What is your favourite place to stay in the Auckland area?

Question

I'm living in Auckland City and looking for a nice weekend getaway spot. Say 3 or 4 hours drive away.

Answer 1

A couple of hours north of Auckland is a place on the east coast called Mangawhai Heads. This is a recreation mecca with great options for fishing, boating, surfing and bush walks. The beaches are stunning and there are a couple of decent cafes and bars in the village that are worth a nudge.

Answer 2

Definitely the Sandspit Lodge, just above the estuary in Sandspit. Its about an hour north of Auckland city and is absolutely beautiful. The hosts are great but you have privacy if you want it, there's an outside hot tub on the deck and the sunsets are amazing. Plus they have a boat and Kayak's for guests use and when you arrive the fridge is stocked with bubbly and stuff for breakfast, so you really don't need to take anything apart from someone special. Bliss...

Answer 3

I would absolutely recommend Raglan - great cafes, good surf beaches, and loads of different places to stay whether you're after a house to rent for the weekend, a motel, or a B&B. Fab!

Answer 4

Waihi is within that time frame and would be my choice if you wanted to get out of the rat race for the weekend

Answer 5

Try the Hotel Du Vin at Pokeno - 45 mins from Auckland towards Hamiltion, got a spa restaurant etc set in vinyards

Answer 6

I agree with Hotel du Vin.  Good food.  Wine tastings before dinner.  I had a wonderful massage, facial etc.  Hub went skeet (?spelling) shooting and played golf at a nearby club.  I think it was Mangatawhiri.

Where ever you choose - have a great weekend break from the City.  We all need to treat ourselves more often than we do!

Answer 7

Not perhaps a drive away but more like a half hour boat ride - Waiheke Island is always great to get away for a weekend, lots of beaches, walks, and more importantly vineyards!!! Great place to chill out and it does feel like you've been away on a holiday even though you're only half an hour away from Auckland!

Answer 8

If you are living in Auckland why would you want to holiday there? In 3-4 hours you could be in Aus or the bottom of the South Island

Answer 9

Waipu Cove is a great spot as well. It's a little further up North but worth the drive if you're looking for somewhere to relax and enjoy the beach.

Summer is obviously better for the beach but Waipu is good all year round.

Answer 10

This place is great, good spot to get away from it all

http://www.russellcottages.co.nz/

Answer 11

Matapouri beach, half hour east of Whangarei (3 hours north of Auckland) is a fantastic spot. The beach is picture perfect, the Fish & Chips at Ngunguru are yummy and it is a perfect place for a bit of R & R.

Answer 12

With all of the traffic congestion up there, you would be lucky to get very far out of the city, but any of the coastal settlements down toward the BOP would be nice.

I would suggest you try a few just to see how far you can get. It's no good travelling so far you just get set up, go to bed and on Sunday packing and driving back.

Pragmatist, not pessimist.