Devonport Motel

Shops, cafes, and the beach are an easy walk away, and Auckland is just a quick ferry ride. Street parking was plentiful too. Our unit was spotless, with stylish decor, a comfortable bed, a convenient kitchenette, and a cozy patio where we enjoyed morning coffee. The owner is lovely. A secret little jewel in Devonport village, perfect for couples or solo travelers. We’ll definitely be back!

The ferry to Auckland is nearby, which is a great location, but it didn’t make the stay a good experience. The host was friendly, but there were no signs or directions when we arrived. We wandered around looking for reception, then called the number and got a reply telling us to text or leave a voice message. We had to ask a woman we saw sitting in a room where to check in. It turned out to be the host, but all we were told was to let ourselves in. Some information before arrival would’ve helped. For four days, there was only one and a half rolls of toilet paper, and we ran out. There was one coffee sachet and two tiny sugar packets for the whole stay. The hand soap and body wash bottles hadn’t been topped up and only had a little left. There were no proper mugs, just tiny teacup sized ones, and most of the dishes were dirty or stained and had to be washed again.

The owners were kind and easy to communicate with, and there seemed to be plenty of street parking nearby, even though we didn’t have a car. Our room was comfortable and peaceful, and well equipped enough that we could easily have stayed longer. It’s close to great restaurants, cute shops, and the ferry terminal, making it an excellent alternative to staying in Auckland City Central while still being connected to everything the Big City offers. We really enjoyed our short stay at the Devonport Motel.

The cottage bed was comfortable, and the shower was good. The motel is quiet despite being an easy walk from the shops. But for three nights, we only had two bath towels, and the place wasn’t serviced during our stay. With cool, unsettled weather, getting the towels dry was difficult. There was no information booklet, facecloths, or tea and coffee in the room. When we called about facecloths, the owner said Covid 19 advice was to provide a disposable paper cleanser. That might work once, but not for two people showering each day. We eventually got two facecloths. We were told to check the Supply Room for tea and coffee; I found tea bags but no coffee, which arrived the next day. I hope this helps spare future guests the same inconvenience.