Auckland Waterfront Serviced Apartments

The apartment had everything we needed and was clean, comfortable, and nicely furnished. It was a peaceful spot at the end of the wharf, though still an easy enough walk into the city. The living area had plenty of room for our toddler, who loved watching boats dock near the balcony and cruise past on the water.

The apartment itself was spacious, with a lovely balcony and amazing views. The bed was very comfortable, and we appreciated the bottle of bubbles and chocolate in the fridge. But at $400 a night, I didn’t expect so many small frustrations. We only got the printed information at check-in, including the website for checking whether cruise ships would block views from Sheds 19 and 20, which was too late to be useful. The coffee pods kept jamming in the hard-to-use machine, and the tissue box had just six tissues for our four days. A strip of wood in the ranchslider track had to be taken out before it would open properly. There was no shelf in the shower for my own shampoo, conditioner, or body wash, and no dressing gowns or slippers, which I’ve had at places costing much less. The worst part was being expected to take our rubbish to the room one floor up, despite paying another $155 cleaning fee. That really wasn’t good enough.

We’ll definitely stay here again. It’s an easy walk or wheel into town, with everything close by, and the secure parking was reasonable at $25 a day, much cheaper than Wilsons outside. Access was straightforward, with a lift to the third floor and card entry. We had to book at least three nights, but the price compared well with a nice hotel, and the apartment gave us much more space. Daily cleaning and service cost extra, though there’s a washer and dryer if you need to do towels or clothes yourself. We stayed for our wedding anniversary in a beautifully furnished first-floor apartment, with a great harbour and harbour bridge view and ceilings over three metres high. The kitchen had full facilities. The bathroom was a little small, but I could maneuver my manual wheelchair in it. I didn’t try the small shower, and couldn’t get out onto the little balcony because of the step down and the table and chairs. The bedroom could be closed off with large shutters, and the super king bed was very comfortable.

The owners welcomed us and were very helpful. From the apartment, we had a terrific view over Auckland Harbour, and there was a dedicated parking spot with secure, private access. A great location and outlook for a city break.