Courtenay Village

We were in town for the Maoli concert at Waitangi Park, just around the corner, so the spot worked perfectly. It’s at the bottom of Courtenay place, next door to noodle canteen, by the bakery and j&m. The bus stop right outside was handy after our airport bus ride, which cost $11.50 per person. You can pay with cash or card, or use a *snapper card * travel card for discounted bus and train fares. The bars are across the street. We liked the little mini bar for its slushies. Te Papa, the waterfront, and cuba St are walkable, and lambton quay is about a 10-20 minute walk away. There’s also a sister hotel, Ohtel hotel, a little way down Oriental parade, where we left our bags while waiting to check in. There’s no reception here, so we were told how to get our key card. One set didn’t work for our assigned room, though it did open the occupied room next door. It took around 15-20 minutes for someone to fix it. We booked two apartments, one on level 1 and one on the 2nd level. The hallway to the second one had a strange, zigzag layout. A small elevator beside the stairs fits 2-3 people comfortably with luggage. The apartment was clean, pleasant, and roomy, with an open living area. A few steps up to the side lead to a small kitchenette with a fridge/freezer, dishwasher, electric hob, jug, toaster, basic cooking gear, dishes, and cutlery. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, salt, and pepper were supplied, but no milk, so you’ll need to get some from one of the shops nearby if you want a cuppa. There’s a washing machine and dryer in the bathroom, plus washing liquid from eco store, a sustainable NZ company making plant and mineral based household cleaners. Room service isn’t provided unless you request it, and there may be a charge. You can wash your towels and clothes during the stay, which saves travelling with dirty laundry. The shower pressure was okay, but the water turns cold if the washing machine is running at the same time. The toilet roll was mounted on the wall opposite the cistern, which was odd and annoying. My room was fairly basic, with a double bed and two bedside drawers. The bed was on wheels and kept shifting as I turned over, leaving a gap at the headboard and letting my pillow slip down. Still, the bed and pillows were quite comfortable. There was a little balcony with a three-piece bistro set, but the view was just the back of a building and a construction site that looked like new accommodation.