The Sebel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

For a longer trip like ours, the in-room setup was handy: microwave, hob, kettle, fridge, washing liquid, plus a washing machine and tumble dryer. The decor and room were fine, though a refurb probably isn’t far off. The sofa seat needed replacing, but that was the main issue. We planned to stay just one night. Our harbour-facing room was quiet, and the hotel is well placed for harbour-side restaurants and a walk to the Sky Tower. There isn’t a formal restaurant, but Giraffe in the lobby handles breakfast and room orders by QR code. We didn’t try it. I think of this as a suites property, rather than a full-service hotel. Reception staff were very helpful. Traffic around there is busy, but there’s a spot to unload in front of the lobby on a side street, so rooms on that opposite side might be fairly quiet too. We dropped our hire car at the nearby Avis after checking in, so I can’t comment on hotel parking.

For a quiet weekend in Auckland, I wouldn’t recommend The Sebel. Bars underneath the hotel are licensed until 2am, and from the harbour-facing rooms the loud, bass-heavy music carries on until around 3am. Our “city view” looked out over a parking area, which felt disappointing for the price. The location is great, the staff were friendly, and the beds were very comfortable. Even so, the property feels run down, like it used to be luxurious but has seen better days. It’s expensive for what you get.

Staff were excellent, and the hotel is in a lovely marina location. Our room was great, though the bathroom felt a bit dated and had some mould on the ceiling. Parking costs $40 a day, but there are only 15 spaces, so you need to book ahead.

The location was great and the staff were friendly and helpful. We had a nice, spacious room with a marina view, but quite a few things needed attention: the Nespresso machine didn’t work properly, the tumble dryer seemed to have a mind of its own, and the toilet didn’t want to flush. There were marks and stains on the furniture and carpet. The place is good, but it needs money spent on it.