Bycroft Lodge

We loved having two rooms side by side while still getting plenty of privacy, and the quiet setting and views were lovely. The communal kitchen was handy, and finding eggs and toast in the fridge was a nice surprise. We also enjoyed watching the alpacas in the next field. The rooms get bright in the morning, though, and blackout curtains would help us sleep better.

Our special night was completely ruined by one problem after another. The kettle, fridge, toaster, lights, and TV had no power, and we couldn’t reach the hosts by phone, only by message. At 6:30 pm they messaged us to move rooms, saying traffic in the rural area had kept anyone from coming to fix things. The hosts eventually arrived and apologized, but by 7:00 pm the new room still had no kitchen facilities, so we couldn’t even heat a pizza. We went out to buy food and discovered we were locked inside because there was no sensor to open the electric gate. I had to ask the host for help again. We were apparently meant to lean through the gate, reach around the corner, and enter the gate code. That was ridiculous and could have been dangerous if nobody had been there to help. I wouldn’t recommend this place. Save yourself the frustration.

A lovely little lodge, close to Auckland and handy for the airport.

It was nice to get away from Auckland’s bustle to somewhere clean, pleasant, and private, with a lovely verandah view. The young woman who served us was very pleasant, and the price was quite reasonable for Auckland. The outdoor kitchen was uncomfortable on a cold evening, but the kettle in our room was enough for us. We’ll stay here again.