Hotels Near Garden Friends in Whangarei

Please look after Pau the same way she looks after us! She is amazing.She makes mine and the boys stay very good. Pretty much the only reason we come back is cos of her. The food is yum, portions could be bit more for us though as some of the boys don't come breakfast yet we are still charged for it, but if we ask for extra food they don't really give it cos it aint in the ”budget” of $110 that our company pays for food everyday.

The hosts Jennie and Peter were very approachable and knowledgeable. They went the extra mile to make me feel welcome and looked after. The motel is close to a New World and a Countdown, the Octagon Theatre which offers excellent theatre and dinner deals, one of Whangarei's favourite restaurants Suk Jai Thai restaurant, bus stops, and many cafes. Great value for money. Highly recommended.

This is a great motel. After Easter camping washed out this was my bolt hole. I needed dry and wifi for a couple of days of work. The management are friendly, efficient and considerate. The room was fab- fresh, clean and spacious. With big comfy bed, FULL and well equipped kitchen (speedy convection hob and oven), the bathroom is new with a powerful hot shower. The little detail of a provincial style table [rather than ugly built in desk unit] is cute. Double extra points for clear signed in room recycling, no single use bathroom products and they don’t take the towels when you don’t need them too! There’s a small pool, but it was seasonally closed in mid April :( The negatives… there’s no cafetière and the shower door leaks! Would recommend and would happily return.

Restaurant review: I went with a group of friends so luckily sociability was more of a priority for me than the food and this was the saving grace for the night. Flames in my opinion cannot be described as an atmospheric dining experience as touted. For the non discerning diner who is happy with pub style fare the menu served, it was questionably passable. Those seeking atmosphere or a romantic intimate setting should look elsewhere. That aside the staff were pleasant. Overall the standard of food was not up to basic chef standard which makes me question if there was a trained chef in the kitchen.. My chicken Parmigiana and accompanying risotto balls were deep fried and overcooked resulting in dry fillets rather than succulent as described in the menu. The tomato sauce was missing and it was covered in what looked like a crinkled yellow sheet of plastic type cheese. The accompanying piece of broccoli and bok choy provided a welcome relief to this desert fare. I managed to get through half of the meal only. Complaints abounded from others who complained of tough steaks, dark brown chips, coleslaw instead of seasonal salad and the desert menu looked more suited to a child's menu being lots of over-sauced and cherried icecream and a panacotta that was tasteless and resembled a very solid door stop .What was served was at odds with the description on the website and I failed to see where any real or imaginative cooking or presentation had taken place. It all seemed more like freezer to deep fryer fare and this is fine if those were our expectations and the menu priced accordingly. If this review seems harsh its not meant to be, I wish it were the opposite but hopefully it will lead to reflection and improvements. its just that I can tell when food is not prepared with care and love and its somewhat irritating when ingredients are seemingly trampled on, they deserve better. Suffice to say, I will not be frequenting this restaurant for a 'dining experience' again. Unfortunately no photos were taken as despite the poor quality of food the company was excellent and we all had an enjoyable time catching up.

After a day of hitting some art spots at Whangārei, our family of two adults and a teen pulled into the Kauri Villas late in the afternoon. The first thing you'll notice is the amazing view of the coast. We were greeted by out hosts Andrea and Mike, and shown to our cottage, which was cute and clean. It was a Monday, and our hosts informed us that most of the local restaurants would be closed (it was also the off-season). Luckily, the cottage had a fully equipped kitchen, and the nearest grocery was 2 minutes down the road. The cottage even had a dishwasher, a real gem for any traveling cooks. That evening we helped ourselves to a hot tub/ jacuzzi and played some billiards in their ”gameroom,” which is really more of a beautiful bespoke barn with a sound system, nice lighting, and everything from ping pong to video games. We had a perfect family game night without leaving the property. We started off our first morning with a great breakfast cooked by Mike, and then used the villas as our home-base for hitting some of the great local hikes. On our second and last morning, we mentioned to Mike our fondness for the sheep that we could see from our bedroom window, and Mike offered to let us hand-feed them! As animal lovers, it as a treat to hand feed some adorable sheep that put up with us petting them. As travelers from the USA, a return to the Kauri Villas is probably not in the cards any time soon, but I would highly recommend this spot for both a quick vacation, or special event like a wedding where you want a fantastic location to celebrate. Great space, great hosts.

If you live in the states or have stayed in a Quality Inn in the US, you are aware that they are far from quality. This hotel however exceeded expectations. I spent the day diving the Poor Knights. The dive shop had recommended I stay here, being convenient is an understatement. I booked through booking.com, I’m not sure if other methods offer a cheaper rate - I have noticed with other accommodations that booking.com adds a charge that may not exist if booking direct. Easy to find, good signage and had open spaces in the parking lot upon arrival. The staff at the front desk both checking in and checking out were wonderful. Very personable and friendly. My room was perfect. Incredibly spacious. Gorgeous view of the marina. The sunset and sunrise were picturesque. I was awed when I opened the door and it confirmed I made the right choice about my stay. The bathroom is also spacious, good shower pressure and hot water. The bed was comfortable and I slept like a rock. Brekky starts downstairs at 7 am. It is not included in the nightly rate but was tastey. I had to be at the dive shop at 8, I arrived downstairs around 720 and still had enough time to eat the oats, pastry and drink a coffee. I would stay again and recommend for your stay.

Stayed at the Pacific Rendezvous for two nights in February – specifically due to the ratings and vicinity of Dive Tutukaka. Ian helped me at check-in and was extremely friendly and helpful! He provided a local map and details on the area, hikes, restaurants, etc. There is a small store connected to the reception desk where you can purchase snacks, beverages, etc. You can also rent a beach towel if needed. The place is very cozy and clean. I stayed in a studio, which had ocean views from the back patio on the main level and the bedroom upstairs. It’s similar to a duplex and unit is individually owned and managed by Ian and Susan. The units are self-accommodating. The unit does have wifi although it continuously cut in and out for me. The unit I stayed in had AC on the main level but not upstairs, which was exceptionally hot. Location-wise – it’s pretty secluded and VERY relaxing and quiet. In that aspect, I’d give it 5 stars. On the other end of the spectrum, it is not walkable if you want to be within walking distance of a shops/stores, etc. As a solo traveler, I felt very safe. There are a few ocean hikes/areas that are private to Pacific Rendezvous – Harbour Beach and Ocean Beach. I already planned to hike Whale Bay and Matapouri Bay, which were a short drive away otherwise I would have explored these two beaches. There is an onsite pool, playground area, tennis court, game room, laundry room, etc. The only reason I gave it 4 stars (would have given it 4.5 if that was an option) was the AC. There was a fan in the closet, but it was rusty/dusty so did not use it. That said, I really enjoyed my time here and would definitely stay again. The views and ocean sounds are the absolute best if you are looking for some quiet and relaxation.