guests is a highlight. The lodge is very architectural, very stylish and there is lots of beautiful NZ art on display. I love the ensuites and showers incorporating corrugated iron, very clever.

My wife and I had a wonderful experience at Te Whau Lodge on our honeymoon. The rooms are fresh and…read moremodern, featuring stunning views. We loved sitting on our balcony and taking in the scenery. Marg and Rob are terrific hosts and they serve an outstanding breakfast each morning! They also provided excellent recommendations to help us get the most out of our time on Waiheke. Would love to come back here again.

Jan and Murray Coppins who run this place are family friends and if ever there was a couple born to…read moreentertain, it's them. Their Bed and Breakfast just up the hill from Matheson Bay in Leigh is a natural evolution for them - it is such a beautiful spot and they are the kind of people who like to share. They have a few different accommmodation options including self-contained with its own entrance and bathroom. Jan's flair for design means it looks like a luxury hotel room and the house is contemporary and makes the most of the amazing views. Breakfast on the deck overlooking the ocean and you'll never want to leave. Murray is the chef (although Jan is no slouch and it's a team effort) and anything you eat at TiKouka Hill will be delicious, creative and made with only the best ingredients. During the summer their eldest daughter actually got married here and it was absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure if they are going into doing events but they certainly pulled the wedding off like total pro's. Your time spent here will be as social or peaceful as you desire, although I recommend having a good chat to them and whichever houseguests are present as they are really interesting and fun people and can steer you towards all the best things to do in the area.

On my recent trip to New Zealand I needed a place close to friends who live in Te Atatu which is…read moreapproximately 15 - 20 minutes from Auckland. I chose to stay at Dawn Haven Bed & Breakfast after a recommendation was made by my friends. It was a delight staying in this bed and breakfast - the house itself is large and airy with plenty of light and a great view of Auckland City across the water. There are great walking tracks that run along the waters edge as well as various other activities you can take part in duing your stay. The accomodation itself is on the lower floor and there are two separate areas for guests to stay. If you happen to be there by yourself you have the whole lower floor to yourself but if there are guests in the other room you share kitchen and lounge facilities. The room I stayed in was situated near the pool area and you walk straight out of your room onto decking and a beautiful view. The room has its own ensuite bathroom and fresh towels were supplied on a daily basis. The hosts Helen and Barbara were most welcoming and enquired with you the night before as to what time time you wanted breakfast and what you wished to eat. They really make you feel like home and at the end of my stay I was sad to leave, but pretty sure I will return when I make it back to Auckland. Having never stayed in a Bed & Breakfast before this was a great introduction for me for this sort of holiday accomodation. My only regret was not being able to get int the pool as it was still a little cold when I was there. Free WI-FI is avaliable to guests as well as tea and coffee and breakfast is provided as part of your stay.

While I didn't get to sleep in their luxurious looking beds, I thoroughly enjoyed an…read more'other-worldly' expedition into their garden for High Tea, then a tremendous explore through the house afterwards. If you've seen the movie 'Pride & Prejudice', this place resembles Longbourn in many respects. High Tea was delicious and served on real china. There's a giant, outdoor chess game to enjoy, or you can indulge in an absorbing book sitting at the beautiful window seat. The lights are not turned on with light switches, but long tassels that hang down from the ceiling. It's a bit disorientating leaving this slice of the past, but one must leave eventually. Unfortunately, this place will soon close in the New Year, so get in quickly while you still can!!

Our stay at Villa Walton was superb! Warm welcoming upmarket Villa in a gorgeous leafy setting set…read morein amongst working Dairy Farms. The rooms are beautifully decorated with generous ensuites. Also very warm and comfy. Close to Hobbiton and Matamata. Diane and Chris were extremely friendly and welcoming and Diane's cooking was wonderful especially her home cooked muffins! We loved our stay so much we will be back for certain. Don't miss the opportunity to stay, you will be pleasantly surprised as we were.

Full disclosure...I am not usually a fan of B&Bs. I prefer the predictability of a hotel (later…read morecheck out, air conditioning, room service, better sleep quality, pool, gym etc.). So it was some trepidation that we made our booking at Kaimai Country Lodge. The online reviews certainly looked promising ...but you never know! We needn't have worried. This place is awesome. It was designed from the ground up to be a B&B so everything has been thought out to maximize guest comfort and privacy. The rooms are cleverly arranged to give every one their own unique and amazing view from a private deck. There is also a stunning lounge should everyone want to sit together. You can tell that the owners really care about the experience of their guests. They seemed excited and pleased to welcome us when we arrived. They jumped into action and were warm and engaging. They even waved us off after our stay just like we were family. Everything you could ever need is available for you to enjoy...sun hats, beach towels, extra pillows, powerful hair dryers, tea, coffee, books, cookies, bug spray, refrigerator etc. I mentioned that the only thing the place was missing was a power strip so we could charge our devices...moments later one was added to the "borrow area"...amazing. Some other things to mention... - sleep quality was awesome (this place is very quiet) - there is an overhead fan in the room which can keep you cool at night - breakfast is dynamite - there are great walks around the property (with fields of kiwi and avocados) - the back yard is beautiful...make sure you take a look - the arrival tea was delicious We loved our stay here and would be pleased to return some day.

Peter and Kay were fantastic hosts! We only stayed one night but they were so helpful. We got in…read morelate at night but they welcomed us and gave us some tips about what to do around the area. They also made a delicious breakfast for us. It was my first time trying marmite and I loved it! Great location that you could walk into town but I'd recommend driving in your car if you are going to try to make it to Cathedral Cove for Sunrise which is what we did. Their home has a beautiful view of the ocean as well. Would definitely recommend staying here!