WHAREKAUHAU COUNTRY ESTATE - Palliser Bay

We enjoyed the stay, close to the ocean and wharf. The host was fun to talk to, The price was reasonable and included breakfast.

Hotel was very nice and they would respond quickly to any request. When you drive there you can't believe there is going to be a hotel in this residential area. It is on top of a steep hill, but you can walk out the back and cut this hill in half. We did not use our car, everything was in walking distance.

We loved the hotel. We had a lovely large room in a garden like setting. The kitchenette was very convenient. It was a 20 minute drive to downtown Wellington and the interislander ferry. Free internet was provided up to a download limit. I would definitely recommend this hotel.

Driving to this hotel is a bit of a challenge with all the one way streets so plan well. Our room did not have AC and only a small window opened. There was a "cooling machine", a fan blowing air over water, that helped cool the room a bit but it was still hot and stuffy. Be sure to reserve a room with AC. Otherwise it was a nice location and hotel.

Rooms are large and thoughtfully laid out. Everything seems to work well. Decor is going to feel good to some, a little too avant guard for others. The carpet in our room had not been well-cleaned. The front desk staff was adequate, but compared to the staff at the Novotel in Queenstown, which we had just left), did not have the same sparkle and energy. The breakfasts are outrageously prided ($25 continental, $29 full breakfast), with no option (so far as I could tell) for ala carte ordering.