Nautical Nook Bed & Breakfast — Hotel in Ōrākei

We had 2 nights in Auckland and wanted something that was close enough to restaurants etc but wasn't in the city (as we hadn't been there before and didn't have a car). I had some specific things I was looking for in a B&B. We like staying in B&Bs preferably to hotels.This place "initially" appealed. The location wasn't really that good without a car. We had to walk down to the bus stop to get the bus to Mission Bay (or into Auckland city itself) which was the nearest town with restaurants. There was nothing within walking distance. The problem was coming back as I can't walk up steep hills etc and the house was located up one. I had told him of this but he said his wife has a heart condition and she could do it, so I figured it couldn't be too bad!! It is the middle house in a group of 3 running up a steep hillside.||||When we checked in, I had initially asked for the room downstairs but then, realising breakfast was upstairs, we decided the upstairs room might be better. The room itself was very average. There was no TV or radio. The windows had no flyscreens on (I don't know if this is the norm in NZ), and no apparent cooling - fan or air cond. There were 2 very old armchairs in the room with almost no springs left in it and very hard to get out of. There was a walk-thru wardrobe which was spacious enough to leave your bags in which was great cos there would've been nowhere else to put them. The small ensuite was also very average with a small square "enclosed" shower - it even had a plastic roof to it!! The hot water was either boiling hot or freezing cold it you attempted to adjust it.||If you wanted a comfortable chair or to watch TV you had to share with the owners (no thanks). There was a nice outside deck you could watch the passing ships etc. The house was opposite a park which seemed very popular as it was always busy and noisy with sporting events and families having BBQs and get togethers. After a very early morning arrival, we tried to get an afternoon nap but it was impossible with the heat and the noise. And the following night we were kept awake with the noise from a local band which made me ask if there was a pub close by - there wasn't apparently.||The breakfast sounded good and we were given a menu which was the same daily anyway. It was "OK" but nothing outstanding really.||||One thing that was very obvious was that the owner was an avid sailor, and the nautical theme was carried thru in anything and everything which we found "overkill" to the extreme.||I'm sorry to say that the gentleman was extremely hard to get along with. He was very opinionated (only his counted of course), and not terribly friendly. If he didn't agree with you, he shot you down in flames. I think the only time we saw him smile was when he had given us a lift into the city and said goodbye to us. The lady of the house was the opposite, thank goodness. She told me they were a 'Homestay style B&B' (which I wasn't aware of) where you share a lot of things with the hosts, so if you don't get along you have problems from the outset. I felt it was overpriced as a Homestay style of accommodation. I certainly was expecting better. Sorry!!|| When dealing with the public in general, I think you have to keep your opinions to yourself and just "go with the flow", and be pleasant to guests even if you...

We spend 3 nights at that place. Why I cannot explain, because there is absolutely no reason.|I blame it on the fact that we arrived there first stop from Germany, totally wasted.||When you enter the house you immediately smell it: it's dirty. Spiderwebs in the sleeping-room telling you it has not been cleaned for months. I walked once over the carpet from the bed to the bathroom in socks and back: my socks were covered with hair from at least 50 different people.|Breakfast: the 'funny' toys that Trish places on the plates that are touching your food are at least 20 years old, dirty and have never been cleaned...||It was my fault that I asked Keith if we can leave some stuff there for 2 weeks because we were going to the Cook Islands.|When we returned, we found out that he kept our stuff in the garage and as you can see on my former nice bag, Keith ran over our whole stuff with his car.||We stayed that night at a place of same cost, but absolutely beautiful maybe 3km away from the 'Dirty Nook'.||DO NOT go to the...

I spent 7 nights at nautical nook in January & came back for another 5 in February. This is genuine home stay where you are encouraged to make yourself at home. The hospitality was warm, both upstairs bedrooms were comfortable (one has an ensuite shower room, the other has its own bathroom with shower across the corridor). The cooked breakfast was plenty to set you up for the day: fresh fruit, cereal, a choice of several cooked options with flexibility for special orders, freshly baked muffins, juice, tea & coffee. The deck has great views over the bay. At most it's a 3 minute walk to the bus stop where there are regular buses into town. Worth investing in a HOP card to reduce each fare from $5.50 to $3.15. Trish was full of helpful advice on things to do & see. Keith's sailing trips on Auckland harbour are a treat for both novices & experienced sailors. Thank you...