Paihia TOP 10 Holiday Park — Attraction in Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community

My partner and I went on a hike that lasted much longer than expected. Once we finished we booked a place for our van for that night at the Paihia top 10 holiday park. When we arrived the reception is closed (on campermate it says it is open until 8pm.) I call a number on the door and explain to the manager that we have sent through a booking request and have arrived. She is very rude and lets us know reception was closed and she was not planning on helping us. That is all that is said. We left as we were under the impression our booking had not been accepted (our email said booking REQUESTED) and Okay, no problem.. we booked too late I guess. The next day they accept our request online and charge us for the night we spent somewhere else. We call to let them know we didn’t stay there and we are told this manager woman is in charge of refunds and we probably won’t get one even though we did not stay there. The woman on the phone said she felt bad as we’ve basically been stolen from and she wished she could help us. We sent an email to this manager woman and she said we should have just taken a spot… something she did not tell us on the phone. Something that would have also been illegal seeing as our booking had not yet been accepted. Very dishonest on your part. Had you told us this we would have stayed and not gone through the stressful experience of finding another camping at 8:30 pm. Terrible behaviour, terrible customer service. Paihia is a wonderful place, don’t ruin your experience...

I booked my camping from 25th to 28th Dec 2024, when I arrival check in, NO ONE told me that I have to move my site from lot 16 to lot 18 on 27th Dec, so I confirmed all of my plan for the rest of the period. On 27th I was on ship and some one calling me to ask me to remove my tent and told me if I don't move now then my tent will be removed (threaten?). I have to cancel all of my rest of day's plan and back to move site, huge waste of my cost (cancel in 24 hours no refund), after I moved to lot 18 and someone came to said they booked 18, what a ......... really bad organizing and communication . the people who booked on lot 16 told me that they can reserve the site number online, but not on the official website (what?), and even get cheaper price from other platform, what a ................. When I talkd to the admin, the admin lady told me that on 27th, the people who stay in lot 18 was packed since 10am and left on 12pm, which means, on 27th, I should do nothing and waiting until lot 18 removed then I can move my tent, what a huge waste of time. If you go to a hotel and stay in one suite, will you move to another room in the mid of your staying? what a rediculus. UNPACK - PACK - UNPACK - PACK, this is not what I want. Honest say: Paihia is a beautiful place but this service will make your whole trip feel frustration and really bad. This is my first time stay in TOP 10 HOLIDAY PARK, I will...

Dusty owns the holiday park and the water taxi service to Waikare. My Te Araroa hiking group and I had originally planned on staying at his holiday park, and the first member, who is much faster than the rest, arrived early and paid 20 dollars to pitch a tent. We arrived later, and because plans had changed, decided to stay elsewhere, and encountered sincere trouble when we asked for a refund. Dusty proudly told us he had never refunded a dollar to anyone in 15 years. Needless to say we didn't get a refund or stay at the park. But, it gets better. The next day we went to the water taxi that Dusty owns and, with a group of maybe 15 other Te Araroa hikers, were welcomed by him asking who Everett Glenn was. When my friend raised his hand, Dusty told him he could 'walk' and that because Everett had left a negative review of his experience at the holiday park the day before, he was not going to take him on the boat. Our group of 5 decided not to support such actions and just took the vehicle ferry (saving 19 dollars in doing such). While this park is beautiful and peaceful, and I'm sure his taxi is grand, do know that if you chose to stay here or take his boat, you are supporting a bully. I also invite you to read Everett's review and decide for yourself if you think a business owning adult should be denying a young man paying-passage for writing an accurate and honest review of...