Bay of Islands hotels & places to stay

It was a lovely stay with a lovely view. The owner was very helpful and took time to share about the attractions, amenities in the vicinity. Seeing that we have young kids and huge luggage, he kindly offered us a ground floor unit and WIFI vouchers for our first world connectivity needs. From our room (#1), we were greeted with a pool view and a view of the bay of islands. Lovely sunset and sunrise greeted us during our stay and it was really enchanting, especially during the sunset when sky turned pink and blue. The estate was well kept and the room was clean and tidy. We wanted to cook and had issues with the stove. The owner was prompt to fix this this (just a loose connection) and he readily exchange the frying pan when asked. This estate also has a small play area and offer nice views of the bay of islands from different points. The location is barely 5 minutes drive to the Paihia town centre where we ate, bought groceries, took the cruises. Highly recommended!

This was a great place to stay. Quite area and a comfortable bed. My only issues were it’s not in the main area of Paihia, there’s no where to eat close by so you have to be willing to walk 20-30 mins to get to nearest restaurants and cafes. Also, information book said WiFi details were on the tv panel but I couldn’t find them and because I was out the majority of the day there was never anyone in reception for me to ask when I got back.

We travelled both islands in New Zealand, staying in different hotels, apartments and motels and this was by far the best. We were greeted very warmly and felt very welcome. The owners have a wealth of knowl about the surrounding area and saved us time and money with the advice in continuing our trip. We will 100% return here. You will not regret staying here. Beautiful location and the rooms are immaculate and very spacious. We will remember our stay here forever

Perfection in paradise. From the warm greeting on arrival to our tears when leaving The Sanctuary, this is the place to stay in Paihia. The hosts go above and beyond with 5 star meals, perfect site seeing recommendations, lively conversation, picture perfect views and a massage like no other. Hopefully this review won't prevent us from getting a booking in the future.

This was the second haka lodge I have been to during my travels around New Zealand and it whole heartedly lived up to the high standards the first lodge instilled. You would be hard pressed to find facilities on par with this haka lodge. You feel at home which is an immensely difficult thing to achieve for a hostel. It offers privacy for those that want it and plenty of social opportunities for those that seek it too. The view is absolutely incredible and you will find yourself waking up early to catch a glimpse of the sun rising. You couldn’t ask for a better location in paihia! You are within close proximity to everything you could possibly need. By far the best part of Haka lodge is it’s staff. They are helpful, friendly, attentive and most importantly “real”. I would strongly recommend this haka lodge to any one!

Ive given casa Bella 5 star in all categories cause we have stayed there a few times now the down fall is WFI zabu I believe is there cheap and nasty internet provider there's a limit on the devices that can logon and you've got about 1 hour online could be shorter depending on what your viewing that's if you are able to get access which we didn't get anything at all!!!

The view from the breakfast table out across Bay of Islands is world class! Similar to the views from the deck your hosts provide a facility is outstanding from top to bottom, The staff making sure even the littlest details are considered. Close to town, restaurants and all the ammeneties of The town we not hesitate to recommmed the chateaux romantica to friends and family

We initially booked for only one night, but decided to stay for 4 and make this our base for exploring the Bay of Islands to the north and east. The room was not big but quite comfortable, with a small balcony that overlooked the garden. Being a standard room, it had no aircon. Instead it had a ceiling fan which was so high up that it was useless. The pedestal fan kept us cool but was a little noisy. Good modern bathroom also with a very nice range of organic toiletries. The hotel had good facilities for the price (restaurant, internet and pool) although of these, we only used the internet. We liked that the hotel was at the southern end, just out of the centre, but still an easy walk to the cafes, activities and shops. The staff were pleasant and attentive.

Our first stop on our North Island tour was the Bay of Islands, and the staff at Breakwater Motel really helped our holiday get off to a fantastic start. When we checked in, I asked about what to do around Paihia, and they helpfully gave me relevant brochures and information. After picking an activity (swimming with dolphins), they rang around and found me the best time and price from the local tours, and we were all booked for the next day! They also suggested some good places to eat. The room was very pleasant; one of the few motels that we stayed in with a bedroom separate to the kitchen/lounge, and a decently-sized bathroom. Everything was nice and clean. Parking was in a bay literally right outside the front door. The WiFi actually worked, was decently fast, and the data allocation was relatively large for New Zealand (200MB each). The location is perfect: the last motel on the Paihia strip, so very quiet, but only a few minutes' walk from the central wharf area with all the shops and restaurants. The only downside to it all was it was the most expensive place we stayed in during our entire tour, but I think that reflects the prices in Paihia generally.

We came into town after most receptions were closed & booked online. It was around 10pm when we got to the hotel & it was closed too. We called & woke up Nachi but he was still pleasant & so helpful. He checked us in & even booked tours for the next day for us. We only stayed 2 nights but would stay here longer if we had the time. Room was clean & large with many amenities, & even with the energetic bar downstairs it was quiet on the top floor. Good location close to beach & 5-10 minute walk to pier/activity office; & a little bit further walk to center of town. We booked last minute & price was reasonable. Sorry for waking up Nachi!

Our booking was just perfect for our 3 night stay as a base to explore the beautiful area. My granddaughter described the setting as "this is heaven" as she interacted with the local wildlife and explored around the camp. Facilities also included a great playground for children along with an excellent swimming pool. Our hosts were most accommodating and helpful in every way. Our stay was in the lodge with shared facilities but we were pleasantly surprised to discover our unit included its own kitchen which was not advised on the Agoda website. We found the facilities very clean and attended to . A trek through the adjoining bush at night looking for kiwis was also a highlight. This camp is a perfect location for those wanting a spot away from the maddening crowds and tourist areas, yet only a 5 min drive to the heart of historic Russell. This camp is a credit to its owners who aim to provide a tradition kiwi camping experience set within a natural and sustainable environment.

Great motel very close to everything in Russell. Manager is the perfect host and went out of his way to make us feel welcome, even inviting us to join in on New Year's Eve's festivities! The only negatives are shower could have a better clean (in and around the joins of bottom and walls of shower) and the furniture needs to be moved when being dusted/vacuumed plus having to phone to get service as no one in attendance at desk. Otherwise an awesome place to stay in Russell:)

Lesley was very welcoming when we arrived. She showed us to our apartment and recommended places that we can see and do. We did just this and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds was my partners favourite. The personalised note and the Manuka honey they left for us was a treat and the apartment itself is stunning. We wished we stayed for longer. We were here in autumn (even though it felt like summer still) and we forgot to close the bathroom window. When we got back from our adventures later that night the bathroom had mozzies lingering around, luckily there was a can of fly spray that tackled the problem. Overall we recommend this place and will be back with the rest of the family.

We booked this place over New Years so the availability in paihia was limited. The units were very clean & the kitchen was well equipped. The down side is that there are no views, a beach is very close (only 5 mins walk) but it's not in the centre of paihia. It takes about 20 mins walk to get to Paihia. There are also no facilities here at all except for a laundry. But if you are looking for a basic spacious place, it is adequate. The staff at check interest very nice & helpful. The location & lack of facilities let this property down.